SVS SB-2000 Subwoofer Review
If you choose to buy a subwoofer, you will inevitably encounter SVS. The subwoofer is almost everything related to audio and home theater, and there are good reasons for this. SVS has produced high-performance subwoofer speakers at a shockingly reasonable price. SVS’s subwoofer lineup has a fascinating place. SVS’s product line is from high-end to entry-level, canceling some advanced functions and more exquisite appearance but cleverly avoiding performance degradation.
This allows SVS’s entry-level products to compare with most competitors’ mid-range products, or even better than other products. SVS’s 2000 series products include PB-2000 and SB-2000, which are outstanding examples of SVS’s superb engineering and design art. PB-2000 is like a large subwoofer with a bass port, capable of emitting loud and deep bass in a large space. The SVS SB 2000 subwoofer is sealed and compact. Compared with the PB 2000, the subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the home theater. Its compact size will not take up too much home improvement space.
SB-2000: New Upgraded Version of Sealed Subwoofer
The new SB2000 has a new qualitative leap based on the original classic 12-inch closed subwoofer. It is compact in size, powerful in output, excellent in sound quality, and has many advantages in one. The compact size is the first impression when I first saw the SVS SB2000. It is very suitable for small and medium-sized spaces, but its penetrating power is more than twice that of a conventional subwoofer.
Of course, the size is not its most significant feature. The advantage of SB2000 comes from its sealed cabinet design, which allows it to have a first-class sense of speed and control under the premise of having the same unit and power amplifier as PB2000. Clean and fast is its most prominent feature.
As far as SB2000 is concerned, it emphasizes a fast, clean, clear, and robust style. It is a subwoofer that emphasizes low-frequency texture—no matter what type of music or movie, the listening experience will become more comfortable with SB2000.
The SB-2000 Design
SB-2000 is a compact sealed subwoofer with a clean and stylish appearance. The black-gray finish and curved edges are very attractive, and the manufacturing quality is excellent. The box body is made of sturdy MDF board and is located on screw-in rubber feet. The subwoofer has a small footprint, only 37 x 36 x 43cm, but it still has enough weight, weighing 16kg. There is a curved mesh grille on the front, which adds a modern touch to the traditional subwoofer design. It also provides adequate protection for the 12-inch transmission on the front of the SB-2000, which is very convenient for people with children or pets, but you still don’t need to use it.
The powerful drive unit is custom-designed by SVS. Nearly 20 different samples have been developed until the final satisfaction, including 100 hours of full power testing, which significantly reduces distortion. The SB-2000 uses the new Sledge STA-500D DSP amplifier, which has an efficient Class D topology. The module has a nominal output of 500 watts of RMS continuous power, but its peak output power can be as high as 1100W. The twice the peak power output makes the power amplifier to promote the bass unit.
In addition to improving the power amplifier part, the base unit has also been upgraded. The diaphragm of the unit is added with Nomax material, which makes the diaphragm lighter and ensures sufficient strength. This dramatically reduces the sound distortion caused by the diaphragm’s deformation in the case of high power output. There is also a heavy-duty voice coil with a diameter of 2 inches for extreme power handling and an upgraded suspension to improve linearity and control.
DSP control can provide an accurate response and specific behavior under all working conditions. SVS claims that the low frequency of SB-2000 is extended to 19Hz.
Connection
The controls on the back of the SB 2000 include volume/gain control, 0-180 degree phase control, and low-pass filter frequency adjustment. Also, on the speaker’s back, there is an automatic on/off toggle switch, a trigger, 3.5mm TRS mini-jack input, and stereo RCA input and output connections.
In the upper left corner of the SB-2000, there is a small power status indicator. When the subwoofer is in the standby state, it is red, and when it is on, it is blue. This kind of light may be a bit bright, especially when the room is very dark. If you think it affects you, you can install a grille to solve this problem.
Setup
Setting up the SB-2000 largely depends on the type of system you are using, but the most common method is to connect the subwoofer to the AV receiver with a shielded RCA cable. The receiver will perform digital bass management and send a pre-filtered mono signal to the subwoofer. You can set the low-pass filter to LFE, the phase control to zero, and the volume control to 12 o’clock with this setting. Then, turn on the AV receiver and run the automatic calibration program.
Besides, the SB-2000 can be set up in multi-channel or stereo applications where the preamp or processor has left and right line outputs. In this case, you need to connect the left and right line outputs of the preamplifier or music streamer to the left and right line inputs of the SB-2000. Then, adjust the low-pass filter, adjust the gain, and adjust the phase control to obtain the most consistent and stable sound field and transition between the speaker and the subwoofer.
Using this connection method, you can choose to use the SVS SB 2000 to high-pass the signal sent to the speaker amplifier, because as mentioned earlier, the output has a fixed 80Hz 12 dB/octave high-pass filter. All that needs to be done is to connect the preamplifier’s output or streamer to the line input of the subwoofer and connect the output of the SB-2000 to the input of the speaker amplifier. Then, you can adjust the low-pass filter on the subwoofer to 80Hz.
Sound Performance
I have used SVS PB-1000 in the home theater. Although much smaller than PB-1000, SB-2000 can still provide impressive low-end performance.
