In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XS12e and PB-1000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Emotiva 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e and SVS PB-1000 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12eand SVS PB-1000 have a single woofer setup however the Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e's woofer is 12-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XS12e has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas PB-1000 has a frequency range of 19-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the PB-1000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XS12e's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
Cabinet Type
Both Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e and SVS PB-1000 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e's and SVS PB-1000's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e has external dimensions of 400.0 x 400.0 x 400.0mm (15-3/4 x 15-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) whereas SVS PB-1000 has external dimensions of 480.0 x 381.0 x 532.0mm (18-7/8 x 15 x 20-15/16inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is 80mm shorter and 132mm less deeper than SVS PB-1000 but it is also 19mm 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 PB-1000 needs about 27% more floor or shelf area. SVS PB-1000 is 132mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS PB-1000 is 80mm 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is approximately 1600.0cm2 / 248.0inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 is approximately 2026.9cm2 / 314.2inch2. The Airmotiv XS12e requires 21% less surface area than the PB-1000 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e weighs 19.05kg / 41.9lbs and the SVS PB-1000 weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs. This makes the PB-1000 10% heavier than the Airmotiv XS12e.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XS12e and PB-1000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
400mm
vs
480mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1600cm2
vs
2026cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
699USD
|
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 PB-1000 needs about 27% more floor area. SVS PB-1000 stands 132mm further into the room. SVS PB-1000 is 80mm taller.
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e |
SVS PB-1000 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
19-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
400.0mm (15.7") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
400.0mm (15.7") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
400.0mm (15.7") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
19.05kg (41.9lbs) |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | SVS PB-1000 goes deeper - 19Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (300W vs 300W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is about 34% 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 PB-1000 costs less - $499 against $699, about 29% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e B SVS PB-1000
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e 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.