When it comes to home theater bass, few components make as big an impact as your subwoofer choice. Today, we're comparing two heavy hitters: the $2,999 SVS PB17-Ultra R|Evolution and the $1,399 Klipsch RP-1400SW. Both aim to shake your room, but they take different approaches to getting there.
Before diving into specifics, let's talk about what makes a great subwoofer. The goal is to reproduce those ultra-low frequencies that you feel as much as hear - think dinosaur footsteps in Jurassic Park or explosions in action movies. But it's not just about being loud; a quality subwoofer needs to be precise and controlled, able to handle both dramatic movie effects and subtle musical bass notes without distortion.
The main specs to consider are:
The SVS PB17-Ultra represents the cutting edge of subwoofer technology. Released in late 2022, it's packed with innovations that weren't possible even a few years ago. The massive 17-inch driver (that's the moving part that creates the sound) uses dual 8-inch voice coils - think of these as the engine that drives the speaker. This design allows for more precise control and higher power handling than traditional single-coil designs.
In contrast, the Klipsch RP-1400SW takes a more traditional approach with its 14-inch driver. While it's still a very capable design, it doesn't push technical boundaries in the same way. However, this proven technology means reliability and consistent performance.
The SVS can reach down to 12Hz - that's so low you can't really hear it, but you'll feel it. The Klipsch bottoms out around 16Hz. While this might seem like a small difference, those extra few Hz matter for movie special effects and pipe organ music.
Here's where the price difference really shows. The SVS delivers 1,500 watts RMS (continuous power) and can peak at over 5,000 watts. The Klipsch offers 500 watts RMS with 1,000-watt peaks. For perspective, that means the SVS can play about twice as loud without strain in really large rooms.
Modern subwoofers need to work with your room, not against it. The SVS includes sophisticated room correction software that uses your smartphone's microphone to measure and adjust for room acoustics. The Klipsch offers basic controls for volume and crossover (where the subwoofer takes over from your main speakers), but lacks advanced room correction.
In actual use, both subwoofers excel, but in different ways. The SVS is simply spectacular with movie soundtracks. When the Death Star explodes in Star Wars, you'll feel every nuance of the explosion. The Klipsch handles the same scene impressively, but can't quite match the ultimate depth and power of the SVS.
For music, both perform admirably. The SVS offers more headroom and control, especially with complex bass passages in classical music or electronic dance music. The Klipsch delivers punchy, musical bass that works great for most genres, though it might reach its limits with pipe organ music or electronic music played at very high volumes.
At $2,999, the SVS PB17-Ultra represents a significant investment. You're paying for:
The $1,399 Klipsch offers:
Your choice should depend on several factors:
If you're building a high-end home theater and want the absolute best, the SVS is worth the premium. If you want excellent performance while maintaining a more modest budget, the Klipsch delivers impressive value.
Both subwoofers represent excellent choices in their respective price ranges. The SVS PB17-Ultra is simply one of the best subwoofers available for home use - if you can afford it and have the space, it's hard to beat. The Klipsch RP-1400SW delivers impressive performance at less than half the price, making it an excellent choice for most home theaters.
Remember: proper placement and setup matter as much as the subwoofer itself. Either model will benefit from careful positioning and adjustment to work with your specific room and system.
| $2,999 SVS PB17-Ultra R\|Evolution | $1,399 Klipsch RP-1400SW |
|---|---|
| Driver Size - Larger drivers typically provide deeper bass with less distortion | |
| 17" with dual 8" voice coils | 14" single voice coil |
| Amplifier Power - Higher power enables louder clean output and better control | |
| 1,500W RMS / 5,000W peak | 500W RMS / 1,000W peak |
| Frequency Response - Lower numbers mean deeper bass you can feel | |
| 12Hz-220Hz (±3dB) | 16Hz-141Hz (±3dB) |
| Weight - Heavier usually means better build quality and cabinet bracing | |
| 164.7 lbs | 83.7 lbs |
| Room Correction - Better integration with your specific room acoustics | |
| Advanced DSP with smartphone app calibration | Basic controls only |
| Port Design - Affects bass response and placement flexibility | |
| Three 4" ports with multiple tuning options | Single front-firing slot port |
| Dimensions - Consider your available space | |
| 25"H x 21.7"W x 29.3"D | 21.3"H x 20"W x 25.7"D |
| Warranty - Reflects manufacturer confidence | |
| 5 years | 5 years |
| Special Features - Additional capabilities that may matter for your setup | |
| Smartphone app control, multiple preset modes, balanced XLR inputs | Optional wireless kit available, basic phase/crossover controls |
The $2,999 SVS PB17-Ultra R|Evolution offers superior performance for home theater use, with deeper bass extension (12Hz vs 16Hz) and significantly more power. However, the $1,399 Klipsch RP-1400SW still provides excellent performance for most home theaters at less than half the price.
The biggest difference is power and capability - the SVS PB17-Ultra offers 1,500W RMS compared to the Klipsch RP-1400SW's 500W RMS, along with more advanced room correction features and deeper bass extension.
The SVS PB17-Ultra is significantly better for large rooms due to its higher power handling and larger driver. For rooms over 300 square feet, the extra power becomes meaningful for clean, distortion-free bass.
For dedicated home theater enthusiasts with larger rooms and adequate budgets, the SVS PB17-Ultra justifies its premium price through superior performance and features. However, the Klipsch RP-1400SW offers excellent value for more modest setups.
The Klipsch RP-1400SW is simpler to set up with basic controls. The SVS PB17-Ultra requires more setup time but offers superior room integration through its app-based calibration.
Both perform well for music, but the SVS PB17-Ultra offers better control and headroom for demanding musical passages. The Klipsch RP-1400SW handles most music genres capably but might reach its limits with pipe organ or electronic music.
The Klipsch RP-1400SW might be more appropriate for apartment use due to its more modest output capabilities. The SVS PB17-Ultra could be overkill and potentially problematic in closer living situations.
Room correction becomes increasingly important in challenging rooms. The SVS PB17-Ultra's advanced DSP and app-based correction can make a significant difference in problematic spaces, while the Klipsch relies on basic controls.
Both are well-built, but the SVS PB17-Ultra features more premium components and advanced engineering. This is reflected in its significantly higher weight (164.7 lbs vs 83.7 lbs).
The Klipsch RP-1400SW offers an optional wireless kit. The SVS PB17-Ultra requires a wired connection but includes both RCA and XLR inputs.
The SVS PB17-Ultra excels with movie effects due to its deeper bass extension and higher power handling. The Klipsch handles most movies well but won't deliver quite the same impact for the most demanding scenes.
Both the SVS PB17-Ultra and Klipsch RP-1400SW come with 5-year warranties, showing manufacturer confidence in their products' reliability.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: svsound.com - skybygramophone.com - abt.com - youtube.com - audioholics.com - listenup.com - crutchfield.com - audioadvice.com - svsound.com - worldwidestereo.com - bhphotovideo.com - musicdirect.com - avsforum.com - audioadvice.com - avsforum.com - audioholics.com - crutchfield.com - worldwidestereo.com - bestbuy.com - walts.com - klipsch.ca - assets.klipsch.com
