In this review, we will be comparing PB-1000 Pro and Radius 380, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Monitor 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 PB-1000 Pro and Monitor Audio Radius 380 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 SVS PB-1000 Proand Monitor Audio Radius 380 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PB-1000 Pro's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Monitor Audio Radius 380 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz whereas Radius 380 has a frequency range of 30-120 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 Radius 380's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 PB-1000 Pro has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Monitor Audio Radius 380 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or 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 PB-1000 Pro's and Monitor Audio Radius 380's external dimensions. 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) whereas Monitor Audio Radius 380 has external dimensions of 308.0 x 291.0 x 345.0mm (12-1/8 x 11-7/16 x 13-9/16inch).
SVS PB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89mm wider, 171mm taller and 164mm deeper than Monitor Audio Radius 380.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS PB-1000 Pro and Monitor Audio Radius 380 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS PB-1000 Pro and Monitor Audio Radius 380 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Radius 380 is approximately 1004.0cm2 / 155.6inch2. The PB-1000 Pro requires 93% more surface area than the Radius 380 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 PB-1000 Pro weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs and the Monitor Audio Radius 380 weighs 10.18kg / 22.4lbs. This makes the PB-1000 Pro 90% heavier than the Radius 380.
Here is a comparison of how PB-1000 Pro and Radius 380'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 PB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PB-1000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Brochure
- SVS Support Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Radius 380?
Here are the items that come with the Radius 380:
- Powered sub
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 10.75-feet Mono minijack cable
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
30 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 |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
875USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Height |
308mm
vs
479mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1004cm2
vs
1934cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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 93% more floor area. SVS PB-1000 Pro stands 164mm further into the room. SVS PB-1000 Pro is 171mm taller.
| General |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
Monitor Audio Radius 380 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-260 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
479.0mm (18.9") |
308.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
291.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
509.0mm (20") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Weight |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
10.18kg (22.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | A | SVS PB-1000 Pro goes deeper - 17Hz against 30Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS PB-1000 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 325W against 200W RMS, about 2.1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | 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 | 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; Monitor Audio Radius 380 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. 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 | A | SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 PB-1000 Pro 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 PB-1000 Pro fires front and Monitor Audio Radius 380 fires side. 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 | Monitor Audio Radius 380 is about 67% 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 PB-1000 Pro carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | SVS PB-1000 Pro costs less - $799 against $875, about 9% less. |
A SVS PB-1000 Pro B Monitor Audio Radius 380
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. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, SVS PB-1000 Pro is the only one of these two you can connect at all. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Monitor Audio Radius 380 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.