This $499 subwoofer has changed the way I listen to music, and it’s worth every penny

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The SVS SB-1000 Professional Subwoofer is obtainable now for $499, and it is well worth the cash.
• This subwoofer can deal with something you push by means of it with depth, agility, and presence you will not discover in equally priced {hardware}. The black ash end makes it a good looking addition to any room.
• The subwoofer will typically hesitate to kick in, however when it does…look out. This setting may be modified within the cellular app.

Let me inform you a shaggy dog story. A couple of yr in the past, I used to be dumping 5 gallons of aquarium water into the bathroom. After the complete 5 gallons of water washed down the bathroom, a loud buzzing noise crammed the home, rattling the partitions of the primary ground.

I instantly assumed I would poured the water down too quick and induced some kind of concern with the plumbing. I did every little thing I might, operating round the home opening taps, and flushing bathrooms to unravel the issue.

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Seems, the difficulty was suggestions from my mic that induced my previous subwoofer (Audioengine S8) to unleash a hum like I would by no means heard. After muting my audio system, the noise abated and I felt like a idiot.

Nevertheless, after that incident, my Audioengine subwoofer was by no means the identical. It popped, cracked, and would randomly exit. For sure, I needed to substitute it. After quantity of analysis, I landed on the SVS SB-1000 Professional Subwoofer — and I have not regarded again.

This subwoofer makes the Audioengine S8 sound like a toy. Out of the field, the SB-1000 was punchier, extra resonant, correct, and agile. The subwoofer was additionally higher at dealing with any style of music I pushed by means of it at any degree. And at $499, the SB-1000 is value each penny.

The specs

• 12-in, long-throw driver with overhung motor configuration
• 1.5-in Voice Coil with 6-layer, high-purity copper wire winding
• Two-piece, high-grade outsized Y30 Ferrite magnet motor
• 325 watts RMS, 820+ watts peak energy output Class D design
• Protecting non-resonant, extra-thick ABS cloth mesh grille
• Iso-elastomer toes
• Excessive-current energy wire
• Unbalanced stereo enter/output
• Speaker Stage Stereo Enter
• Auto/On and Set off choices by means of app, 3-12V AC/DC set off
• RoHS compliant, lead-free building
• Inexperienced 0.5-watt low standby energy consumption
• Dimensions (with grille): 13.5″ (342mm) H X 13″ (330mm) W X 14.76″ (375mm) D
• Dimensions (with out grille): 13.5″ (342mm) H X 13″ (330mm) W X 13.9″ (352mm) D
• Weight (unboxed): 26lbs (11.9kg) with grille

My expertise

The distinction between the Audioengine and SVS subwoofer was startling. The second Rush’s Transferring Footage poured by means of the audio system (performed by means of my Rega P8 turntable), I felt as if Geddy Lee’s bass and Neil Peart’s kick drums have been proper there in my room. The underside finish of the music was about as correct as I’ve ever heard it, with no muddiness or overbearing lows. The bass was clear and interesting, and that was earlier than I put in and linked the cellular app, which lets you tweak the sound to completely suit your wants.

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As soon as I had the app put in and linked to the speaker, which is a quite simple job, I instantly got down to alter the sound to greatest match my style and my workplace. For me, crucial tweak was within the Parametric EQ, the place I might alter the frequency, enhance, and Q-Issue.

For many who aren’t accustomed to Q-Issue, let me attempt to clarify. Think about you set the frequency peak of the subwoofer to 50Hz. That is nice, however the issue is that the height could possibly be preceded and proceeded by a gradual rise and fall, that means the subwoofer might decide up frequencies you do not need. Adjusting the Q-Issue sharpens that peak, so the drop-off is extra pointed and the sub is much less more likely to decide up these undesirable frequencies. This variation, in fact, is one thing not everybody will both discover or want. However should you discover the bass a bit muddy, Q-Issue may be your good friend.

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If you happen to don’t love the concept of utilizing an app to customise the subwoofer, there are controls for the next:

• Stage Management: Superb-tune the general output degree.
• Low Move Filter: Ensures easy sonic transitions and seamless mixing along with your fundamental audio system.
• Section Management: Aligns the subwoofer’s output timing with the primary audio system.

So far as inputs go, you may discover the next:

• USB Port: Offers energy for the optionally available SVS SoundPath Wi-fi Audio Adapter.
• RCA Audio Interconnect: Enter to be used with most AV receivers and pre-amplifiers.
• Speaker Stage Stereo Inputs: To be used with older legacy receivers.

After I first set the SB-1000 Professional up, I assumed I would use the onboard controls, however rapidly discovered the app a a lot better choice as a result of it has way more settings to tweak.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

Since including the SVS SB-1000 Professional to my system, I’ve discovered every little thing I take heed to is richer, deeper, and extra correct. And whether or not I am rocking to Rush, Devin Townsend, Band-Maid, Yuja Wang, Voces8, Hillary Hahn, or simply about any artist, I discover the music way more pleasurable.

If you happen to’re trying to improve your music expertise, you will not discover a higher $499.00 funding than the SVS SB-1000 Professional Subwoofer. Match it with a comparable pair of fundamental audio system and your degree of enjoyment will fly by means of the roof.