In this review, we will be comparing PULSE SUB+ and SB-1000 Pro, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Bluesound and SVS. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Bluesound PULSE SUB+ and SVS SB-1000 Pro first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Bluesound PULSE SUB+and SVS SB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the Bluesound PULSE SUB+'s woofer is 8-inch whereas the SVS SB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PULSE SUB+ has a frequency range of 22-150 Hz whereas SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the SB-1000 Pro can go slightly deeper then the PULSE SUB+'s min frequency of 22Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Bluesound PULSE SUB+'s and SVS SB-1000 Pro's external dimensions. Bluesound PULSE SUB+ has external dimensions of 300 x 457 x 146 mm () whereas SVS SB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 343.0 x 331.0 x 402.0mm (13-1/2inch x 13inch x 15-13/16inch).
Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is 43mm shorter and 256mm less deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro but it is also 126mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
SVS SB-1000 Pro needs about 99% more floor or shelf area. SVS SB-1000 Pro is 256mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS SB-1000 Pro is 43mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is approximately 667.2cm2 / 103.4inch2 and base area of the SVS SB-1000 Pro is approximately 1330.6cm2 / 206.2inch2. The PULSE SUB+ requires 50% less surface area than the SB-1000 Pro which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Bluesound PULSE SUB+ weighs 8.28kg / 18.2lbs and the SVS SB-1000 Pro weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the SB-1000 Pro 43% heavier than the PULSE SUB+.
Here is a comparison of how PULSE SUB+ and SB-1000 Pro's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
300mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
667cm2
vs
1330cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1149USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
SVS SB-1000 Pro needs about 99% more floor area. SVS SB-1000 Pro stands 256mm further into the room. SVS SB-1000 Pro is 43mm taller.
| General |
Bluesound PULSE SUB+ |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
Bluesound |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
22-150 Hz |
20-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Fiber-composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
457.0mm (18") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
146.0mm (5.7") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
8.28kg (18.2lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Matte |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
Black,White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
Type A (upgrade only), Type B mini (service) |
n/a |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (22Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS SB-1000 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 325W against 150W RMS, about 3.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | SVS SB-1000 Pro moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (app control). |
| Cabinet size | depends | Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is about 56% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | SVS SB-1000 Pro costs less - $600 against $1,149, about 48% less. |
A Bluesound PULSE SUB+ B SVS SB-1000 Pro
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
SVS SB-1000 Pro is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Bluesound PULSE SUB+ if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $600 each, two SVS SB-1000 Pro cost about $1,200 against $1,149 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.