SVS PB 3000 Pro
Description:
"Pros"
◉ Surprising dynamic range
◉ Flat response from 20 Hz to 200 Hz
◉ Bulletproof protection from overdriving damage
◉ Gloss Black SB-3000 looks very nice
◉ Subs are not super-heavy
◉ SVS Pb 3000 pro review app gives user a lot of control
"Cons"
◉ PB-3000 could use more finish options
SVS Pb 3000 pro review Series Subwoofers Introduction:
Last fall, SVS released the 3000 series subwoofers which was said to bridge the performance and price gap between their 2000 and 4000 subwoofer lines. This role had formerly been filled by the ‘12-Plus’ line before they were discontinued. SVS’s naming system of using numerations of one thousand helped simplify redesigned models of previous names, so the redesign of the ‘13-Ultra’ series became the 4000 series, and the ‘12-NSD’ series became the 2000 series.
Those were redesigns that kept the same basic construction, so much of the cabinet design and driver design remained the same, which is not a bad thing since they had been proven to work very well. The 3000 series, on the other hand, is quite different and does not bear resemblance to the ‘12-Plus’ series that it takes over in SVS’s price/performance ladder.
It is a totally different design that uses an entirely different driver, cabinet, and amplifier. A couple of aspects remain the same, such as the use of variable port tuning and the 800 watt RMS power rating of the amp, but it really is an entirely different subwoofer.(click here to feel SVS PB 3000 pro)
3000 pair promotional.jpgThe 3000 subs do keep the same price point as the 12-Plus models. One trade-off that SVS has decided to make is to use higher-performing parts at the expense of the higher-end finish and build of the ‘12-Plus’ subs.
The PB12-Plus had a much heavier and thicker cabinet which could also have a gloss black finish. The PB-3000 has foregone these amenities in pursuit of higher performance; a car analogy might be that the PB-3000 is less of a luxury car and more of a sports car. The sealed SB-3000 can still be had in gloss black, but doubtlessly, it is a lot less expensive to have such a nice finish on a small sub as opposed to a large ported sub.
In for review today, we have the PB-3000 and SB-3000 subwoofers. Having dealt with both the 2000 and 4000 series subs, we will look at how well the 3000s bridge the gap between those two lines. The price range that these subs occupy, $1,000 to $1,400, is fiercely competitive in the subwoofer market, so SVS was probably right to bring out a whole new design rather than redo the 12-Plus line. Given the competition, they would not have entered products in this price range lightly,
The 3000 subs arrived in heavy-duty cardboard boxes. There are instructions on the outside that guide the unpacking process, and if these instructions are followed, it does make the unpacking process much easier and simpler. Both subs were packed with heavy-duty polyethylene foam blocks sandwiching the top and bottom.
This does protect them against shock and hard knocks, and, in fact, the box for the SB-3000 that I received showed evidence of having endured some kind of significant impact yet the sub was in perfect condition. The subs were also wrapped in a plastic bag to protect from moisture, and a soft cotton bag underneath that to protect them from scuffs during unpacking.
As usual, SVS’s packing is top-notch, which is not surprising from a company with so much experience having shipped many thousands of subwoofers all over the world.
Appearance:
The appearances of the PB-3000 and SB-3000 are two very different stories. Even though they use the same driver, the PB-3000 is large and muscular looking, while the SB-3000 is much more elegant and refined. While this is mostly due to the fact that the PB-3000 is over twice as large as the PB3000 2.jpgSB-3000, another major contributing factor to this effect is that the SB-3000 came in a Piano Gloss Black finish whereas the PB-3000 comes in a Black Ash finish.
The PB-3000 only comes in Black Ash. The SB-3000 can be had in Black Ash but can be had in Piano Gloss Black for a $100 surcharge. SVS’s gloss black finish is a deep high-gloss that is quite nice and not plasticy, so it is well worth the premium cost in my opinion.
I have always liked the look of SVS’s woofers, and they keep a consistent style throughout their product lines. They always have a soft black texture with the SVS logo printed on the dustcap. I don’t normally like it when any kind of graphic is printed on cones, but SVS gets a pass here since it has always been somewhat understated and tasteful.
