In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 Pro and Stratton 12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and KLH. 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 KLH Stratton 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 SB-1000 Proand KLH Stratton 12 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz whereas Stratton 12 has a frequency range of 25-160 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 Stratton 12's min frequency of 25Hz.
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 KLH Stratton 12 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 KLH Stratton 12'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 KLH Stratton 12 has external dimensions of 450.0 x 391.0 x 518.0mm (17-11/16inch x 15-3/8inch x 20-3/8inch).
KLH Stratton 12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 107mm taller and 116mm deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-1000 Pro and KLH Stratton 12 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-1000 Pro and KLH Stratton 12 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 KLH Stratton 12 is approximately 2025.4cm2 / 313.9inch2. The SB-1000 Pro requires 34% less surface area than the Stratton 12 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 SB-1000 Pro weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs and the KLH Stratton 12 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the Stratton 12 69% heavier than the SB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 Pro and Stratton 12'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 KLH Stratton 12?
Here are the items that come with the Stratton 12:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
343mm
vs
450mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1330cm2
vs
2025cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
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.
KLH Stratton 12 needs about 52% more floor area. KLH Stratton 12 stands 116mm further into the room. KLH Stratton 12 is 107mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
KLH Stratton 12 |
| Brand |
SVS |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-270 Hz |
25-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Paper/Kevlar/Fiberglass |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
450.0mm (17.7") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
518.0mm (20.4") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 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 25Hz. 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 200W RMS, about 2.1dB 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 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; KLH Stratton 12 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 | SVS SB-1000 Pro 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 SB-1000 Pro carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A SVS SB-1000 Pro B KLH Stratton 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 SB-1000 Pro 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, KLH Stratton 12 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.