In this review, we will be comparing Gravis I and PB-1000 Pro, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sonus Faber and 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 Sonus faber Gravis I and SVS PB-1000 Pro first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Gravis I and SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 Sonus faber Gravis Iand SVS PB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the Sonus faber Gravis I's woofer is 8-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Gravis I has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the PB-1000 Pro can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Gravis I's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 Sonus faber Gravis I 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 Pro 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 Sonus faber Gravis I's and SVS PB-1000 Pro's external dimensions. Sonus faber Gravis I has external dimensions of 337.0 x 286.0 x 340.0mm ( 13-1/4inch x 11-1/4inch x 13-3/8inch ) whereas SVS PB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 479.0 x 380.0 x 509.0mm ( 18-13/16inch x 15inch x 20-15/16inch ) .
SVS PB-1000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 94mm wider, 142mm taller and 169mm deeper than Sonus faber Gravis I.
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 Sonus faber Gravis I is approximately 972.4cm2 / 150.7inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2. The Gravis I requires 50% less surface area than the PB-1000 Pro 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 Sonus faber Gravis I weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the SVS PB-1000 Pro weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs. This makes the PB-1000 Pro 33% heavier than the Gravis I.
Here is a comparison of how Gravis I and PB-1000 Pro's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Gravis I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gravis I:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord33-feet Speakon cableOwners ManualEnvironmental Information
What's in the Box of SVS PB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that come with the PB-1000 Pro:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cordQuick Start GuideBrochureSVS Support Information
 Height |
337mm
vs
479mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
972cm2 (286x340mm)
vs
1934cm2 (380x509mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| General |
Sonus faber Gravis I |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
325 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
17-260 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated Paper |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
479.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
509.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Matte White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
5 Years |