SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Reviewed

The SVS SB-1000 (buy at Crutchfield) is SVS’s entry level subwoofer. It features a 12-inch driver and 325 watts of class D power to ensure that the sub produces plenty of desired low frequency sound. The SB stands for sealed box, which is the preferred option for many two-channel enthusiasts, who think that ported subs—which often play quite a bit deeper—should be reserved for home theater applications. It comes in three different colors (black ash, gloss black, and gloss white), and it’s compatible with the SVS smart phone app, whichconnects via Bluetooth to the audiophile subwoofer and allows you to control volume, crossover, EQ, and everything in between.

What Makes the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Special?

• To state it simply, the performance of the SVS SB-1000 at this price is special. I didn’t perform measurements on this one, but if you’re interested in seeing them, the good folks at Audioholics included them in their review, which you can find here.
• The SVS SB-1000 Pro is small in size but not in sound, which means you can add some deep, low frequencies to your audio (or surround system) without investing too much floor space or lots of money.
• Most subwoofers are simple and, more often than not, ugly black boxes. SVS offers the SV-1000 Pro in both gloss black and a black, as as well as a more contemporary gloss white finish, which makes it easy to blend a sub into the décor of your room.

Why Should You Care About the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer?

As an entry level subwoofer, the SVS SB-1000 Pro provides fantastic performance for its price. More importantly, using the app you’re able to customize the performance to your liking adjust essential setup functions like low-pass filter, phase, polarity, EQ, and room gain compensation. This may feel somewhat secondary, but if you’re using an integrated amp or preamp that doesn’t have bass management, being able to tinker with the sub from the listening position is as good a feature as you’re going to find.

Some Things You Might Not Like About the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer 

• The biggest complaint I had about this sub is the length of the power cord. When you are trying to find the sweet spot for your subwoofer, you want to put the sub into the listening position and walk around the room until the sub sounds its best, then swap positions with it. That can be difficult when the power cord isn’t very long.
• Being a relatively small ported sub, it doesn’t play quite as deep as its larger siblings. For music, the low-frequency extension of the SB-1000 pro likely won’t be an issue, since it plays down to 20Hz (frankly, most subs below $1,000 don’t dig nearly so deep), but if you’re looking to use this for both your music and your home theater, you may find that the limits of human hearing aren’t quite deep enough for you, and you want to feel as much as hear the bass. The good news is, there’s a ported version of this model, the SVS PB-1000 Pro, that should suit your needs if you absolutely need your room to rumble. You can also move up from entry level in the SVS lineup and there is plenty more low-end to be had from slightly bigger and more expensive subs. 

Listening to the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer…

I wanted to test how tight the SVS SB-1000 Pro kept a bass line. I used “Natural Joe” by Primus to perform that test and it didn’t disappoint.  Few bass players play with the technique that Les Claypool does, and there wasn’t a point in this track where the bass got lost. You could hear ever note clearly and fully as Claypool continuously strummed away. Even closer to the end of the track when gun shots and explosions are artificially added, the bass was able to go deep and maintain clarity, which was a big upgrade over my floorstanding Paradigm Premier 700F floorstanding speakers (buy at Crutchfield), which have very respectable bass on their own. With the SVS SB-1000 in the loop, things sounded more solid and richer. More robust. Better. Removing the single SVS SB-1000 from my system to reminded me almost instantly of what I was missing.

In wanting to test how low the subwoofer would go I listened to “This Isn’t the Place” by Nine Inch Nails. This modern industrial track, off their Add Violence EP, goes as deep as any track that I could find, and the SB-1000 Pro had no issues handling the demanding bass. It remained clear and tight, which is as much as you can really ask from any subwoofer.

Does the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Have Any Resale Value?

Considering this is an entry level subwoofer, it should hold its value nicely. Given its weight (26 pounds), though, and the size of the box (which you will likely toss unless you have a lot of storage room at home) you will likely want to sell this subwoofer locally. People are buying them on eBay and they appear to be selling for well above half of retail price, which is rock solid in my eyes. I could see audiophiles who have fought owning a subwoofer trying out an SB-1000 Pro and loving it but then Jonesing for more performance or a bigger sub (or two). Either way, you are going to be fine with your investment in the SVS SB-1000 subwoofer. 

Who Is the Competition for the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer?

Despite its smaller size, the new SVS Micro 3000 ($899.99 – buy at Crutchfield) really performs and it looks even better than its more-affordable sibling. I know because I currently have one in my listening room. The Micro 3000 will cost you a couple hundred extra bucks, but if you’re looking for a smaller form factor for your subwoofer, it’s a great option if you have a little extra money to invest.

If you’re looking for something smaller and a little more affordable, you might want to check out the KEF KUBE 8b ($599.99 – buy at Crutchfield). You will give up some performance, as it features just a single eight-inch woofer, but it still has 300 watts of power, so it shouldn’t have any issues getting loud. Just know that it won’t play as deeply, as KEF reports the frequency response on this as 34-140 Hz (-6dB) instead of the 20-270 Hz that you are getting from the SB-1000 Pro.

An interesting option at a similar price is the Paradigm Defiance V10 ($679.99 – buy at Crutchfield). It comes with a smaller woofer at just 10 inches, but also comes with a nifty app to tinker with the sound of your sub like you can with any SVS product. The Paradigm Defiance V10 also will allow you to use Anthem Room Correction (ARC) directly into the subwoofer, which is a great low-effort way to get the subwoofer sounding great in any size room.

Final Thoughts on the SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer

At the price range that the SVS SB-1000 Pro plays in, there is a lot of strong competition. Just about anyone who makes a sub has one in this price range, but what really sets this one apart is the value. 

Audiophiles won’t find many sealed subwoofers in this price range that offer the combination of a 12-inch driver, 325 watts of power, and the ability to go as deep as this one does. I have spent hundreds of hours of listening to this subwoofer and there wasn’t a time where I felt like it was lacking low end for my music in any tangible or audible way. With any subwoofer, it can be a bit difficult to get set up for the first time if you don’t have any plugs close to your listening position due to the shorter length of the power cord, but once you have it set where you like it, I’m certain that the bass provided from it will bring a big smile to your face.