In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 Pro and CW8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Monitor 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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-1000 Pro's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Monitor Audio CW8 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz whereas CW8 has a frequency range of 35-135 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 CW8's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8'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 Monitor Audio CW8 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 262.0 x 326.0mm (10-3/4 x 10-5/16 x 12-13/16inch).
SVS SB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 69mm wider, 69mm taller and 76mm deeper than Monitor Audio CW8.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 is approximately 854.1cm2 / 132.4inch2. The SB-1000 Pro requires 56% more surface area than the CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs. This makes the SB-1000 Pro 24% heavier than the CW8.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 Pro and CW8'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 Monitor Audio CW8?
Here are the items that come with the CW8:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 10-feet Mono-minijack cable
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
135 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 |
274mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
854cm2
vs
1330cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
450USD
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 56% more floor area. SVS SB-1000 Pro stands 76mm further into the room. SVS SB-1000 Pro is 69mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
Monitor Audio CW8 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
350 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-270 Hz |
35-135 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
350-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | SVS SB-1000 Pro goes deeper - 20Hz against 35Hz. 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 (325W vs 350W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| 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 | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| 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 | Monitor Audio CW8 is about 49% 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. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio CW8 costs less - $450 against $600, about 25% less. |
A SVS SB-1000 Pro B Monitor Audio CW8
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, Monitor Audio CW8 costs about 25% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Monitor Audio CW8 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.