In this review, we will be comparing PB16-Ultra and PB-1000 Pro, 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 PB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 PB16-Ultraand SVS PB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the SVS PB16-Ultra's woofer is 16-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 13-280 Hz whereas PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 13Hz, the PB16-Ultra can go slightly deeper then the PB-1000 Pro's min frequency of 17Hz.
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
Both SVS PB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 Pro have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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 PB16-Ultra's and SVS PB-1000 Pro's external dimensions. SVS PB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 635.0 x 553.0 x 788.0mm (25 x 21-3/4 x 31inch) whereas 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).
SVS PB16-Ultra is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 173mm wider, 156mm taller and 279mm deeper than SVS PB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS PB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 Pro in scale.
Comparison image of SVS PB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 PB16-Ultra is approximately 4357.6cm2 / 675.4inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2. The PB16-Ultra requires 125% more surface area than the PB-1000 Pro 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 PB16-Ultra weighs 79.32kg / 174.5lbs and the SVS PB-1000 Pro weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs. This makes the PB16-Ultra 311% heavier than the PB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how PB16-Ultra and PB-1000 Pro'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 PB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PB16-Ultra:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 5-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (3V battery installed)
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of SVS PB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that come with the PB-1000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Brochure
- SVS Support Information
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
13 Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
280 Hz
vs
260 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
479mm
vs
635mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1934cm2
vs
4357cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
2900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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 PB16-Ultra needs about 125% more floor area. SVS PB16-Ultra stands 279mm further into the room. SVS PB16-Ultra is 156mm taller.
| General |
SVS PB16-Ultra |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1500 watts |
325 watts |
| Frequency Response |
13-280 Hz |
17-260 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1500-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
635.0mm (25") |
479.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
553.0mm (21.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
788.0mm (31") |
509.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
79.32kg (174.5lbs) |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in SVS's PB range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | SVS PB16-Ultra goes deeper - 13Hz against 17Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS PB16-Ultra has the bigger amplifier - 1500W against 325W RMS, about 6.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PB16-Ultra moves more air: 16" against 12" is 1.78x the cone area, not the 1.33x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (app control). |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS PB-1000 Pro 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. |
| Price | B | SVS PB-1000 Pro costs less - $799 against $2,900, about 72% less. |
A SVS PB16-Ultra B SVS PB-1000 Pro
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 PB16-Ultra measures better, SVS PB-1000 Pro costs about 72% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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. 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 $799 each, two SVS PB-1000 Pro cost about $1,598 against $2,900 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.