In this review, we will be comparing PB-1000 Pro and 3000 Micro, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro and SVS 3000 Micro 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 PB-1000 Pro and SVS 3000 Micro have a totally different setup: the SVS PB-1000 Pro features 1 x 12-inch drivers whereas the 3000 Micro features 2 x 8-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz whereas 3000 Micro has a frequency range of 23-240 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 3000 Micro's min frequency of 23Hz.
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 SVS 3000 Micro have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. 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.
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 SVS 3000 Micro'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 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).
SVS PB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 83mm wider, 202mm taller and 199mm 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 PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2 and base area of the SVS 3000 Micro is approximately 920.7cm2 / 142.7inch2. The PB-1000 Pro requires 110% more surface area than the 3000 Micro 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 SVS 3000 Micro weighs 10.23kg / 22.5lbs. This makes the PB-1000 Pro 89% heavier than the 3000 Micro.
Here is a comparison of how PB-1000 Pro and 3000 Micro'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 SVS 3000 Micro?
Here are the items that come with the 3000 Micro:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- SVS Brochure
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
23 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
240 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
277mm
vs
479mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
920cm2
vs
1934cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
SVS 3000 Micro |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
800 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-260 Hz |
23-240 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
800-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
2500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
479.0mm (18.9") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
509.0mm (20") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
10.23kg (22.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 23Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS 3000 Micro has the bigger amplifier - 800W against 325W RMS, about 3.9dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 2 x 8"). |
| 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; 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. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction, onboard DSP and app control). |
| 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS PB-1000 Pro fires front and SVS 3000 Micro 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 | SVS 3000 Micro is about 72% 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. |
| Price | A | SVS PB-1000 Pro costs less - $799 against $900, about 11% less. |
A SVS PB-1000 Pro B SVS 3000 Micro
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, SVS 3000 Micro is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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.
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.