In this review, we will be comparing PB 5000 R Evolution and ASW610, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Bowers Wilkins. 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 5000 R Evolution and B&W ASW610 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 5000 R Evolutionand B&W ASW610 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PB 5000 R Evolution's woofer is 15-inch whereas the B&W ASW610 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 13-180 Hz whereas ASW610 has a frequency range of 27-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 13Hz, the PB 5000 R Evolution can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ASW610's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 SVS PB 5000 R Evolution's and B&W ASW610's external dimensions. SVS PB 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 595.3 x 520.7 x 730.3mm () whereas B&W ASW610 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 312.0 x 394.0mm (12-5/8 x 12-1/4 x 15-1/2inch).
SVS PB 5000 R Evolution is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 208.7mm wider, 274.3mm taller and 336.3mm deeper than B&W ASW610.
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 5000 R Evolution is approximately 3802.7cm2 / 589.4inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610 is approximately 1229.3cm2 / 190.5inch2. The PB 5000 R Evolution requires 209% more surface area than the ASW610 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 5000 R Evolution weighs 69.81kg / 153.6lbs and the B&W ASW610 weighs 12.55kg / 27.6lbs. This makes the PB 5000 R Evolution 456% heavier than the ASW610.
Here is a comparison of how PB 5000 R Evolution and ASW610's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
13 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
180 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
595mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1229cm2
vs
3802cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
2600USD
|
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 5000 R Evolution needs about 209% more floor area. SVS PB 5000 R Evolution stands 336mm further into the room. SVS PB 5000 R Evolution is 274mm taller.
| General |
SVS PB 5000 R Evolution |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
13-180 Hz |
27-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
2000-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
5000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
595.3mm (23.4") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
520.7mm (20.5") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Depth |
730.3mm (28.8") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
69.81kg (153.6lbs) |
12.55kg (27.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 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 5000 R Evolution goes deeper - 13Hz against 27Hz. 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 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 200W RMS, about 10dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PB 5000 R Evolution moves more air: 15" against 10" 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 5000 R Evolution is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W ASW610 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W ASW610 is about 83% 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 5000 R Evolution 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 | B | B&W ASW610 costs less - $899 against $2,600, about 65% less. |
A SVS PB 5000 R Evolution B B&W ASW610
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?
The usual trade-off: SVS PB 5000 R Evolution measures better, B&W ASW610 costs about 65% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, SVS PB 5000 R Evolution will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W ASW610 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $899 each, two B&W ASW610 cost about $1,798 against $2,600 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.