One new stylistic touch that is not as welcome is the SVS logo is impressed in the gasket piece around the surround at the top and bottom. With ‘SVS’ printed on the dustcap in large font, we do not need the additional reminders that this is an SVS product. I think less is more in terms of logo placement.
The ports on the front of the PB-3000 do add to the brawny look especially with the grille on. SVS’s grilles have always been far more about function than form and that remains true for the 3000 subs. SB3000 c.jpgThe grilles certainly can be useful, but these subs look better without them, especially the SB-3000.
The SB-3000 almost achieves a certain clean perfection. I say almost, because it doesn’t quite achieve perfection on account of the grille guides on the front baffle which do mar an otherwise smooth design. Nonetheless, it is one of the nicest-looking subwoofers I have dealt with to date. It is a gleaming beauty that would not look out of place in luxury spaces (sans grille). My advice to SVS - move to a magnetic grille for the SB-3000. Yes, small magnets would not support as robust grille as the existing one, but think about how much more graceful it would be without the grille guides!
I would sum up these subs’ appearances by using an automotive comparison: the PB-3000 resembles a beefy SUV whereas the SB-3000 resembles a luxury sedan. This seems a fitting analogy not just in aesthetics but also of performance.
Design Overview:
At Audioholics, we often 3000 pair10.jpgsee the question from audio novices of what the difference is between a ported sub and a sealed sub, aside from the obvious size difference. The answer is simple: ported subs tend to have a lot more deep bass output than sealed subs
For those who don’t know, ported subwoofers use the back motion of the rear side of the woofer into the cabinet to resonate the air mass within the port. The air mass inside the port vibrates at precise frequencies from an effect called ‘Helmholtz Resonance.’ This is the same acoustic principle at work when you blow over the top of a bottle or jug and a distinct note is produced.
The volume of air inside the cabinet and volume of air inside the ports are critical ingredients to this and govern the sound produced by the port, much like the volume of air inside of a jug and the shape of the opening determines the sound when blown upon. In a sealed subwoofer, the pressure waves created by the motion of the rear side of the cone are simply lost, and, in terms of sound produced per watt, a sealed subwoofer is far less efficient in deep bass ranges.
This difference in deep bass capability will certainly carry between the SB-3000 and PB-3000. The catch is that ported subs need to be substantially larger than sealed to take full advantage of this principle when using the same driver and amplifier.
Going back to our analogy of the SB-3000 as a sedan and the PB-3000 as a truck, it is more than just an aesthetic comparison because the PB-3000 can displace a lot more air which means much higher sound pressure levels at low frequencies, so, like the vehicle differences, it has a lot more ‘hauling capacity.‘
One thing to keep in mind is that the output advantages that a ported sub has over a sealed sub are mostly limited to deep bass. Above port resonant frequencies, which is a relatively narrow frequency band, ported subwoofers do not have as much output advantage. We will be able to take a close look at the performance differences in the ‘Measurements and Analysis’ section of this review.
Specifications:
◉ 800 watt RMS amplifier
◉ Front-firing 13” aluminum cone
◉ 50MHz Analog Devices Audio DSP with double precision 56bit filtering
◉ Subwoofer Control and Bass Management Smartphone App for Apple and Android Devices
◉ Black Ash finish, with optional Piano Gloss Black for SB-3000
◉ PB-3000 Dimensions: (w/ grille): 21.9” H X 18.3” W X 26” D, (without grille): 21.9” H X 18.3” W X 23.5” D
◉ SB-3000 Dimensions: (w/ grille): 15.6” H X 15.2” W X 17.8” D, (without grille): 15.6” H X 15.2” W X 15.7” D
◉ PB-3000 Weight (unboxed): 82.2 lbs. (37.3 kg), Shipped Weight: 97 lbs. (44 kg)
◉ SB-3000 Weight (unboxed): 54.5 lbs. (24.7 kg), Shipped Weight: 63.6lbs (28.9kg)
◉ Dual 3.5-inch ports (PB-3000)
◉ Protective non-resonant steel mesh grille
◉ RCA stereo input/output with ultra-wide input voltage for consumer and professional audio applications
◉ Auto/On and 3-30V AC/DC trigger
◉ Input impedance 16kohm (unbalanced RCA)
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