In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 Pro and Defiance X15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Paradigm. 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 Paradigm Defiance X15 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 Paradigm Defiance X15 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-1000 Pro's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Paradigm Defiance X15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz whereas Defiance X15 has a frequency range of 18-230 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Defiance X15 can go slightly deeper then the SB-1000 Pro's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 Paradigm Defiance X15 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 Paradigm Defiance X15'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 Paradigm Defiance X15 has external dimensions of 626.0 x 589.0 x 661.0mm (24-5/8inch x 23-3/16inch x 26inch).
Paradigm Defiance X15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 258mm wider, 283mm taller and 259mm deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-1000 Pro and Paradigm Defiance X15 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-1000 Pro and Paradigm Defiance X15 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 Paradigm Defiance X15 is approximately 3893.3cm2 / 603.5inch2. The SB-1000 Pro requires 66% less surface area than the Defiance X15 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 Paradigm Defiance X15 weighs 41.82kg / 92lbs. This makes the Defiance X15 254% heavier than the SB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 Pro and Defiance X15'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 Paradigm Defiance X15?
Here are the items that come with the Defiance X15:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feetAC power cord
- ARC microphone
- 12
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
230 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
343mm
vs
626mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1330cm2
vs
3893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
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.
Paradigm Defiance X15 needs about 193% more floor area. Paradigm Defiance X15 stands 259mm further into the room. Paradigm Defiance X15 is 283mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
Paradigm Defiance X15 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
325 watts |
90 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-270 Hz |
18-230 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
325-watt RMS |
90-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
820-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Carbon-loaded polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
626.0mm (24.6") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
589.0mm (23.2") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
661.0mm (26") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
41.82kg (92lbs) |
| 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (20Hz vs 18Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB-1000 Pro has the bigger amplifier - 325W against 90W RMS, about 5.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Paradigm Defiance X15 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 | 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; Paradigm Defiance X15 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. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (app control). |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB-1000 Pro is about 81% 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 $1,999, about 70% less. |
A SVS SB-1000 Pro B Paradigm Defiance X15
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, Paradigm Defiance X15 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. 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 $1,999 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.