In this review, we will be comparing SB-3000 and SB16-Ultra, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by SVS. 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-3000 and SVS SB16-Ultra first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the SVS SB-3000 and SVS SB16-Ultra compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both SVS SB-3000and SVS SB16-Ultra have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-3000's woofer is 13-inch whereas the SVS SB16-Ultra features a 16-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-3000 has a frequency range of 18-270 Hz whereas SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SB16-Ultra can go slightly deeper then the SB-3000's min frequency of 18Hz.
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-3000 and SVS SB16-Ultra 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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-3000's and SVS SB16-Ultra's external dimensions. SVS SB-3000 has external dimensions of 397.0 x 388.0 x 453.0mm ( 15-5/8 x 15-1/4 x 17-13/16inch) whereas SVS SB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 508.0 x 496.0 x 512.0mm ( 20 x 19-1/2 x 20-1/8inch) .
SVS SB16-Ultra is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 108mm wider, 111mm taller and 59mm deeper than SVS SB-3000.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-3000 and SVS SB16-Ultra in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-3000 and SVS SB16-Ultra 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-3000 is approximately 1757.6cm2 / 272.4inch2 and base area of the SVS SB16-Ultra is approximately 2539.5cm2 / 393.6inch2. The SB-3000 requires 31% less surface area than the SB16-Ultra 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-3000 weighs 24.77kg / 54.5lbs and the SVS SB16-Ultra weighs 55.45kg / 122lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 124% heavier than the SB-3000.
Here is a comparison of how SB-3000 and SB16-Ultra'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-3000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-3000:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cordOwners ManualQuick Start GuideOnline Registration CardSVS brochure
What's in the Box of SVS SB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that come with the SB16-Ultra:
Powered subwooferGrille8-feet AC power cordRemote controlOwners Manual
 Height |
397mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1757cm2
vs
2539cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
13 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460k Hz
vs
270k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
| General |
SVS SB-3000 |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
800 watts |
1500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-270 Hz |
16-460 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
800-watt RMS |
1500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
2500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13" |
16" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
397.0mm (15.6") |
508.0mm (20") |
| Width |
388.0mm (15.3") |
496.0mm (19.5") |
| Depth |
453.0mm (17.8") |
512.0mm (20.2") |
| Weight |
24.77kg (54.5lbs) |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |