Click on the description box if you want more information about each subwoofer. To be clear: the goal of this video was to provide succinct and to-the-point information. If you're into detailed comparisons with other brands, check out another RU-vid channel named: Nemo Propaganda. He does a great job with covering subwoofers, particularly as it relates to music oriented use. Oh, and if you do decide to buy, feel free to use the Amazon links if you're in the US. I won't ever push ya to make a decision, but if you're going do it, then ya mine as well throw me a little love in the process. :).
Nice thing about these two SVS subwoofers is how much control you have with the control app. You can set them to integrate with your music system and have another preset for watching movies. You don't need a smartphone either. Just get an old disconnected smartphone or small tablet that has WiFi capabilities as the remote.
You kinda contradicted yourself In one sentence you said you don’t need a (smartphone) And in the next line you said - just get an old disconnected (smartphone) 😐
@@demonreturns4336 I think he probably meant "You don't need an activated smartphone with an active cellular plan either...", suggesting that someone could simply install the app on a wifi-only device such as an older iPhone, iPad, etc.
Great video. There's never been a better time to get into subs than today with great products from REL, KEF and SVS. Wish I could get one with the convenience of SVS' app, the small and great performance of KEF, and the perfect integration of REL!
I have 2x SB-2000s that I can’t hear. It took awhile to get to that point. When I got my subs, I wanted to hear it and feel the slam. But then the songs I knew and loved didn’t sound right, so I turned it down. Then I missed the slam, and turned it up again, just not as high as last time. Then down, back up again not as high…until bass bliss. Even, full, seamless bass. Music that has body. I can’t hear it, but I can feel it.
Also bear in mind the SB1000 Pro is the only one that has high level inputs. I've now owned both, and while I agree the 3000 micro is a tiny bit more subtle, it's also generally less able to create a larger scale sound that pressurises the room. I'm not sure the 3000 micro is twice the performance, for twice the money. I'm quite happy to now have the 1000 pro
Thank you for the review. I had in mine to buy the SB-1000 but you brought my attention to the Micro-3000. I feel that this speaker could work well will my restored and recently acquired Quad 57 electrostic speakers. So pleased I came across your video. Thank you.
PB-2000 pro. Had a SB-1000. Good subs, the app is great. Whatever you do, adding a sub really improves the sound quality, does not just 'add bass'. Even on a low end system, before upgrading speakers or amp, get a good sub.
About using it large rooms, I own a Micro 3000 which I use with B&W 703 in my living room - I just added it so I'm getting used to it. I'll eventually set it so it disappears - it has good bass. At the beginning I thought it was dead as there's no vibration from it but I can clearly tell there's bass and I'm just surprised the cabinet never moves. It's a nice product. I have it behind a guitar and it nearly matches the baseboard in white. This sub checks a lot of boxes. - It can pair a $3,500 pair of speakers (from 12 years ago) which is impressive - It still works in a large room with cathedral ceilings - It takes as little space as possible next to main speakers, mile-long tv stands, fireplaces, french doors - a foot of real estate is like asking for a 3 floor apartment in Manhattan :-) - It allows quick volume changes using the presets which makes it easy to kill the sub if kids are studying, at nighttime etc. It's a great sub with many quality of life features.
Thank you for this review, super helpful!! I love sb3000s in my TV set ups and looking at these smaller app enabled subs for a music only bookshelf add on in another room. The white color option is also great 👍
I'm glad you've been bringing up video games in your reviews lately. Most people just mention music or movies, but games have some killer soundtracks these days.
A nice accessory is the SVS isolation feet. I got dual SB-1000 Pros with the isolation feet and they sound great! The app is soooo great to have to make adjustments on the fly. I’m a happy customer! Oh I pair my subs with Tekton Lore Mini towers and I use the SVS isolation feet for them as well!
@@millercreek79 question do you simply run your subs parallel with your mains , both wired separately from each main out ? Or using a separate preamp ? Thank you
Thank you for having an open mind to different kinds of listeners! I appreciate that you share many kinds of options for uses to the products you review!
