The SB-4000 (see image) comes with a front-firing port. This makes it easier to place and gives it a lot more power and deeper bass.
Looking for a high-quality subwoofer for your home theater system and indulging a bit, but not too much with your budget? The SVS SB-3000 and SB-4000 are a couple of speakers you might want to check out. CAUTION: Even though availing high-quality sound is not an issue here, they are aimed at a consumer-level demographic (home theater system owners). Not critical listening. So for all you music producers looking for more bass response in their studio, we suggest you have a look at the KRKS8.4 or Yamaha HS8 instead.
In summary, both the SVS SB-3000 and SVS SB-4000 bring great value to the table. The build quality and design live up to the high level of quality for those familiar with SVS products. Both offer an excellent sound that works equally well for music and movies. Despite the powerful bass response, they are very compact and clean in the delivery of the same. The app you can use on your phone to control settings is a great feature, but its user-friendliness is not its strongest feature. The SVS SB-3000 is the less expensive of the two. If you need more power for a larger room and would want a couple of more connectivity options, the SVS SB-4000 is the right choice for you. If you need something more compact that fits easily into your room, the SVS SB-3000 is the one to go with.
Let me tell you something right off the bat.
Room acoustics, particularly room dimensions and speaker positioning, will have an immense effect on sound quality.
The impact of the combination of these two is actually so strong that in most cases, it doesn't even make sense to utter a single word on sound quality without speaking of them.
This is why I'd hiiiiiiighly recommend you to check out this simple, 2D, online speaker placement calculator.
It's GOOOOLLLDDDDD. I've had an Acoustics & Audio PhD build this tool specifically for this purpose:
Default values:
- Ceiling height: 106 inches or 8 feet 10 inches or 2.70 meters
- Most standard ceiling height
- Listener's height: 32 inches or 2 feet 8 inches or 0.80 meters
- Average height of a sitting person
Central heights of speakers (measured from the ground) and examples to them:
- Soundbars: 30 inches or 2 feet 6 inches or 0.75 meters
- 8", 10" or 12" Subwoofers: 8 inches or 0.20 meters
- 360 degree speakers: 32 inches or 2 feet 8 inches or 0.80 meters
- Horizontal speakers: 32 inches or 2 feet 8 inches or 0.80 meters
- Floor standing speakers: 20 inches or 1 feet 8 inches or 0.50 meters
- Bookshelf speakers: 32 inches or 2 feet 8 inches or 0.80 meters
- Center speakers: 32 inches or 2 feet 8 inches or 0.80 meters
Side note: This tool can and will return inaccurate results for small, portable Bluetooth speakers such as JBL's Go Series. It will, however, deliver just fine for more powerful, packed bluetooth speakers such as this one.
ASAP Science made a video on the loudest and quietest rooms in the world. A mind blowing example of the importance of acoustics (time adjusted video).
Other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, the furniture & carpets in place, etc can and will, of course, have an effect on room acoustics, too. But much less.
Also...
Did you know you could also virtually hear any speaker online?
Crutchfield had recently created a tool that virtually simulates the sounds of many different speakers; such as those of SVS, Klipsch, KEF and B&W. Nothing will, of course, beat hearing the speakers in reality. But I'd still recommend you to give it a shot.
While you're at it, blast my Hidden Electronic Gems list to test them:
Anyways...
Design
SVS SB-3000
The first thing you will be presently surprised at is how light this box is for a subwoofer. Just around 15 inches on each side and weighing in at 54.4 lbs, the ability to lift and place it on your own is a big plus. This is a very compact and portable piece of equipment.
The reinforced MDF cabinet encases a sealed design and offers two designs to choose from. Both are black. One is a Piano Gloss finish and the other is Black Ash. A little caveat: while the former looks chicer, it might be challenging to keep it clean of visible fingerprints and dust.
Dimensions: 15.2 x 15.6 x 17.8" / 38.6 x 39.6 x 45.2 cm (with the Grille).
SVS SB-4000
The SVS SB-4000, on the other hand, comes with a front-firing port. This makes it easier to place and gives it a lot more power and deeper bass. Even though the rest of the components are similar to its sibling, the added materials in the construction make it heavier (it weighs in at 102.3 lbs). It does come with a blue LED display with controls in the front, though. This gives it a more techie look.
Dimensions: 17.8 x 18.3 x 20.9" / 45.3 x 46.5 x 53 cm (with the Grille).
Find the perfect subwoofer for your speakers using the SVS Subwoofer Matching Tool.
Sound
Subwoofers are very dependent on their placement and the size of your room for their quality. Non-directional bass frequencies can be quite unforgiving in this regard. So the key here is not just the technical specs of your choice but their appropriateness in context to your space.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the SVS SB-3000 is a bit more compact and controlled in this regard. So if it’s a smaller space you’re looking to cater to, it might be your better bet.
If it’s a more powerful bass response you’re after, though, the SVS SB-4000 has a lot more of that to offer. It’s the bigger beast of the two.
While the SVS SB-3000 offers a frequency range of 18 to 270 Hz, the SVS SB-4000 gives you 19 to 310 Hz. So that is a considerable difference we are looking at.
Connectivity
The back panel on both subwoofers gives you access to the sockets and inputs.
The SVS SB-3000 (see image) is a bit more compact and controlled in this regard. So if it’s a smaller space you’re looking to cater to, it might be your better bet.
SVS SB-3000
- 1 x Stereo RCA Input
- 1 x Stereo RCA Output
- 1 x USB Type-A
- 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm Input (12 V Trigger)
SVS SB-4000
- 2 x XLR Input
- 1 x Stereo RCA Input
- 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm Input (12 V Trigger)
- 2 x XLR Output
- 1 x Stereo RCA Output
Additionally, they come with an app that gives you the ability to customize the sound. While a handy tool to have, it does come with a learning curve.
Price
The SVS SB-3000 is available at $1,099.99 and the SVS SB-4000 for $1,799.99 (please check your local dealers for details).
Verdict
In conclusion, this is how the SVS SB-3000 and SVS SB-4000 stack up against each other:
- Design: Tie. The SVS SB-3000 is lighter and more compact.
- Sound: The SVS SB-4000 is more powerful. The SVS SB-3000 is more restrained.
- Connectivity: The SVS SB-4000 wins with its XLR options.
- Price: The SVS SB-3000 costs lesser.