In this review, we will be comparing SB16-Ultra and SB 5000 R Evolution, 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 5000 R Evolution 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 5000 R Evolution have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB16-Ultra's woofer is 16-inch whereas the SVS SB 5000 R Evolution features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz whereas SB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 17-280 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SB16-Ultra can go slightly deeper then 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 SB16-Ultra's and SVS SB 5000 R Evolution'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 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 465.1 x 452.4 x 495.3mm ().
SVS SB16-Ultra is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 43.6mm wider, 42.9mm taller and 16.7mm 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.
SVS SB16-Ultra needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. SVS SB16-Ultra is 17mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS SB16-Ultra is 43mm taller.
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 5000 R Evolution is approximately 2240.7cm2 / 347.3inch2. The SB16-Ultra requires 13% more surface area than the SB 5000 R Evolution 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 5000 R Evolution weighs 46.31kg / 101.9lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 20% heavier than the SB 5000 R Evolution.
Here is a comparison of how SB16-Ultra and SB 5000 R Evolution's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
15 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460 Hz
vs
280 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 |
465mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2240cm2
vs
2539cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2000USD
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.
SVS SB16-Ultra needs about 13% more floor area. SVS SB16-Ultra stands 17mm further into the room. SVS SB16-Ultra is 43mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
16-460 Hz |
17-280 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1500-watt RMS |
2000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
5000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
508.0mm (20") |
465.1mm (18.3") |
| Width |
496.0mm (19.5") |
452.4mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
512.0mm (20.2") |
495.3mm (19.5") |
| Weight |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
46.31kg (101.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| 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 (16Hz vs 17Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 1500W RMS, about 1.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (16" against 15"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is about 19% 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. |
| Price | B | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution costs less - $2,000 against $2,300, about 13% less. |
A SVS SB16-Ultra B SVS SB 5000 R Evolution
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.
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.