In this review, we will be comparing PC-2000 and SW-10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Wharfedale. 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 Wharfedale SW-10 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 PC-2000and Wharfedale SW-10 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PC-2000's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-10 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PC-2000 has a frequency range of 16-260 Hz whereas SW-10 has a frequency range of 40-120 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 SW-10's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 PC-2000 and Wharfedale SW-10 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 PC-2000's and Wharfedale SW-10'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 Wharfedale SW-10 has external dimensions of 431.0 x 351.0 x 459.0mm (16-15/16inch x 13-13/16inch x 18-1/16inch).
Wharfedale SW-10 is 71mm narrower and 441mm shorter than SVS PC-2000 but it is also 37mm 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 Wharfedale SW-10 is approximately 1611.1cm2 / 249.7inch2. The PC-2000 requires 11% more surface area than the SW-10 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 Wharfedale SW-10 weighs 16.53kg / 36.4lbs. This makes the PC-2000 37% heavier than the SW-10.
Here is a comparison of how PC-2000 and SW-10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
431mm
vs
872mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1611cm2
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 11% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-10 stands 37mm further into the room. SVS PC-2000 is 441mm taller.
| General |
SVS PC-2000 |
Wharfedale SW-10 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-260 Hz |
40-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1100-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
872.0mm (34.3") |
431.0mm (17") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
22.70kg (49.9lbs) |
16.53kg (36.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | SVS PC-2000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 40Hz. 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 200W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PC-2000 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Wharfedale SW-10 is about 55% 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 $799, about 6% less. |
A SVS PC-2000 B Wharfedale SW-10
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. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Wharfedale SW-10 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.