I have a Rel t9 in a larger room downstairs and an SVS sb1000 pro paired with my maggie 1.7i upstairs. Both are fantastic for the jobs they're asked to do.
Great review Sean. You always manage to boil the techie stuff down to usable basics. I've been looking for a new sub for my quirky living room setup (open space with a 12'x12' actual viewing/listening area. The setup is RSL CG23s up front, and CG3 Surrounds and SVS Prime Elevations F/R Heights. The Sub, an old JBL model, needs to be replaced. I was very intrigued by the Micro 3000 and the PB-1000 Pro. Your comparison confirmed that I was on the right track (which other reviews also confirmed) . I got on the phone with one of the of the SVS tech guys yesterday and had a 30 minute conversation with him. Because of the configuration of the room a sub can only sit in the front right corner. We went over the pros and cons of each model and he felt that trying the Micro 3000 might be worthwhile. It's more flexible in terms of where it's located and he said that I'd probably be surprised at how good the output was due because of the power of the amplifier. And as he said, the if it doesn't wotk for me I have 45 days to return it no questions asked. So it gets here next week and we'll see what it can do.
Been viewing your reviews for a year or two, and this is my first comment. You are simply among the best reviewers out there. You manage to cover every element of a components performance in the most clear, logical and articulate manner, and include great insight as to how it integrates with various types of systems and acoustic spaces. Thanks' man. Like you, I would spend thousands of dollors for subwoofers that integrate invisably with my mains, but generaly have not had that type of budget, so thanks for reviewing affordable products as well, and helping us understand what or what we may not be getting.
Thanks for taking the time to comment William. I appreciate your tuning in and of course, for laying down some positive vibes. Keep enjoyin' the music!
Great video Sean! Glad you offered the dual sub discussion at the end. In my opinion dual is always better. Your suggestion to buy two SB1000’s for a grand is spot on (provided your viewers have the space). I’m running dual PB2000’s in a medium sized room and it is awesome. Thanks again Sean!
Every time I watch a subwoofer review I feel that a honorable mention should go to the B&W ASW 608. I bought a pair on the recommendation of Nemo propaganda view reviews, and could not be happier with them in a 500 ft² room. I had actually made up my mind to buy a pair of the REL t5i, however the REL's are f****** ugly. I am constantly astonished at the sound quality, and in particular the upper base of the ASW 608's. They don't come with an app, however integration was super easy. All I had to do was listen and get up out of the couch to adjust about twice, and I have not touched them since. At less than a grand for a pair of subwoofers they work very very well. Definitely top notch sound quality. Incredible speed, and grip with just enough thump. However on RU-vid it's hard to find a subwoofer review that is not SVS, or REL.
I have an asw 610xp, would love to get another one, but the new price is waaaaay higher than what I paid for mine. I did find another second hand sub from a different brand, but they seem to work well together
I ultimately purchased the micro 3000 in white because of aesthetics for my dining room system and to compliment my classic Ethan Allen dining table and at the same time to sort of disappear on the white floors! Boy was I in for a treat ...... amazing sound! I listen to classical and jazz when using that room so the low end satisfies ! I’ve paired it with a very basic system a Yamaha 301 and a pair of vintage Bose 201 on stands. Speakers and furniture are family Heirlooms and aesthetics were the priority here but something needs to be said about the micro 3000 bringing a current touch and bringing sound to life in that room! Btw price for winter of ‘21 has gone up to $900
I don't know if that's true... That's like saying musicians don't care about their music because they care too much about where to land the bend etc. When you fine tune your system it just sounds amazing. If you spend a shit ton of a subwoofer and it's high end doesn't blend seamlessly with the low end of your mains it'll sound like crap. You might not notice if you aren't an "audiophile" until someone fixes it. Most people would have been fine with 320 by 480 until they were shown better. I remember a buddy of mine saying something similar about how "no one cares about squinting at a little phone screen" not realizing that they would care if it got clearer
