In this review, we will be comparing SB-4000 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-4000 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-4000 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.
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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-4000and SVS SB16-Ultra have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB-4000's woofer is 13.5-inch whereas the SVS SB16-Ultra features a 16-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB-4000 has a frequency range of 19-310 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-4000's min frequency of 19Hz.
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 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-4000's and SVS SB16-Ultra'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 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 SB-4000 is 43mm narrower and 42mm shorter than SVS SB16-Ultra but it is also 20mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB-4000 and SVS SB16-Ultra in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB-4000 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-4000 is approximately 2410.0cm2 / 373.6inch2 and base area of the SVS SB16-Ultra is approximately 2539.5cm2 / 393.6inch2. The SB-4000 requires 5% 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-4000 weighs 46.50kg / 102.3lbs and the SVS SB16-Ultra weighs 55.45kg / 122lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 19% heavier than the SB-4000.
Here is a comparison of how SB-4000 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-4000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB-4000:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cordRemote control4 Elastomer feetOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
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 |
466mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2410cm2 (453x532mm)
vs
2539cm2 (496x512mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
13.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
19 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460k Hz
vs
310k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
| General |
SVS SB-4000 |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
1500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
19-310 Hz |
16-460 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
1500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13.5" |
16" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite/Glass Fiber |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
466.0mm (18.3") |
508.0mm (20") |
| Width |
453.0mm (17.8") |
496.0mm (19.5") |
| Depth |
532.0mm (20.9") |
512.0mm (20.2") |
| Weight |
46.50kg (102.3lbs) |
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 |