In this review, we will be comparing Monitor XT12 and PB16-Ultra, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Polk Audio 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 Polk Monitor XT12 and SVS PB16-Ultra 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.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Polk Monitor XT12and SVS PB16-Ultra have a single woofer setup however the Polk Monitor XT12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the SVS PB16-Ultra features a 16-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz whereas PB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 13-280 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 13Hz, the PB16-Ultra can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor XT12's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 Polk Monitor XT12 and SVS PB16-Ultra 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 Polk Monitor XT12's and SVS PB16-Ultra's external dimensions. Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm (16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch) whereas SVS PB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 635.0 x 553.0 x 788.0mm (25 x 21-3/4 x 31inch).
SVS PB16-Ultra is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 145mm wider, 217mm taller and 303mm deeper than Polk Monitor XT12.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk Monitor XT12 and SVS PB16-Ultra in scale.
Comparison image of Polk Monitor XT12 and SVS PB16-Ultra 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 Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2 and base area of the SVS PB16-Ultra is approximately 4357.6cm2 / 675.4inch2. The Monitor XT12 requires 55% less surface area than the PB16-Ultra 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 Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs and the SVS PB16-Ultra weighs 79.32kg / 174.5lbs. This makes the PB16-Ultra 347% heavier than the Monitor XT12.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor XT12 and PB16-Ultra's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT12:
- Black powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online registration card
What's in the Box of SVS PB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that come with the PB16-Ultra:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 5-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (3V battery installed)
- Owners Manual
 Height |
418mm
vs
635mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1978cm2
vs
4357cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
2900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
13 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
280 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
| General |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
SVS PB16-Ultra |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
1500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-160 Hz |
13-280 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
1500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
16" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
635.0mm (25") |
| Width |
408.0mm (16.1") |
553.0mm (21.8") |
| Depth |
485.0mm (19.1") |
788.0mm (31") |
| Weight |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
79.32kg (174.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
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 | B | SVS PB16-Ultra goes deeper - 13Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS PB16-Ultra has the bigger amplifier - 1500W against 50W RMS, about 14.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | SVS PB16-Ultra moves more air: 16" against 12" is 1.78x the cone area, not the 1.33x 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | Polk Monitor XT12 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 | Polk Monitor XT12 is about 70% 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. |
| Warranty | B | SVS PB16-Ultra carries 5 years on parts against 3 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | Polk Monitor XT12 costs less - $399 against $2,900, about 86% less. |
A Polk Monitor XT12 B SVS PB16-Ultra
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 PB16-Ultra measures better, Polk Monitor XT12 costs about 86% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, Polk Monitor XT12 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. 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 $399 each, two Polk Monitor XT12 cost about $798 against $2,900 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.