In this review, we will be comparing RP-1000SW and SB-1000 Pro, 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 RP-1000SW 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 Klipsch RP-1000SWand SVS SB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1000SW's woofer is 10-inch whereas the SVS SB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1000SW has a frequency range of 19-131 Hz whereas SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the RP-1000SW can go slightly deeper then the SB-1000 Pro's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 RP-1000SW 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-1000 Pro 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 Klipsch RP-1000SW's and SVS SB-1000 Pro's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-1000SW has external dimensions of 423.0 x 381.0 x 635.0mm (16-5/8inch x 15inch x 25inch) 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).
Klipsch RP-1000SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 80mm taller and 233mm deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-1000SW and SVS SB-1000 Pro in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-1000SW and SVS SB-1000 Pro Size and External Dimensions
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 RP-1000SW is approximately 2419.4cm2 / 375.0inch2 and base area of the SVS SB-1000 Pro is approximately 1330.6cm2 / 206.2inch2. The RP-1000SW requires 82% more surface area than the SB-1000 Pro which gives it a small disadvantage 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 RP-1000SW weighs 25.77kg / 56.7lbs and the SVS SB-1000 Pro weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the RP-1000SW 118% heavier than the SB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1000SW and SB-1000 Pro's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
131 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
343mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1330cm2
vs
2419cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
850USD
|
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.
Klipsch RP-1000SW needs about 82% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1000SW stands 233mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1000SW is 80mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1000SW |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
325 watts |
| Frequency Response |
19-131 Hz |
20-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
600-watt RMS |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
423.0mm (16.7") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
381.0mm (15") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
635.0mm (25") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
25.77kg (56.7lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
Black,White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (19Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (300W vs 325W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | SVS SB-1000 Pro 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 | Klipsch RP-1000SW 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-1000 Pro 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | SVS SB-1000 Pro takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB-1000 Pro is about 55% 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 $850, about 29% less. |
A Klipsch RP-1000SW 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 Klipsch RP-1000SW if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch RP-1000SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-1000 Pro is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, SVS SB-1000 Pro is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.