SVS SB-1000 Subwoofer Review – Is It Worth It?

This model is an absolute workhorse and its impact is impossible to ignore. It is an exceptionally powerful subwoofer that decimates the competition near its $500 price range. Unlike its competitors, it hits you right in the gut and gives your entertainment center the bass it deserves.

The SVS SB-1000 is the smaller brother of SVS SB-2000.

One can call it a ‘lite’ version, but it is designed specifically for small to medium-sized rooms. Due to its powerful components, it can pump out loads of fast, clean, and bottom-end punches that make music come to life.

Sound Quality

We have checked the sound quality of SVS SB-1000 in many music genres.

For instance, when it comes to ‘Metal’, it produces amazing intensity and ferocious sound which is the essence of the Metal genre. You experience the strong presence of the beats in each song.

Most other subwoofer misses the beats in low-range, but this unit highlights the lower-range and make you feel its presence. Every bit of bass of the metal genre is highly responsive too; it has the depth with significantly more punch behind it.

The Hip Hop genre is great also. The lyrics are utterly clean throughout the song; you don’t miss any beat.

Also, the Electronic Genre is loud and incredible.

Every beat in the electronic genre carries a high level of precision and sharpness. It blends well with the entire sound and wonderfully pushes to the upper limit without any hint of distortion. Every supercharged bass note has more punch behind it.

Other than that, we understand the main concern is always the distortion.

The level of distortion decides the quality of a subwoofer. If the distortion levels are high, particularly in mid-range or high-range, it means the subwoofer isn’t good. On the contrary, if the distortion is low, it is a good sign. It shows the subwoofer can maximize the slam.

The SVS SB-1000 subwoofer has an FEA-optimized motor technology for low distortion. It doesn’t matter whether you are in high-range with 100% bass or mid-range, it is hard to find any distortion. 

The sound will stay smooth and give an accurate performance on music and movies.

Experts believe the fullness of its sound can compete with the subwoofers with inverter models. Without any dependence, the accuracy of its sounds surpasses most of its competitors.

The premium and remarkable features in this unit are the ‘Bass Diversity’.

It is something that plays with the voice-frequency balance and generates different kinds of basses for different kinds of music genres.

For instance, if you are listening to Hip Hop music, you will experience a different bass, whereas an action-packed movie will have a special bass. The blast waves in the action scenes will be quite authentic and make you feel the physical sense of vibration.

If you compare its sound with the PB-1000, we agree, SVS PB-1000 probably has more presence and it shows more depth than SB-1000, however, when it comes to diversity, it isn’t great like SB-1000 model. With an insignificant foot and small driver, SVS SB-1000 wins the competition. It accomplishes the same task in many ways; every genre has its special feeling.

Also, the way this subwoofer produces a low-frequency effect is incredible.

The sound of aircraft engines can be felt even if they are on a distance. It has a high degree of control on the low-range and changes the pressure of volume amazingly well.

All notes and hits of the aircraft are clear with the proper rhythm.

Even for professional gamers, it creates a truly cinematic experience. The tight accurate bass is extremely clean in its delivery and makes the scene of the roaring beast 100% sensational.

Also read: Klipsch R100SW vs R10SW

Design

In the closed subwoofers category, it is the junior device with its active built-in amplifier.

It is super-compact and fits even a small studio. The sealed design is used to deliver outstanding responsiveness. Furthermore, the advanced DSP onboard keeps the bass line tight; each bass is shockingly fast and clean.

The stunning appearance of SVS SB-1000 complements every décor. It is presented with either premium ash wood or piano white finish.

It has a minimal footprint and it is hard to notice.

The overall size is rather small too. If you want to keep it out of the way, put it in a corner. If you’re after a compact subwoofer, you can read about our best ones here.

The round edges of this subwoofer and the 13-inch sides make it durable and also impede the inside resonances. We know the internal space is small and it feels like the resonances can be exploded, but this isn’t the case.

Keep in mind, some people compare the SB-1000 with PB-1000. In reality, there is no comparison. The SVS PB-1000 is a totally separate model and has big shoes to fill. It can be compared and tested against many SVS subwoofers.

Though people call PB-1000 a ‘beast’, when we compared it with the SB-1000, its sound is quite hollow, especially when we challenge it on the proverbial knuckle rap test.

Its front panel is 1″ MDF while other panels are .75″ MDF. The SVS company has designed its cabinets with damping material. They are two inches in size and stapled in place. 

The grills of this model are stout pieces. They are made of .75″ plastic-like material. It is pertinent to comprehend the material of the grill as it is not mentioned in the description, but the good thing is they fit tightly and never once vibrate.

The SVS SB-1000 cover looks like plastic, just like its grills, but it is not.

It is made of the medium-density fiberboard, which makes this unit affordable and also facilitates in improving overall acoustic performance.

The fiberboard exterior makes it lightweight as well and it has a thick rubber surround that reinforces strength and durability.

