In this review, we will be comparing SB-2000 and Minx X301, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and Cambridge 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-2000 and Cambridge Audio Minx X301 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-2000and Cambridge Audio Minx X301 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-2000's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Cambridge Audio Minx X301 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-2000 has a frequency range of 19-220 Hz whereas Minx X301 has a frequency range of 31-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the SB-2000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Minx X301's min frequency of 31Hz.
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
Cambridge Audio Minx X301
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio Minx X301
Cabinet Type
The SVS SB-2000 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 Cambridge Audio Minx X301 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-2000's and Cambridge Audio Minx X301's external dimensions. SVS SB-2000 has external dimensions of 372.0 x 362.0 x 478.0mm (14-5/8 x 14-1/4 x 18-13/16inch) whereas Cambridge Audio Minx X301 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 267.0 x 310.0mm (12-1/4 x 10-1/2 x 12-3/16inch).
SVS SB-2000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 95mm wider, 60mm taller and 168mm deeper than Cambridge Audio Minx X301.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-2000 and Cambridge Audio Minx X301 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-2000 and Cambridge Audio Minx X301 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-2000 is approximately 1730.4cm2 / 268.2inch2 and base area of the Cambridge Audio Minx X301 is approximately 827.7cm2 / 128.3inch2. The SB-2000 requires 109% more surface area than the Minx X301 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-2000 weighs 15.82kg / 34.8lbs and the Cambridge Audio Minx X301 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the SB-2000 111% heavier than the Minx X301.
Here is a comparison of how SB-2000 and Minx X301's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio Minx X301
What's in the Box of SVS SB-2000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-2000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Cambridge Audio Minx X301?
Here are the items that come with the Minx X301:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
31 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
220 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
312mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
827cm2
vs
1730cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
549USD
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-2000 needs about 109% more floor area. SVS SB-2000 stands 168mm further into the room. SVS SB-2000 is 60mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-2000 |
Cambridge Audio Minx X301 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
19-220 Hz |
31-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
372.0mm (14.6") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
362.0mm (14.3") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
478.0mm (18.8") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
15.82kg (34.8lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| 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 | A | SVS SB-2000 goes deeper - 19Hz against 31Hz. 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-2000 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 300W RMS, about 2.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB-2000 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-2000 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Cambridge Audio Minx X301 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Cambridge Audio Minx X301 is about 60% 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-2000 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 | Cambridge Audio Minx X301 costs less - $549 against $600, about 9% less. |
A SVS SB-2000 B Cambridge Audio Minx X301
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-2000 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. Cambridge Audio Minx X301 is the one to take if it does not. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Cambridge Audio Minx X301 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-2000 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Cambridge Audio Minx X301 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.