In this review, we will be comparing HT 1003 MKII and SB-2000, 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 HT 1003 MKII 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 REL HT 1003 MKIIand SVS SB-2000 have a single woofer setup however the REL HT 1003 MKII's woofer is 10-inch whereas the SVS SB-2000 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
HT 1003 MKII has a frequency range of 24-200 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 HT 1003 MKII'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
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 HT 1003 MKII's and SVS SB-2000's external dimensions. REL HT 1003 MKII has external dimensions of 341.3 x 365.1 x 435.0mm () 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).
REL HT 1003 MKII is 30.7mm shorter and 43mm less deeper than SVS SB-2000 but it is also 3.1mm wider.
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 HT 1003 MKII is approximately 1588.2cm2 / 246.2inch2 and base area of the SVS SB-2000 is approximately 1730.4cm2 / 268.2inch2. The HT 1003 MKII requires 8% 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 REL HT 1003 MKII weighs 15.51kg / 34.1lbs and the SVS SB-2000 weighs 15.82kg / 34.8lbs. This makes the SB-2000 2% heavier than the HT 1003 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how HT 1003 MKII and SB-2000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
341mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1588cm2
vs
1730cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
220 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
649USD
|
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 9% more floor area. SVS SB-2000 stands 43mm further into the room. SVS SB-2000 is 31mm taller.
| General |
REL HT 1003 MKII |
SVS SB-2000 |
| Brand |
REL |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
24-200 Hz |
19-220 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| 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 |
341.3mm (13.4") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
365.1mm (14.4") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
435.0mm (17.1") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
15.51kg (34.1lbs) |
15.82kg (34.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | SVS SB-2000 goes deeper - 19Hz 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 SB-2000 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 300W RMS, about 2.2dB 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 | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Warranty | B | SVS SB-2000 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 SB-2000 costs less - $600 against $649, about 8% less. |
A REL HT 1003 MKII 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 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is.
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.