We spend equal time on both. I do anyway. Guitar pedals… now that’s a different story. It all matters if you are happy and enjoying yourself or not. Isn’t that the point of all points?? I don’t tell you what you enjoy is trivial, do I? Besides that kick in your tush.. I bet my system sounds better than yours. 😉
Bought the 1000 pro and , all I want is low sub 30db lets call it atmosphere. And it’s just for music . My speakers take care of the music the sub extends the soundstage , down . I’ve had 8” subs before and their upper bass conflicted with my speakers , thump yes but low warm glissando’s , not really .Think orchestral . As a bass player I don’t need the sub to exhibit’sound’ , my speakers do that . Whenever I played electric bass (past) if using 10” , you need multiple 10” to get smooth lower octave or you’re simply getting majority upper bass . The 12” at this value works well for me . The app is tremulous btw. The kef, rel , 3000 are quality products but at you’re paying quite a bit more . The footprint of the SB 1000 pro is quite small as well . Thanks for the comparison
Hi Derek, I'm also tinking to get a 1000 pro for my stereo setup, did you manage to integrate the 1000 pro in your system without actualy hearing the sub? I'm wondering if the app helps in the process .Thanks
Thanks for the great review. One item that makes a difference for some folks is the weight of the sub. Picking up and moving a large, heavy sub by yourself isn't easy - and can cause an injury if you're not careful. Especially when moving a sub over and over - like doing a sub crawl and trying to find the best spot acoustically for it. The fact that both of these subs are under 30lbs makes them much easier to move around.
@@RennieAsh You should also note that the $10 wheeled dolly needn't be used exclusively for moving subs around 😜 Consider it an investment in your overall health and well-being!
If you want to blend in your subs and not hear them, use Dirac. I hated the miniDSP with REW because it totally fucked with the phase. Dirac was easy and gave me superior results and it didn't fuck up the phase. You don't need a REL to get perfect bass. Get Dirac.
DIRAQ cant fix driver quality (material, thickness, etc..), filter quality, etc. Thats mostly what makes REL a REL. However, I agree that DIRAQ is the "easy button" that works pretty well for most bass applications.
Great review, i have read other people say that the sb3000 micro is harder to localize and dissappears better than the sb1000 due to the opposing driver's , is this something you heard?
love that region to region price difference talk thing but for me its nearly impossible to understand the price gap (i live in India by the way) here the 1000 pro costs nearly 1300 dollars(converted) so man yo see i dont have much but to appreciate your review only bro
What about one of each? Would that be problematic vs two of the same one? They are both sealed, so possibly it wouldn't be as much of an issue with mixing subs.
@@ZeroFidelity well, I've had the Sub in for about 4 days now and it's starting to bed in and loosen up a bit after a few movies. I use my system mostly for music (maybe 70% music) but movies are good to put some deep tones into the sub. It wasn't difficult to integrate into my system, I already have a 8"paper cone sub that crosses over about 100hz and handles the punch and speed well so the new 1000pro handles everything below that. It's great having the app to set up so you don't have to keep getting up to make every small change to the crossover or volume, EQ etc. I know this wasn't your favorite video and didn't do well in terms of views for you but just think for people like me who were looking for exactly this video, It was very good to hear your views and helped me make what I feel was a good purchase. So thanks for the video
I have had modern high watt surroundsound systems with satellites and a subwoofer for 20 years. Then I brought home a set of 1970s JBL L100s, And I realized that what I wanted all along was TWO 12”woofers. All the satellites and subs are for sale.
Great video. I bought a SVS SB2000 about a year ago. Excellent sub. I setup with Peachtree Nova and Legacy Audio Monitors. It does what I wanted, fills the entire house with quality bass!
Sorry shaun for asking something totally of the subject. It's just that im not very good at social media so don't really know how to go about it. I apologize for that ✌
Thanks for the helpful and detailed comparison! This was exactly what I was looking for. And double-thanks for giving your opinion as both an audiophile and someone who understands what non-audiophiles may be looking for in a home theatre. I'm trying to pair to some old Polk Rti2000s, so I think I might be looking at the right brand. Happy listening to you!