Specifications:

• The optimal cutoff frequency is 90 Hz.
• SVS SB-1000 size is 13.5 x 13 x 14.6 inches.
• The crossover has a range of 24 – 260 Hz.
• It has 720 watts of peak power.
• It has 300 watts RMS.
• The front-firing driver size is 12″.
• Without grille, the cabinet dimensions are 13.5 x 13 x 14 inches.
• The grills of this unit are detachable.
• The audio amplifier output power is 300 watts.
• The sensitivity, dB is 100.

Looking for the best subwoofer for music? Read here.

Settings

Now we have checked how the SB-1000 is designed, it is time to review its settings. They are straightforward and can be adjusted by the most novice audiophile.

The first on the list is to power it up and let all its inside components warm for at least 5 minutes, especially after buying this unit. Next, connect your subwoofer with the receiver’s AVR directly through the LFE input.

With the LFE input connection, there is no need to make any adjustments; it doesn’t matter whether you are opting for 2-channel or surround sound listening.

But you should select the LFE on the low pass filter.

Once the receiver is connected successfully, set the phase control to zero and turn the volume up only 50% to test and make sure everything is properly equalized.

Now play your favorite tracks and see how this subwoofer is performing. You can push it to its limit to experience how it creates a full theater-like experience at home.

When it is time to party, it is imperative to keep its placement in mind. 

Since, for absolute best sound, the placement of the SB-1000 subwoofer plays an important role. For example, if you put it in the corner, the sound can be excessively boomy.

We have a pretty in depth guide on subwoofer place that you can read here. (Opens in a new tab)

Similarly, placing it on any weird location can make the sound unbalance. For that reason, you have to set and check different locations in the room to ensure the acoustic distance and calibration levels are set properly. Apart from this, you have to check its accuracy on all bass volumes too.

In case you already have a subwoofer and you want to connect another SB-1000 with your receiver, it is better to place them in two corners. Their placement should be a tad in front of the main loudspeaker. This placement gives the best sound in the medium size room.

Speaking of speakers, here‘s the difference between a speaker and a subwoofer.

This subwoofer has many signal connections also, such as:

• AVR/PRO Connection
• Line Level Connection
• L/R Line-Level Outputs

Remember that the SVS SB-1000 subwoofer has a detachable automatic system that can make it go in the sleeping mode. The power consumption of this subwoofer in the sleeping mode accounts for 0.5 watts.

In a way, you don’t have to de-attach it fully, if you are planning to use it regularly.

For the overall setup, the company has provided three knobs too. All the crossover and phases levels can be adjusted through these knobs. If you want to play with the sleeping mode or auto power option, there is a 12V trigger option that facilitates adjusting and switching the modes.

SVS SB-1000 Pros & Cons

Pros

• The impact of this subwoofer is hard to ignore; it doesn’t matter whether you are buying it for your gaming session or music/movies.

• It can be paired on either side of your room.

• The bass lines of this subwoofer are tight and never let the beats go muddy.

• It has an intelligent integration system.

• It has a massive effortless output with an immersive impact so powerful you feel it. It is balanced, accurate, detailed, and never boomy.

• The 12-inch driver pumps out deep bass for smooth performance.

• It has a highly advanced DSP processor.

• This subwoofer is small enough to conceal in any room.

Cons

• It doesn’t work as well in larger rooms. You will need to get the SVS SB-1000 in a pair.

• It doesn’t have XLR inputs/outputs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding SVS SB-1000 Subwoofer.

Where are the main control keys of SVS SB-1000?

The main control keys are at the back panel of this subwoofer. You can find the keys right over its perimeter for setting up the sound… All the inputs and outputs are at the back panel too.

How the SB-1000 subwoofer’s driver is powered?

The driver of this subwoofer is powered by a Sledge STA-300D amplifier. The main purpose of this amplifier is to assist this model to reach its peak power, which is a total of 720 watts. 

Is it build for gaming?

Yes, it is built for gaming, but make sure you aren’t connecting it with an economical speaker set. Due to its power, it can create constant static hum. Therefore, if you are a gamer, with SVS SB-1000, you have to count on a set of good speakers too.

Which movies are good for testing the sound quality?

There are many, but you can check ‘Lord of The Rings’ and ‘War of The Worlds’. Both are great and have all the sound effects that are potent and realistic.

What is the purpose of the cabinet, sealed design?

The cabinet, sealed design is excellent for keeping the sound tight. It doesn’t let it blast or boom unnecessarily and keeps the distortion to a minimum, unlike the SVS PB1000 which is a ported box design.

Conclusion

For only $499, your setup can have a movie-theater like bass.

The two premier things that demand special attention are the amazingly low power consumption and the STA-300D amplifier. It is almost impossible to get these two features in an economical subwoofer. It looks like the high-end piece in your new entertainment center.

This subwoofer is from the SVS sealed series. When we assessed its highs and lows and all the key features, we were surprised that the SVS brand has included almost all the advanced technological features that are presented in the expensive lines only.

It is definitely for you if you care about the sound and can detect the faintest sound shades.

You can’t question its quality… We can guarantee that.

On a tight budget? Here are the best budget speakers.