In this review, we will be comparing SB 5000 R Evolution and KC92, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS and KEF. 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 5000 R Evolution and KEF KC92 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.SVS SB 5000 R Evolution and KEF KC92 have a totally different setup: the SVS SB 5000 R Evolution features 1 x 15-inch drivers whereas the KC92 features 2 x 9-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
SB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 17-280 Hz whereas KC92 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC92 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SB 5000 R Evolution's min frequency of 17Hz.
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
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 5000 R Evolution's and KEF KC92's external dimensions. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 465.1 x 452.4 x 495.3mm () whereas KEF KC92 has external dimensions of 352.5 x 330 x 360.5 mm (13.88 x 13.00 x 14.19 in).
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 122.4mm wider, 113.1mm taller and 134.3mm deeper than KEF KC92.
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 5000 R Evolution is approximately 2240.7cm2 / 347.3inch2 and base area of the KEF KC92 is approximately 1191.3cm2 / 184.7inch2. The SB 5000 R Evolution requires 88% more surface area than the KC92 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 5000 R Evolution weighs 46.31kg / 101.9lbs and the KEF KC92 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the SB 5000 R Evolution 132% heavier than the KC92.
Here is a comparison of how SB 5000 R Evolution and KC92's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
280 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
352mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1191cm2
vs
2240cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2000USD
|
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 5000 R Evolution needs about 88% more floor area. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution stands 134mm further into the room. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is 113mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution |
KEF KC92 |
| Brand |
SVS |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
17-280 Hz |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
2000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
5000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
9" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-140 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.1mm (18.3") |
352.0mm (13.9") |
| Width |
452.4mm (17.8") |
330.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
495.3mm (19.5") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
46.31kg (101.9lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | KEF KC92 goes deeper - 11Hz against 17Hz. 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 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 1000W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution moves more air: 15" against 2 x 9" is 1.39x the cone area, not the 1.18x 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC92 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 5000 R Evolution carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A SVS SB 5000 R Evolution B KEF KC92
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 5000 R Evolution has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC92 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.