In this review, we will be comparing PC-2000 and Dynamo Foundation 12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and MartinLogan. 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 PC-2000 and MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 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.SVS PC-2000and MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
PC-2000 has a frequency range of 16-260 Hz whereas Dynamo Foundation 12 has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the PC-2000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dynamo Foundation 12's min frequency of 24Hz.
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
MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12
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 PC-2000's and MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12's external dimensions. SVS PC-2000 has external dimensions of 872.0 x 422.0 x 422.0mm (34-5/16 x 16-5/8 x 16-5/8inch) whereas MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 has external dimensions of 404.8 x 357.2 x 408.0mm ().
SVS PC-2000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64.8mm wider, 467.2mm taller and 14mm deeper than MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
SVS PC-2000 needs about 22% more floor or shelf area. SVS PC-2000 is 467mm taller.
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 PC-2000 is approximately 1780.8cm2 / 276.0inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 is approximately 1457.4cm2 / 225.9inch2. The PC-2000 requires 22% more surface area than the Dynamo Foundation 12 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 PC-2000 weighs 22.70kg / 49.9lbs and the MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs. This makes the PC-2000 72% heavier than the Dynamo Foundation 12.
Here is a comparison of how PC-2000 and Dynamo Foundation 12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12
 Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
404mm
vs
872mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1457cm2
vs
1780cm2
|
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 PC-2000 needs about 22% more floor area. SVS PC-2000 is 467mm taller.
| General |
SVS PC-2000 |
MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 |
| Brand |
SVS |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
16-260 Hz |
24-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
350-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1100-watt RMS |
700-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
872.0mm (34.3") |
404.8mm (15.9") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
357.2mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
22.70kg (49.9lbs) |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
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 PC-2000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS PC-2000 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 350W RMS, about 1.5dB 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 12"). |
| Enclosure | depends | SVS PC-2000 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 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 | MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 is about 62% 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 PC-2000 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 | A | SVS PC-2000 costs less - $750 against $800, about 6% less. |
A SVS PC-2000 B MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12
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 PC-2000 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 PC-2000 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 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.