What a great channel I've found. How do subs in this price range, or this style of being one that's "heard" integrate with pricier speakers such as the S400mkii, or even the A500? Perhaps between the DSP and tunings on the A500 and the customizability of the SVS subs, one could find a happy place? Then theres the A500 signature edition with a beefed up driver. Or would it just make more sense to go with the A700 and not bother with subs? That's where I have a hard time.. to go with a floorstander that is perfectly integrated, or go with bookshelves and subs. I mean the A700 has 4 6" subs in each box lol.. but would a SB1000-3000 extend lower and sound "better" with the A500? Is it redundant to go with floorstanders AND subs? I feel like everything could get completely messy in that case. Many thanks to anyone who wants to shed some light on this for me.
A separate sub even with floor standers will gone you separate bass adjustment and flexible placement options. Very few floor stand speakers negate the NEED for separate subs, IMHO. Also, even floor standers will sound cleaner if you hi pass them between 60-80 hz and let the subs do the heavy lifting
@@ZeroFidelity thanks Zero , I can tell you put the time in ! But i am over here freaking out this song yellow brick road by angus julie stone putting out some serous airyness Esprit/doge/burson Ohh Burson said whats up ??? Suppose to email ya this 😆
What are your thoughts on having two subs that are different models? I have an SVS PB12-NSD that I purchased many years ago. My home theater is in my living room, which is very large. I have often thought about adding a second subwoofer. Either a SVS PB-1000 Pro or a PB 2000 Pro would be the closest match, but not exact.
I hVe an sb-3000 in my open cocnept living room. It doesnt fill the room as much as Id like and I dont want to add a 2nd 3000 due to size. Im looking at 2 sb1000s or 2 micro 3000s. Which one would you go with ?
Hi, you are talking about bass that you don't wanna hear, it has to be a natural bass extension. Could you make a video about that? Iám curious which one I could buy and preferable in different price range. Thanks!
I had the SB-1000 Pro for a month w/ a quality A/B amp and KEF q350s .. Loved the sound signature but I felt like it could be even better, for less money. Swapped out my expensive Cambridge amp for a cheap D-class ZA3 amp, and q350s for q150 speakers ..but I spent a bit more on the sub, opting for 3000 Micro. More power with smaller, faster drivers = more tight, controlled and musical bass/low mids. I'd be astonished to find a more musically detailed and naturally sounding 2.1 system for under $1200 all-in.
Doesn't look like the mini offers that much of a space advantage. It's not that small really. Being a product that is especially meant to accommodate those with less space it comes short. Surely there must be better compact options?
Every dimension is smaller so total cubic volume is a lot less, plus it has 2 drivers instead of 1. If you want smaller still then the KEF KC62 is another popular option. It is much more expensive than the Micro 3000 though.
So, now I stopped using the SVS SB2000 in my system. I got rid of the Peachtree Nova which I got tired of. I bought a used BC Acoustique 222.1 integrated amp. This amp delivers so much current into the Legacy Audio Monitors with clean bass, no need for subs. Consider better amps instead of sub.
Thanks for this timely video as deciding between the two now myself! . . . Oh & don't forget you could hide the 3000 Micro inside one of the Ikea Kallax cube storage you have the subs sitting on in the video intro - I partially jest but would be interesting to see how it might affect the sound assuming you also have the Kallax suitably damped & isolated from the floor :)
OK, I need some help ameliorating my abundance of ignorance. You say you are a snobby audiophile that would pay thousands of dollars for a subwoofer solution you cannot "hear". I think I know what you mean, but isn't that really just a matter of output? I am sure if I turned up your $10K sub solution I'd begin to "hear" it like any poorly set up Sub. So my ignorant question is, aside from the ability to be snobbish, what difference would I "hear" between a properly set up JL Audio Gotham, Legacy Audio Goliath XD, REL No. 25, or an SVS SB-16 Ultra? That is, of course, aside from whatever "clever marketing" is involved. I'm a non-snob. I have a pair of SVS PB-12 NSD (old models), and a Klipsch surround setup, and a Denon receiver.
