This is a subwoofer from SVS, which is known for its quality subwoofer constructions.
Appearance: The sub is small and quite discreet. It can fit into a living room or a room without someone saying, "What is that trunk?" Essentially, it is a cube. It comes with a grille that makes it go unnoticed, but you can remove it and see its beauty. The finish has a wood-like appearance. In the photos, the wood grain looks much brighter. In practice, it appears minimal and aesthetically pleasing. It weighs about 11 kilograms and is made of MDF. The grille fits tightly without the possibility of causing resonances.
Sound: It is sealed. Personally, having gone through various subs, all ported and of lower price, I noticed an immediate difference: I would describe this one as melodic. It blends very beautifully and sweetly with the music, which aligns with the flat response it offers. The gentle physical sensation of pressure gives a feeling of warmth, like when you are by the fireplace and it warms you up. If you want it for thumping club sounds, in a store, etc., you don't care if it is harmonically tied, and you would get a more powerful one. There, perhaps a ported sub would have a slight advantage since with fewer watts, you can get the job done. As you can see in the graph, it responds down to about 23Hz and then rolls off (I can hear/feel it down to 27Hz). It is important to test all the areas where you can place it. Personally, the corners didn't work for me as they emphasized the 60Hz too much and I had a null at 40Hz. You can calibrate it somewhat with this (using a tone generator and sweeps from REW or even on YouTube) if you don't want to use microphones.
Regarding movies/gaming: I have no complaints. It is definitely not a ported sub that "shouts," and I don't mean that negatively, but as strong SPL in the ultra-deep bass (<20Hz). It is still powerful. Compared to older subs, I would call it "cinematic." In a space of about 23 square meters, I have it very low and it still has a lot to give if I want. At maximum volume, it creates a mini earthquake, which is impressive given its small size and my large space, making you wonder how this is happening. Unfortunately, I can't enjoy it to its full potential due to living in an apartment. It is important to place it in a spot where you don't have nulls. In gaming, I also have no complaints. If your main focus is movies/gaming, I would suggest going for the ported version - as the sealed one, although good, sometimes leaves you craving for something more impactful.
For apartment dwellers: This was my main criterion, along with size. I didn't want to make my neighbors suffer. I recommend it. Mainly due to the flat response and the sealed factor, it will be a safer choice. Also, you will need to handle it with care, as low-frequency sounds pass through walls easily and can cause anxiety to neighbors. If you have wooden flooring, you will likely need absorption stands to prevent frames from falling and windows from rattling.
APP: It makes things easier for you. You can sit wherever you want and adjust the machine. This is important because sounds change depending on your position. Therefore, you can trim the peaks with its EQ and achieve a smooth sound. In my opinion, it sounds nicer to the ears with increased low frequencies and as the frequencies increase, the dB level decreases. In other words, a downward waveform. This has to do with the acoustic perception of sounds. Also, due to the profiles, you can have different settings for different seating positions. For example, I have different settings for when I’m at my desk and another for the couch. Also, another one for evenings so it’s not annoying - just to have a discreet presence. In the photo, as you can see, it has a relatively flat response with a peak at 30hz and 60hz. With the app, you enter, set the Equalizer, and set, for example, -10db at 30hz and 60hz, and you’re the masters.
EDIT mature review after some time with it:
I continue to remain satisfied. I still enjoy it completely, and every time the sound supports low frequencies, I feel like a kid. It works flawlessly like the first day I got it. Reading my review, I would like to draw attention again to those living in apartments. The low hz is incredible how it penetrates the walls. Nevertheless, I have not received any complaints from the neighbors in the apartment, and in my inquiry, they don’t hear anything (classic 70s apartment). Your listening position may have a null at 30hz (meaning you hear nothing), but in the next room, it can be chaos at 30hz. In such a case, you can change the position of the sub or yours, or play with the EQ, or if you have $$$, get a second sub so you can have a more balanced sound at the cost of personal time to tune them. I still believe that for an apartment it is good, especially in music: You feel like you have a unified system that produces massive sound that hits you. Tested in various music genres. Especially ambient/soundtracks/synths/low-bass sounds, it’s honey for the ears but at the same time gives life to the sound, warms your soul, so to speak.
The pb1000pro is significantly larger in size - in all three dimensions, which should also be taken into account. Finally, if your room is large, or a big living room or high ceiling, check the cubic meters it supports so you won’t be disappointed. Mine is about 15-20sqm with a high ceiling, and I run it at low db (compared to what it can reach), however in >30sqm although it would produce strong sound, in distant positions you could perceive where it’s coming from. Keep in mind I always talk about music. For movies, as I write in the next edits, it may not fully satisfy you.
EDIT 2-
Direct comparison with the pb1000 at the same spot. Aesthetically, the pb1000 is unattractive and in a small space, it overwhelms it in an unpleasant way. It is clearly larger than the sb, in all its dimensions (mini furniture). Without the grille, it’s a bit tacky with the two front "pipes" and doesn’t fit in a "serious" living room in my opinion. Regarding the sound, above 30hz if you closed your eyes you wouldn’t notice a difference (after all, they use the same driver). Where it changes is at <30hz, where the pb is clearly stronger, even down to 17hz (below 20 you don’t hear them, the whole room just vibrates and creates a psychological unease - ideal for movies with LFE), which of course would be an unpleasant experience for your neighbors and I don’t recommend it in apartments - unless you want to keep it low, which defeats the purpose of going for a pb. One small difference is that in my opinion, the sb1000pro is slightly more localizable compared to the pb, possibly due to its smaller size, and less "expansive" sound - but not huge differences, the sound signature is exactly the same (deep, dark bass). Regarding music: winner is the sb1000. I can clearly see the difference in my ears. No matter how hard I tried, the PB remained less melodic, lacking. It's hard to explain in writing; there's a video on YouTube that compares PB/SB in music (I think it's the 3000) and even there, you can perceive the difference. To put it simply, the SB1000 can "touch" me emotionally, but the PB cannot. A lot has been written about this on the internet, but I haven't found a definitive answer. If I hadn't heard the SB, I would have liked the PB a lot for music; it's just that the SB is S tier and the PB is A tier. The box comes with plugs for the ports, so you can convert it to sealed. I haven't tried it. On the other hand, in movies, the difference is evident in the "seismic vibrations." Or more simply, at 23hz, the PB shakes everything, while the SB is nonexistent (it might do something if you have a small room, e.g., 2.5x4 with wooden flooring). For someone who has space and doesn't mind the large size, wants to watch action movies, and less music, and has no neighbors, the PB is an excellent choice.
edit 3-
Since I see that my review has helped quite a few people, I’m coming back 2+ years later to add that the sub works like the first day, has shown no faults, and the app and Bluetooth work perfectly as well. Reading what I wrote above, I wouldn't say my opinion has changed significantly. The subwoofer remains unmatched in the field of music. It makes the music touch you. In movies, it is decent. For apartment buildings, it is borderline - and requires a lot of attention, low volumes, and not boosting the nulls. For those wondering whether to get a sub or go straight to a soundbar for movies, etc., a ported 8" from a decent soundbar will do the job. I compared it directly with the Q800c and would say both satisfied me in terms of gaming/movies. For music, not so much, though.
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