In this review, we will be comparing PC-2000 and HT 1205 MKII, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and REL. 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 REL HT 1205 MKII 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 REL HT 1205 MKII 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 HT 1205 MKII has a frequency range of 22-200 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 HT 1205 MKII's min frequency of 22Hz.
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 PC-2000's and REL HT 1205 MKII'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 REL HT 1205 MKII has external dimensions of 387.4 x 412.8 x 485.8mm ().
REL HT 1205 MKII is 9.2mm narrower and 484.6mm shorter than SVS PC-2000 but it is also 63.8mm deeper.
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 REL HT 1205 MKII is approximately 2005.4cm2 / 310.8inch2. The PC-2000 requires 11% less surface area than the HT 1205 MKII which gives it a small advantage 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 REL HT 1205 MKII weighs 19.60kg / 43.1lbs. This makes the PC-2000 16% heavier than the HT 1205 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how PC-2000 and HT 1205 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1780cm2
vs
2005cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
387mm
vs
872mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
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.
REL HT 1205 MKII needs about 13% more floor area. REL HT 1205 MKII stands 64mm further into the room. SVS PC-2000 is 485mm taller.
| General |
SVS PC-2000 |
REL HT 1205 MKII |
| Brand |
SVS |
REL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
16-260 Hz |
22-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1100-watt RMS |
n/a |
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") |
387.4mm (15.3") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
412.8mm (16.3") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
485.8mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
22.70kg (49.9lbs) |
19.60kg (43.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 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 PC-2000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 22Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (500W vs 500W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| 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; REL HT 1205 MKII 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 | REL HT 1205 MKII is about 50% 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 $899, about 17% less. |
A SVS PC-2000 B REL HT 1205 MKII
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take REL HT 1205 MKII if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. 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, REL HT 1205 MKII is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - REL HT 1205 MKII 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.