In this review, we will be comparing PB-1000 and Minx X201, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Cambridge 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 and Cambridge Audio Minx X201 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-1000and Cambridge Audio Minx X201 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PB-1000's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Cambridge Audio Minx X201 features a 6.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PB-1000 has a frequency range of 19-270 Hz whereas Minx X201 has a frequency range of 36-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the PB-1000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Minx X201's min frequency of 36Hz.
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
Cambridge Audio Minx X201
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio Minx X201
Cabinet Type
The SVS PB-1000 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 Cambridge Audio Minx X201 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's and Cambridge Audio Minx X201's external dimensions. SVS PB-1000 has external dimensions of 480.0 x 381.0 x 532.0mm (18-7/8 x 15 x 20-15/16inch) whereas Cambridge Audio Minx X201 has external dimensions of 220.0 x 210.0 x 256.0mm (8-5/8 x 8-1/4 x 10-1/16inch).
SVS PB-1000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 171mm wider, 260mm taller and 276mm deeper than Cambridge Audio Minx X201.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS PB-1000 and Cambridge Audio Minx X201 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS PB-1000 and Cambridge Audio Minx X201 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 is approximately 2026.9cm2 / 314.2inch2 and base area of the Cambridge Audio Minx X201 is approximately 537.6cm2 / 83.3inch2. The PB-1000 requires 277% more surface area than the Minx X201 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 weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs and the Cambridge Audio Minx X201 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the PB-1000 318% heavier than the Minx X201.
Here is a comparison of how PB-1000 and Minx X201's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio Minx X201
What's in the Box of SVS PB-1000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PB-1000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Cambridge Audio Minx X201?
Here are the items that come with the Minx X201:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6.5-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
220mm
vs
480mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
537cm2
vs
2026cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
499USD
|
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 PB-1000 needs about 277% more floor area. SVS PB-1000 stands 276mm further into the room. SVS PB-1000 is 260mm taller.
| General |
SVS PB-1000 |
Cambridge Audio Minx X201 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
19-270 Hz |
36-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
480.0mm (18.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
381.0mm (15") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
532.0mm (20.9") |
256.0mm (10.1") |
| Weight |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 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 goes deeper - 19Hz against 36Hz. 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 has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 200W RMS, about 1.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PB-1000 moves more air: 10" against 6.5" is 2.37x the cone area, not the 1.54x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | SVS PB-1000 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Cambridge Audio Minx X201 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 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Cambridge Audio Minx X201 is about 88% 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 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 | Cambridge Audio Minx X201 costs less - $449 against $499, about 10% less. |
A SVS PB-1000 B Cambridge Audio Minx X201
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 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. Cambridge Audio Minx X201 is the one to take if it does not. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, SVS PB-1000 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 - Cambridge Audio Minx X201 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.