In this review, we will be comparing Flexus Sub 100 and PB-1000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 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.Klipsch Flexus Sub 100and SVS PB-1000 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 10" drivers.
Frequency Response
Flexus Sub 100 has a frequency range of 26-250 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 Flexus Sub 100's min frequency of 26Hz.
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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the SVS PB-1000 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100's and SVS PB-1000's external dimensions. Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 335.0 x 349.0mm (13-3/8 x 13-3/16 x 13-3/4inch) 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).
SVS PB-1000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 46mm wider, 140mm taller and 183mm deeper than Klipsch Flexus Sub 100.
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 73% more floor or shelf area. SVS PB-1000 is 183mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS PB-1000 is 140mm 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is approximately 1169.2cm2 / 181.2inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 is approximately 2026.9cm2 / 314.2inch2. The Flexus Sub 100 requires 42% 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 weighs 9.40kg / 20.7lbs and the SVS PB-1000 weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs. This makes the PB-1000 122% heavier than the Flexus Sub 100.
Here is a comparison of how Flexus Sub 100 and PB-1000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
340mm
vs
480mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1169cm2
vs
2026cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
350USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
26 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
250 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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 73% more floor area. SVS PB-1000 stands 183mm further into the room. SVS PB-1000 is 140mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 |
SVS PB-1000 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
80 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
26-250 Hz |
19-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
80-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
160-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
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 |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
335.0mm (13.2") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
349.0mm (13.7") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
9.40kg (20.7lbs) |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported 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 PB-1000 goes deeper - 19Hz against 26Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS PB-1000 has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 80W RMS, about 5.7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; SVS PB-1000 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 offers a wireless link. It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is about 59% 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 | A | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 costs less - $350 against $499, about 30% less. |
A Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 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?
The usual trade-off: SVS PB-1000 measures better, Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 costs about 30% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, SVS PB-1000 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 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.