In this review, we will be comparing SB 5000 R Evolution and SB-4000, 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 5000 R Evolution and SVS SB-4000 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 5000 R Evolutionand SVS SB-4000 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB 5000 R Evolution's woofer is 15-inch whereas the SVS SB-4000 features a 13.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 17-280 Hz whereas SB-4000 has a frequency range of 19-310 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the SB 5000 R Evolution 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
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 SVS SB-4000's external dimensions. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 465.1 x 452.4 x 495.3mm () whereas 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).
SVS SB-4000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 0.60000000000002mm wider, 0.89999999999998mm taller and 36.7mm deeper than SVS SB 5000 R Evolution.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. SVS SB-4000 is 37mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 SVS SB-4000 is approximately 2410.0cm2 / 373.6inch2. The SB 5000 R Evolution requires 7% less surface area than the SB-4000 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 5000 R Evolution weighs 46.31kg / 101.9lbs and the SVS SB-4000 weighs 46.50kg / 102.3lbs. This makes the SB-4000 0% heavier than the SB 5000 R Evolution.
Here is a comparison of how SB 5000 R Evolution and SB-4000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
13.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
19 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
465mm
vs
466mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2240cm2
vs
2410cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
310 Hz
vs
280 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
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.
Near-identical footprints. SVS SB-4000 stands 37mm further into the room.
| General |
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution |
SVS SB-4000 |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
17-280 Hz |
19-310 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
2000-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
5000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
13.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Composite/Glass Fiber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.1mm (18.3") |
466.0mm (18.3") |
| Width |
452.4mm (17.8") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
495.3mm (19.5") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
46.31kg (101.9lbs) |
46.50kg (102.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in SVS's SB range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (17Hz vs 19Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 1200W RMS, about 2.2dB 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 13.5" is 1.23x the cone area, not the 1.11x 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. |
| Price | B | SVS SB-4000 costs less - $1,800 against $2,000, about 10% less. |
A SVS SB 5000 R Evolution B SVS SB-4000
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 5000 R Evolution measures better, SVS SB-4000 costs about 10% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.