In this review, we will be comparing T 5x and PB-1000 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 T 5x and SVS PB-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 REL T 5xand SVS PB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the REL T 5x's woofer is 8-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
T 5x has a frequency range of 32-120 Hz whereas PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the PB-1000 Pro can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the T 5x's min frequency of 32Hz.
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 T 5x's and SVS PB-1000 Pro's external dimensions. REL T 5x has external dimensions of 312.7 x 300.0 x 360.4mm () whereas SVS PB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 479.0 x 380.0 x 509.0mm (18-13/16inch x 15inch x 20-15/16inch).
SVS PB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 80mm wider, 166.3mm taller and 148.6mm deeper than REL T 5x.
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 T 5x is approximately 1081.2cm2 / 167.6inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2. The T 5x requires 44% less surface area than the PB-1000 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 T 5x weighs 14.29kg / 31.4lbs and the SVS PB-1000 Pro weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs. This makes the PB-1000 Pro 35% heavier than the T 5x.
Here is a comparison of how T 5x and PB-1000 Pro's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
312mm
vs
479mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1081cm2
vs
1934cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
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 Pro needs about 79% more floor area. SVS PB-1000 Pro stands 149mm further into the room. SVS PB-1000 Pro is 166mm taller.
| General |
REL T 5x |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
REL |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
32-120 Hz |
17-260 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
125-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.7mm (12.3") |
479.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
360.4mm (14.2") |
509.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
14.29kg (31.4lbs) |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| 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-1000 Pro goes deeper - 17Hz against 32Hz. 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 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 325W against 125W RMS, about 4.1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | SVS PB-1000 Pro moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | REL T 5x 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 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 T 5x is about 64% 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-1000 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 | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A REL T 5x B SVS PB-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 PB-1000 Pro has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, SVS PB-1000 Pro will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, REL T 5x is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - REL T 5x 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.