In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 Pro and SX-120, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Cambridge Audio. 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 SB-1000 Pro and Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 SB-1000 Proand Cambridge Audio SX-120 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-1000 Pro's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Cambridge Audio SX-120 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz whereas SX-120 has a frequency range of 34-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the SB-1000 Pro can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SX-120's min frequency of 34Hz.
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
The SVS SB-1000 Pro has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs. On the other hand the Cambridge Audio SX-120 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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 SB-1000 Pro's and Cambridge Audio SX-120's external dimensions. SVS SB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 343.0 x 331.0 x 402.0mm (13-1/2inch x 13inch x 15-13/16inch) whereas Cambridge Audio SX-120 has external dimensions of 296.0 x 297.0 x 350.0mm (11-5/8 x 11-11/16 x 13-3/4inch).
SVS SB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34mm wider, 47mm taller and 52mm deeper than Cambridge Audio SX-120.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-1000 Pro and Cambridge Audio SX-120 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-1000 Pro and Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 SB-1000 Pro is approximately 1330.6cm2 / 206.2inch2 and base area of the Cambridge Audio SX-120 is approximately 1039.5cm2 / 161.1inch2. The SB-1000 Pro requires 28% more surface area than the SX-120 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 SB-1000 Pro weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs and the Cambridge Audio SX-120 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the SB-1000 Pro 53% heavier than the SX-120.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 Pro and SX-120'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 SB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-1000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Brochure
- SVS Support Information
What's in the Box of Cambridge Audio SX-120?
Here are the items that come with the SX-120:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- 4 Spiked feet
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Height |
296mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1039cm2
vs
1330cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
319USD
vs
600USD
|
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 SB-1000 Pro needs about 28% more floor area. SVS SB-1000 Pro stands 52mm further into the room. SVS SB-1000 Pro is 47mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
Cambridge Audio SX-120 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
70 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-270 Hz |
34-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Treated Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported 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 SB-1000 Pro goes deeper - 20Hz against 34Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB-1000 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 325W against 70W RMS, about 6.7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB-1000 Pro moves more air: 12" against 8" 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 SB-1000 Pro is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Cambridge Audio SX-120 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | SVS SB-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 SB-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 | Cambridge Audio SX-120 is about 33% 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 SB-1000 Pro 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 | B | Cambridge Audio SX-120 costs less - $319 against $600, about 47% less. |
A SVS SB-1000 Pro B Cambridge Audio SX-120
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 SB-1000 Pro measures better, Cambridge Audio SX-120 costs about 47% 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, Cambridge Audio SX-120 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-1000 Pro is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, SVS SB-1000 Pro is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.