If you are looking for a subwoofer that has proven its mettle for a while now, the SVS PB12-NSD and PB-2000 are worth taking a look at. CAUTION: Before you read further, though, you should know that these subwoofers have both been discontinued. But if you're lucky, you can still find a good deal online for the last ones. For suitable alternatives, in case you don’t, look at SVS PB-1000 Pro or Audioengine S8 instead.
In summary, SVS has built a formidable reputation for itself as the provider of quality audio equipment. The combination of that with their sophisticated design aesthetic makes them a good choice for home theater systems. Both give you a very accurate and high-quality bass response. The SVS PB-2000 is slightly bigger than the two. The SVS PB12-NSD is more flexible with its positioning. It gives you consistent quality no matter where it is in the room. The SVS PB-2000 can get a little boomy when not placed optimally.
Have you ever noticed that there often tends to be quite the opposite opinions about a speaker?
I can understand this for more "personal taste" kinda products like clothing, for example.
But for engineering products like speakers? Personal tastes and preferences probably still play a role. But shouldn't it be less?
Why is it that we can't set a universal metric for sound quality?
First time I asked this question to myself has been a pivotal day.
Because it turns out that in the mid 90's, Electrical Engineer PhD Floyd Toole came up with a method called Spinorama. This is exactly what he accomplished with this. Turns out that his book Sound Reproduction is like the bible of audiophiles.
Put it simply, Spinorama is a set of measurements that gives a comprehensive overview of a speaker's performance from various angles.
It allows you to compare the performances of different speakers before even laying your ears hands on them.
Isn't that amazing?
This is why Spinorama was apparently groundbreaking news for audio industry. Hence in the mid-late 2010's, most brands and magazines began publishing Spinorama measurements, despite the challenges of making such measurements.
Fortunately, now we have the Spinorama data for a bunch of quite popular speakers. Pierre Aubert put all this untidy data together and put it into https://www.spinorama.org/. This is a stunning source. Pretty valuable stuff from him right there.
All good up to this point.
Now there comes a caveat.
Since the sound speakers propagate are in the form of omnidirectional waves, all measurements are obtained in anechoic or semi-anechoic chambers (a super-quiet room where soundwaves don't bounce back, here's how different that room sounds [a mind blowing time-adjusted video]).
This is a problem because it means that Spinorama alone, unfortunately, won't give us all we need. Placement and reflections play an equally important role there too.
This is why most A-class brands (like SVS, Bang & Olufsen, etc) often come up with room correction features, adjusted either manually or automatically. The EQ adapts itself to the placement (room, corner, center, etc) for a better (deeper and more accurate) sound. Which is great.
Additionally they often emphasize the importance of placement, here is an example: https://www.svsound.com/blogs/subwoofer-setup-and-tuning/75365187-the-art-of-subwoofer-placement
Anyways...
The source code under Pierre Aubert's work is licensed under GPL (General public license). He didn't perform any of the measurements himself, and instead he compiled all of them into one place, so that makes sense.
At this point, I thought that if there was a tool that combined both the Spinorama with the room acoustics data, it'd be extremely useful.
Unfortunately, it turns out that there wasn't any.
This is where I stepped in and partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD in order to achieve this.
We combined Spinorama data with room acoustics and came up with Soundton. A very simple, 2D online tool that allows you to:
- Reveal optimal speaker positions in a room,
- Test with real speakers from real brands,
- Compare different speakers and different positions in the room.
It can be very valuable for the vast majority.
The colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) listening experience.
It works the best with subwoofers since Soundton processes low frequency response waves only.
- Soundton is going to be, say, 80% accurate. Not 100%.
- Because, other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, furniture/windows in place also have an impact on room acoustics.
- If you want absolutely the most detailed room analysis, then what you need is an acoustics consultant. Mind you that's going to require deep pockets and patience though... assuming you find the right person and they get the job done.
Anyways...
Design
SVS PB12-NSD
Weighing in around 66 lbs, the SVS PB12-NSD is obviously quite bulky and heavy. That being said, it is also surprisingly easy to handle and can be carried by one person. The bag it comes with help as well in the portability department.
The black metal finish with rounded corners does come with a somewhat 'heavy-duty' subwoofer look which can be an acquired taste. The matte grille in front goes well with the look. An open cast aluminum frame attached to a rubber cushion encases the driver of the subwoofer. The SVS logo embosses the dust cap on the same. Textured MDF vinyl wrap covering on the back is a nice touch. The quality of the material used appears to be high-grade. At a glance, the subwoofer should do a decent job of blending into a room, which is important while making your choice.
SVS PB-2000
The overall look and design of the SVS PB-2000 don’t differ much. It is as heavy and equally 'boxy' in its appearance too. What’s more, it also sports the same high-quality materials. Including the metal grille in the front and MDF covering, it does come with an LED light that lights up when turned on. Something that some consumers aren't particularly fond of (many prefer a speaker that can blend in easier in a completely dark room with no lights glimmering).
SVS also has a Speaker System Builder where you may choose from pre-selected systems or custom build your own by selecting any combination of SVS speakers and subwoofers.
Sound
Generally speaking, both offer deep, clear, and powerful bass that adds the sought-after sonic dimension you would look for in a home theater system while watching movies or listening to music. On closer inspection, the few minor differences make themselves more apparent.
SVS PB12-NSD
In a medium-sized room, the overall audio experience is very satisfactory. Even when experimenting with diverse positions, the response it gives remains consistently clear and defined. The MDF cover does a great job of containing the sound as well. From lower frequencies around 16Hz to higher ones around 140-150Hz, the sound remains clear and precise.
SVS PB-2000
An equally clear and enjoyable audio experience. That being said, when experimenting with positioning, you might find a few static waves (lumpy-sounding bass) that aren’t ideal.
The sound output does not remain as defined as its sibling when positioned randomly, and the farther down your room you place it, the better your chances at getting optimal sound. But otherwise, you get a very crisp performance sans any distortion or unwanted frequencies.
Specs
SVS PB12-NSD
Weight: 66 lbs
Output: 1000 W peak
Frequency Range: 18-150Hz
Dimensions: 20.9″ x 17.3″ x 22″
Driver Size: 12-inch
SVS PB-2000
Weight: 66 lbs
Output: 1000 W peak
Frequency Range: 17-260Hz
Dimensions: 20.9″ x 17.3″ x 23.2″
Driver Size: 12-inch
(So the only difference here is the dimensions).
Find the perfect subwoofer for your speakers using the SVS Subwoofer Matching Tool.
Connectivity
Both these speakers come only with a power cord. All other cables needed to connect this to your speakers have to be bought separately.
Note: There are no wireless options.
Price
As aforementioned, officially, both models have been discontinued, so getting an official quote is tricky. Please check your local dealers for prices.
Verdict
In conclusion, this is how the SVS PB12-NSD and SVS PB-2000 stack up against each other:
- Design: Tie. The SVS PB-2000 has an LED light which is not everyone’s favorite.
- Sound: The SVS PB12-NSD is more consistent no matter where it’s placed in the room.
- Connectivity: Tie.