Movie Performance
There is no doubt that when it comes to film soundtracks, the SVS SB-2000 does have a chance to shine, providing all low-frequency effects and well-designed bass moments with excellent techniques. The soundtrack of modern movies relies on bass to increase the scene’s impact and emphasize the rest of the mix, and the SB-2000 serves those talented sound designers well. We watched the “Pacific Rim” movie. This movie did not disappoint because every movement, punching, and footsteps of Jaeger were perfectly expressed.
In any case, the SB-2000 conveys all these bass sounds with a surprising degree of subtlety and nuance. This small submarine’s expressive power far exceeds its weight, and it can maintain detail and control. In “Pacific Rim”, SB-2000 effortlessly made all the underground roar without interfering with dialogue or other environmental sounds. On the contrary, it perfectly keeps up with the original sound’s rhythm, adding weight where necessary and adding impact when the story requires it.
I were deeply impressed by the performance of SB-2000 in the Pacific Rim, and we immediately performed classic bass tests, including “Star Trek into Darkness” and “Terminator Salvation” And “Kung Fu Panda.” SB-2000 has repeatedly changed our viewing and listening experience, rendering every powerful action skillfully, creating an enjoyable experience. We are often shocked by the impact of low-frequency effects, and at the same time, the low-frequency effects stop and start with true accuracy.
Music Performance
Of course, the subwoofer can not only be used for movie soundtracks, although usually, we also prefer to listen to music only with stereo speakers. However, some people like to add a subwoofer to music listening. SB-2000 shows its versatility here, and it also performs well in pure music. SB-2000 offers its versatility here, and it also performs well in pure music.
Use SB2000 to listen to Marilyn Frascone’s “Liszt: Piano Works”, which contains many Liszt piano solo works. The SB2000 performs the piano cleanly. You can clearly distinguish whether the piano is playing with the sustain pedal, which means that the SB2000 has good instant response capabilities.
For percussion instruments such as the piano, every note the hammer strikes will quickly sound and then decay. If the speaker’s transient response is good enough, you should be able to clearly distinguish these subtle performance changes. With the SB2000 subwoofer, the scene can show very beautiful low-frequency performance.
The SB-2000 consistently completes the task, showing the rare precision and musicality for a subwoofer in this price range. Whether you are watching movies or listening to music, this compact subwoofer will not disappoint you. It provides in-depth and detailed bass with precise control. Therefore, in the pursuit of movie sound quality, especially in the daily use of music programs or music movies, SB2000 is particularly suitable for the first choice. For some small space users, the possibility of problems such as standing waves is relatively low.
Conclusion
SVS SB 2000 subwoofer provides a deadly combination of powerful strength, tight connection, deep extension, and superior room entertainment. The SB-2000 sealed subwoofer is a victory for SVS, packing an astonishing amount of technology and power in a compact housing. The detachable grille has a specific taste, its design is still very attractive, and the manufacturing quality is also excellent.
SVS SB-2000 Specs
Subwoofer Specs
- Premium black ash and piano black finish options
- Protective non-resonant steel mesh grille
- Front-firing 12″ driver
- Rear-mounted amplifier
- Screw-in rubber feet
- Robust Medium Density Fiberboard(MDF) cabinet construction
- Cabinet Dimensions: 14.6″ (H) x 14.2″ (W) x 15.4″ (D) (without grille)
- Overall Dimensions: 14.6″ (H) x 14.2″ (W) x 17.1″ (D) (with grille)
- Weight (unboxed): 34.8 pounds
- Shipped Dimensions: 21″ (H) x 20.2″ (W) x 23.2″ (D)
- Shipped Weight: 51 pounds
Driver Specs
- SVS 12” 2000-series driver
- Powder-coated cast aluminum basket
- Dual high-grade ferrite magnets
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)-optimized motor structure
- Dual shorting rings reduce gap induction and lower distortion
- Extended pole piece improves heat sink and thermal management properties
- 2” diameter, high-power voice coil
- Upgraded Nomex spider for improved linearity and driver control at extreme drive levels
- High-quality insulated tinsel leads with 3-point-contact precision alignment
- Lightweight aluminum cone with polypropylene dust cap provides excellent rigidity and pistonic behavior
- Low-creep rubber long-throw surround for excellent durability and longevity
Amplifier Specs
- Sledge STA-500D DSP amplifier
- 500 watts RMS continuous (1100 watts peak dynamic)
- Efficient and cool-running Class D topology
- DSP control for accurate response and refined behavior under all operating conditions
- Main power rocker switch
- Auto-On / On toggle switch
- 3-12V trigger with 1/8” (3.5 mm) TRS mini-jack input
- Green standby mode with > 0.5 watts consumption
- Stereo line-level RCA Input & Output connections
- Input impedance – 47 kΩ (unbalanced line-level RCA)
- Continuously variable volume/gain control
- Continuously variable (0-180 degrees) phase control
- Continuously variable (50-160 Hz) 12 dB/octave low pass filter frequency with disable/LFE setting
- Fixed 80 Hz 12 dB/octave high pass filter on line level outputs
- RoHS compliant, lead-free construction and world-wide safety certifications
- Detachable power cord
