In this review, we will be comparing SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultraand SVS SB-4000 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB16-Ultra's woofer is 16-inch whereas the SVS SB-4000 features a 13.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz whereas SB-4000 has a frequency range of 19-310 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 SB16-Ultra and SVS SB-4000 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 SB16-Ultra's and SVS SB-4000'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 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 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 SB16-Ultra and SVS SB-4000 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB16-Ultra and SVS SB-4000 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 SB-4000 is approximately 2410.0cm2 / 373.6inch2. The SB16-Ultra requires 5% more surface area than the SB-4000 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 SB-4000 weighs 46.50kg / 102.3lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 19% heavier than the SB-4000.
Here is a comparison of how SB16-Ultra and SB-4000'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 subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of SVS SB-4000?
Here are the items that come with the SB-4000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- 4 Elastomer feet
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
13.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
19 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460 Hz
vs
310 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Height |
466mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2410cm2
vs
2539cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
vs
2300USD
|
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 20mm further into the room. SVS SB16-Ultra is 42mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
SVS SB-4000 |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1500 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-460 Hz |
19-310 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1500-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
13.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
Composite/Glass Fiber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
508.0mm (20") |
466.0mm (18.3") |
| Width |
496.0mm (19.5") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
512.0mm (20.2") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
46.50kg (102.3lbs) |
| 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 |
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 | A | SVS SB16-Ultra goes deeper - 16Hz against 19Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB16-Ultra has the bigger amplifier - 1500W against 1200W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB16-Ultra moves more air: 16" against 13.5" is 1.4x the cone area, not the 1.19x 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). |
| Price | B | SVS SB-4000 costs less - $1,800 against $2,300, about 22% less. |
A SVS SB16-Ultra 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?
SVS SB16-Ultra leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. SVS SB-4000 is the one to take if it does not.
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.