In this review, we will be comparing SB16-Ultra and PB-1000, 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 SB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 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 SB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 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 SB16-Ultraand SVS PB-1000 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB16-Ultra's woofer is 16-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz whereas PB-1000 has a frequency range of 19-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SB16-Ultra can go slightly deeper then the PB-1000'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
The SVS SB16-Ultra has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the SVS PB-1000 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed 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 SB16-Ultra's and SVS PB-1000's external dimensions. SVS SB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 508.0 x 496.0 x 512.0mm ( 20 x 19-1/2 x 20-1/8inch) whereas SVS PB-1000 has external dimensions of 480.0 x 381.0 x 532.0mm ( 18-7/8 x 15 x 20-15/16inch) .
SVS PB-1000 is 115mm narrower and 28mm shorter than SVS SB16-Ultra but it is also 20mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB16-Ultra and SVS PB-1000 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 SB16-Ultra is approximately 2539.5cm2 / 393.6inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 is approximately 2026.9cm2 / 314.2inch2. The SB16-Ultra requires 25% more surface area than the PB-1000 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 SB16-Ultra weighs 55.45kg / 122lbs and the SVS PB-1000 weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 165% heavier than the PB-1000.
Here is a comparison of how SB16-Ultra and PB-1000'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 SB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB16-Ultra:
Powered subwooferGrille8-feet AC power cordRemote controlOwners Manual
What's in the Box of SVS PB-1000?
Here are the items that come with the PB-1000:
Powered subwooferGrille (installed)6-feet AC power cordOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
19 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 |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
480mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2026cm2 (381x532mm)
vs
2539cm2 (496x512mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
SVS PB-1000 |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1500 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-460 Hz |
19-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1500-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
50-160 Hz and 80 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
508.0mm (20") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
496.0mm (19.5") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
512.0mm (20.2") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |