In this review, we will be comparing SB-1000 and ProSub 800, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Definitive Technology. 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 and Definitive ProSub 800 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.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both SVS SB-1000and Definitive ProSub 800 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-1000's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Definitive ProSub 800 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-1000 has a frequency range of 24-260 Hz whereas ProSub 800 has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the ProSub 800 can go slightly deeper then the SB-1000's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 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 Definitive ProSub 800 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or 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's and Definitive ProSub 800's external dimensions. SVS SB-1000 has external dimensions of 343.0 x 332.0 x 397.0mm (13-1/2 x 13-1/16 x 15-5/8inch) whereas Definitive ProSub 800 has external dimensions of 328.0 x 262.0 x 423.0mm (12-7/8 x 10-5/16 x 16-5/8inch).
Definitive ProSub 800 is 70mm narrower and 15mm shorter than SVS SB-1000 but it is also 26mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-1000 and Definitive ProSub 800 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-1000 and Definitive ProSub 800 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 is approximately 1318.0cm2 / 204.3inch2 and base area of the Definitive ProSub 800 is approximately 1108.3cm2 / 171.8inch2. The SB-1000 requires 19% more surface area than the ProSub 800 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 weighs 12.27kg / 27lbs and the Definitive ProSub 800 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the SB-1000 4% heavier than the ProSub 800.
Here is a comparison of how SB-1000 and ProSub 800'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-1000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Definitive ProSub 800?
Here are the items that come with the ProSub 800:
- 8-inch Powered subwoofer
- Detachable grille (installed)
- 7-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration card
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
328mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1108cm2
vs
1318cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS SB-1000 |
Definitive Technology ProSub 800 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-260 Hz |
20-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
40-150 Hz and 80 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Width |
332.0mm (13.1") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
397.0mm (15.6") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Weight |
12.27kg (27lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| 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 passive radiator 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 | B | Definitive ProSub 800 goes deeper - 20Hz against 24Hz. 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 (300W vs 300W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB-1000 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 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Definitive ProSub 800 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Phase control | A | SVS SB-1000 has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Definitive ProSub 800 is about 20% 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 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 | Definitive ProSub 800 costs less - $399 against $500, about 20% less. |
A SVS SB-1000 B Definitive ProSub 800
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 measures better, Definitive ProSub 800 costs about 20% 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, Definitive ProSub 800 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-1000 is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.