In this review, we will be comparing Classic 98 and PB-2000 Pro, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from REL 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 REL Classic 98 and SVS PB-2000 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 REL Classic 98and SVS PB-2000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the REL Classic 98's woofer is 10-inch whereas the SVS PB-2000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Classic 98 has a frequency range of 27-120 Hz whereas PB-2000 Pro has a frequency range of 16-290 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the PB-2000 Pro can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Classic 98's min frequency of 27Hz.
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
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 REL Classic 98's and SVS PB-2000 Pro's external dimensions. REL Classic 98 has external dimensions of 476.3 x 350.8 x 352.4mm () whereas SVS PB-2000 Pro has external dimensions of 534.0 x 442.0 x 609.0mm (21 x 17-3/8 x 23-15/16inch).
SVS PB-2000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 91.2mm wider, 57.7mm taller and 256.6mm deeper than REL Classic 98.
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 REL Classic 98 is approximately 1236.2cm2 / 191.6inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-2000 Pro is approximately 2691.8cm2 / 417.2inch2. The Classic 98 requires 54% less surface area than the PB-2000 Pro 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 REL Classic 98 weighs 22.36kg / 49.2lbs and the SVS PB-2000 Pro weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs. This makes the PB-2000 Pro 32% heavier than the Classic 98.
Here is a comparison of how Classic 98 and PB-2000 Pro's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
476mm
vs
534mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1236cm2
vs
2691cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
290 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1499USD
|
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-2000 Pro needs about 118% more floor area. SVS PB-2000 Pro stands 257mm further into the room. SVS PB-2000 Pro is 58mm taller.
| General |
REL Classic 98 |
SVS PB-2000 Pro |
| Brand |
REL |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
27-120 Hz |
16-290 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
550-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
476.3mm (18.8") |
534.0mm (21") |
| Width |
350.8mm (13.8") |
442.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
352.4mm (13.9") |
609.0mm (24") |
| Weight |
22.36kg (49.2lbs) |
29.45kg (64.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 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-2000 Pro goes deeper - 16Hz against 27Hz. 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-2000 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 550W against 300W RMS, about 2.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | SVS PB-2000 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 | REL Classic 98 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; SVS PB-2000 Pro 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | REL Classic 98 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. |
| Warranty | B | SVS PB-2000 Pro 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 | B | SVS PB-2000 Pro costs less - $1,100 against $1,499, about 27% less. |
A REL Classic 98 B SVS PB-2000 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 PB-2000 Pro is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take REL Classic 98 if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, SVS PB-2000 Pro will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, REL Classic 98 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - REL Classic 98 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.