I have the sb1000 and like it. My only issue is pairing it with my def tech 800’s it doesn’t seem to pair that well because it’s so deep thuddy sounding and I have to set my crossover point at 100hz. I feel like a 10 or a 8 would probably pair better with them. I was hoping SVS would release one but I really wasnt looking for an opposing outward firing subwoofer since it would be right up against my tv center. I don’t know how bad that would hurt the sound but otherwise I’d like to get one. I wish they would release a 10 or 8 with decent power and the app.
really sad how pricing for svs work in the eu. There is even a steep price difference between the sb1000 and sb1000 pro. the pro models in eu cost around 200 more than the non pro models. the 1000 pro currently goes for between 699 and 799 in eu while the non pro costs 599 wich is stupid... really: the only way to buy svs subs in eu is the used market. There you can find actual value deals like the other day someone was selling 2x sb12nsd for example for 500, wich is even more powerful than the sb1000.
Hey, I would appreciate your advice. I am looking to extend the bass on my KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers with some subs. I am in a small, untreated room. Does it make any sense to get one or, perhaps, a couple of SB-1000 Pros? I can't really afford anything more expensive at this time, but perhaps could save up if it's worth it. The KEFs do have a sub out on each of the speakers, so integration shouldn't be a big issue. Acoustics will likely be a much bigger problem I assume. I do wonder though - will it still be better to get the subs vs. using no subs? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
I'm not a pro like Sean, but I hope I can help. You are almost certain to make a big improvement adding a sub to bookshelf speakers. If you order from svs they give you 45 days to try them out with free return shipping. You probably only need one sub for a small room, but running two subs in stereo will make a bigger difference for bookshelf speakers than floor standers. Prices on svs will go up $100 on 10/4. So maybe buy two now and try it out with one and with two subs. If you find you don't need the second, send it back. Just my opinion though, hope it's helpful.
I too have the kef ls50 wireless ii, in grey/red. Matched them up with duel micro 3000 . Unbelievable match . Able to turn bass down when listening to classic rock . Crank bass up with electronic. Did I mention movies
Hi Sean. I’m setting up a stereo for my ex wife and I have aHarmon Kardon 930 receiver with the Sony sscs5. Don’t think that’s right number but the Sony’s you reviewed. Would either one of these subs fit with that set up ? She is indeed my former wife and mother to my daughter, who is an audiophile herself so I want to get this right.
i have a pl200ii. I listen to stereo audio setup 50% and HT 50%. Do these subs perform twice or 3x as good to justify the price vs the PL200ii for a small/medium room? Being in a townhome I don't play the PL200ii sub past half of its potential....
Thank you for your awesome reviews. Just a quick question. If a person was mostly listening to music and it wasn't EDM or other super bass heavy music, would you say that in general two small subwoofers will integrate with the tower speakers and sound better than two larger, 15"+ subwoofers? I'm just curious after hearing your comparison of the SB1000 Pro and the Micro and liking the Micro better for music. Thank you!
Great review. Why say that you shouldn't hear the sub? You can always hear the addition of a sub. If you didn't then why would you have it. Subs add low end extension and add to the sound stage. If the sub is distracting then it's either too loud or its performance is poor. If music has bass lower then your speakers can output, then yes you should hear it.
The goal for some listeners is to get more bass without actually hearing where that sound is coming from, while ALSO not changing the character of your main speakers. It's a simple goal that.. in reality.. is pretty damned tough to pull off. Bear in mind that some people are just flat out more critical than others when it comes to this stuff. Meaning that one mans "good enough" may be unlistenable to another.
@@ZeroFidelity all you need is a pro sound engineer with a decent measurement system eg. SysTune from AMFG to time and phase align the subs to the main speakers, and of course a piece of equipment that has the DSP to make the adjustments to the separate main/sub signals…..
Hi Sean! love your videos. I'm seeking for advice. I can buy a very good sub (2k USD) or 2 1k+ each. 1 JL audio e110 or 2 Rythmik f12? What would you do?
Spent 1500 on both of mine when I was broke as a joke . I always tell my friends to buy the most subwoofer you can and maybe a little more. You can have a bad ass sub connected to a clock radio and be blown away. A joke but .... true?