In this review, we will be comparing L10cs and SB-2000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL 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 JBL L10cs and SVS SB-2000 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 JBL L10csand SVS SB-2000 have a single woofer setup however the JBL L10cs's woofer is 10-inch whereas the SVS SB-2000 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
L10cs has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz whereas SB-2000 has a frequency range of 19-220 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the SB-2000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L10cs's min frequency of 32Hz.
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
The JBL L10cs has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the SVS SB-2000 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported 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 JBL L10cs's and SVS SB-2000's external dimensions. JBL L10cs has external dimensions of 391.0 x 337.0 x 413.0mm (15-3/8inch x 13-1/4inch x 16-1/4inch) whereas SVS SB-2000 has external dimensions of 372.0 x 362.0 x 478.0mm (14-5/8 x 14-1/4 x 18-13/16inch).
JBL L10cs is 25mm narrower and 65mm less deeper than SVS SB-2000 but it is also 19mm 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 JBL L10cs is approximately 1391.8cm2 / 215.7inch2 and base area of the SVS SB-2000 is approximately 1730.4cm2 / 268.2inch2. The L10cs requires 20% less surface area than the SB-2000 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 JBL L10cs weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the SVS SB-2000 weighs 15.82kg / 34.8lbs. This makes the SB-2000 12% heavier than the L10cs.
Here is a comparison of how L10cs and SB-2000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L10cs?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L10cs:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spikes
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of SVS SB-2000?
Here are the items that come with the SB-2000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
- Quick Start Guide
 Base Surface Area |
1391cm2
vs
1730cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
220 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
372mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
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 SB-2000 needs about 24% more floor area. SVS SB-2000 stands 65mm further into the room. JBL L10cs is 19mm taller.
| General |
JBL L10cs |
SVS SB-2000 |
| Brand |
JBL |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
19-220 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
413.0mm (16.3") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
15.82kg (34.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Natural Walnut,Black Walnut |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | SVS SB-2000 goes deeper - 19Hz against 32Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS SB-2000 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 250W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | SVS SB-2000 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 | depends | JBL L10cs is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; SVS SB-2000 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Driver placement | depends | JBL L10cs fires down and SVS SB-2000 fires front. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Warranty | B | SVS SB-2000 carries 5 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | SVS SB-2000 costs less - $600 against $699, about 14% less. |
A JBL L10cs B SVS SB-2000
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-2000 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take JBL L10cs if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, JBL L10cs will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-2000 is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.