In this review, we will be comparing SB-4000 and Muro SUB2020, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and ELAC. 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-4000 and ELAC Muro SUB2020 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-4000and ELAC Muro SUB2020 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-4000's woofer is 13.5-inch whereas the ELAC Muro SUB2020 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-4000 has a frequency range of 19-310 Hz whereas Muro SUB2020 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the SB-4000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Muro SUB2020's min frequency of 28Hz.
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-4000 and ELAC Muro SUB2020 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-4000's and ELAC Muro SUB2020's external dimensions. SVS SB-4000 has external dimensions of 466.0 x 453.0 x 532.0mm (18-5/16 x 17-13/16 x 20-15/16inch) whereas ELAC Muro SUB2020 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 185.0 x 515.0mm (15-11/16 x 7-1/4 x 20-1/4inch).
SVS SB-4000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 268mm wider, 67mm taller and 17mm deeper than ELAC Muro SUB2020.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-4000 and ELAC Muro SUB2020 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-4000 and ELAC Muro SUB2020 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-4000 is approximately 2410.0cm2 / 373.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Muro SUB2020 is approximately 952.8cm2 / 147.7inch2. The SB-4000 requires 153% more surface area than the Muro SUB2020 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-4000 weighs 46.50kg / 102.3lbs and the ELAC Muro SUB2020 weighs 12.73kg / 28lbs. This makes the SB-4000 265% heavier than the Muro SUB2020.
Here is a comparison of how SB-4000 and Muro SUB2020'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-4000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-4000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- 4 Elastomer feet
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Muro SUB2020?
Here are the items that come with the Muro SUB2020:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- 4 Cone feet
- 2 Brackets
- 2 Machine screws
- 2 Wood screws
- 2 Washers
- 2 Wall anchors
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
13.5 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
310 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
399mm
vs
466mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
952cm2
vs
2410cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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-4000 needs about 153% more floor area. SVS SB-4000 stands 17mm further into the room. SVS SB-4000 is 67mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB-4000 |
ELAC Muro SUB2020 |
| Brand |
SVS |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
19-310 Hz |
28-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite/Glass Fiber |
Woven Cellulose Fiber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side or bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
466.0mm (18.3") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
453.0mm (17.8") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
532.0mm (20.9") |
515.0mm (20.3") |
| Weight |
46.50kg (102.3lbs) |
12.73kg (28lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
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-4000 goes deeper - 19Hz against 28Hz. 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-4000 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 200W RMS, about 7.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB-4000 moves more air: 13.5" against 10" is 1.82x the cone area, not the 1.35x 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. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (app control). |
| Wireless option | depends | Only ELAC Muro SUB2020 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS SB-4000 fires front and ELAC Muro SUB2020 fires side or down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Muro SUB2020 is about 66% 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-4000 carries 5 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | ELAC Muro SUB2020 costs less - $1,000 against $1,800, about 44% less. |
A SVS SB-4000 B ELAC Muro SUB2020
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-4000 measures better, ELAC Muro SUB2020 costs about 44% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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 $1,000 each, two ELAC Muro SUB2020 cost about $2,000 against $1,800 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Muro SUB2020 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.