In this review, we will be comparing 3000 Micro and Monitor XT12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Polk Audio. 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 SVS 3000 Micro and Polk Monitor XT12 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.SVS 3000 Micro and Polk Monitor XT12 have a totally different setup: the SVS 3000 Micro features 2 x 8-inch drivers whereas the Monitor XT12 features 1 x 12-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
3000 Micro has a frequency range of 23-240 Hz whereas Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 23Hz, the 3000 Micro can go slightly deeper then 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
The SVS 3000 Micro has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Polk Monitor XT12 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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 SVS 3000 Micro's and Polk Monitor XT12's external dimensions. SVS 3000 Micro has external dimensions of 277.0 x 297.0 x 310.0mm (10-7/8inch x 11-11/16inch x 12-3/16inch) whereas 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).
Polk Monitor XT12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 111mm wider, 141mm taller and 175mm deeper than SVS 3000 Micro.
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 SVS 3000 Micro is approximately 920.7cm2 / 142.7inch2 and base area of the Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2. The 3000 Micro requires 53% less surface area than the Monitor XT12 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 SVS 3000 Micro weighs 10.23kg / 22.5lbs and the Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs. This makes the Monitor XT12 73% heavier than the 3000 Micro.
Here is a comparison of how 3000 Micro and Monitor XT12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS 3000 Micro?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3000 Micro:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- SVS Brochure
What's in the Box of Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT12:
- Black powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online registration card
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
23 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
240 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
277mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
920cm2
vs
1978cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS 3000 Micro |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
800 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
23-240 Hz |
24-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
800-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
2500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
277.0mm (10.9") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
297.0mm (11.7") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
10.23kg (22.5lbs) |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (23Hz vs 24Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS 3000 Micro has the bigger amplifier - 800W against 50W RMS, about 12dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (2 x 8" against 12"). |
| Enclosure | depends | SVS 3000 Micro is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Polk Monitor XT12 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | 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. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only SVS 3000 Micro offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS 3000 Micro fires side and Polk Monitor XT12 fires front. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS 3000 Micro is about 69% 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 | A | SVS 3000 Micro 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 | Polk Monitor XT12 costs less - $399 against $900, about 56% less. |
A SVS 3000 Micro B Polk Monitor XT12
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 3000 Micro is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 126% more. Polk Monitor XT12 is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Polk Monitor XT12 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS 3000 Micro is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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.
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.