svs pb 3000 [Review and Audioholics]

SVS PB 3000

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.

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.svs pb 3000 weight 

            

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.

Price:

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. svs pb 3000 weight 

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. 

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 Subwoofer Specs:

Subwoofer Type	Active
Enclosure Type	Bass-Reflex
Amplifier Power Rating	800 W RMS 2500 W Peak
Drivers	1 x 13" / 33 cm (Front-Firing)
Frequency Response	16 to 260 Hz
Amplifier Class	Class-D
Connectivity	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)

Physical:

Cabinet Material	MDF
svs pb 3000 Dimensions	18.3 x 21.9 x 26" / 46.5 x 55.6 x 66 cm (with Grille)
svs pb 3000 Weight	82.2 lb / 37.3 kg

Packaging Info:

Package Weight	95.5 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	31.5 x 27 x 23.75"