In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 Pro and Dynamo 1600X, 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 SB-1000 Pro and MartinLogan 1600X 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 MartinLogan 1600X have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-1000 Pro's woofer is 12-inch whereas the MartinLogan 1600X features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz whereas Dynamo 1600X has a frequency range of 20-200 Hz.
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 SB-1000 Pro and MartinLogan 1600X have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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.
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 MartinLogan 1600X'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 MartinLogan 1600X has external dimensions of 510.0 x 456.0 x 470.0mm (20-1/16 x 17-15/16 x 18-1/2inch).
MartinLogan 1600X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 125mm wider, 167mm taller and 68mm deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-1000 Pro and MartinLogan 1600X in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-1000 Pro and MartinLogan 1600X 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 MartinLogan 1600X is approximately 2143.2cm2 / 332.2inch2. The SB-1000 Pro requires 38% less surface area than the Dynamo 1600X 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 MartinLogan 1600X weighs 25.91kg / 57lbs. This makes the Dynamo 1600X 119% heavier than the SB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 Pro and Dynamo 1600X'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 MartinLogan 1600X?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 1600X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
343mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1330cm2
vs
2143cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
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.
MartinLogan 1600X needs about 61% more floor area. MartinLogan 1600X stands 68mm further into the room. MartinLogan 1600X is 167mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X |
| Brand |
SVS |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
900 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-270 Hz |
20-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
900-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
456.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
470.0mm (18.5") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
25.91kg (57lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
Satin Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
Different price classes - MartinLogan 1600X costs roughly 3.3x what SVS SB-1000 Pro does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (20Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | MartinLogan 1600X has the bigger amplifier - 900W against 325W RMS, about 4.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | MartinLogan 1600X moves more air: 15" against 12" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction and app control). |
| 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS SB-1000 Pro fires front and MartinLogan 1600X fires down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB-1000 Pro is about 58% 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 | A | SVS SB-1000 Pro costs less - $600 against $2,000, about 70% less. |
A SVS SB-1000 Pro B MartinLogan 1600X
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. 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. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $600 each, two SVS SB-1000 Pro cost about $1,200 against $2,000 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.