Review: SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer

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BIG Sound in a Small Package

SVS has done something they've never done before: they've gone... small. But don't let the size of this brand new "micro" sub fool you. I mean, do you really think a brand known for its Earth-shaking, thunderous, piss-off-the-neighbors bass would release anything wimpy? Of course not. This little sub delivers surprisingly potent, detailed bass from its micro-sized enclosure.

This subwoofer is featured on our best home subwoofers of 2021 list.

The 3000 Micro subwoofer from SVS is a compact, mini, yet mighty box of bass, condensed into a 10-inch, 22.5-pound cabinet. To give you an idea of how this compares to SVS's existing lineup, the smallest of the new PRO 1000 series subs are roughly 13-inches, weighing in at about 26 pounds. And SVS's biggest and baddest subs, the 16 Ultra series, are 25 inches tall and weigh in at about 174.5 pounds. However, the new micro was not built with the intention to compete with the rest of the SVS sub lineup. The 3000 Micro was designed to seamlessly fit into your lifestyle and environment. We love a good two-sub system, but let's face it, not every room and not every system was meant for the subwoofer to be the star of the show and SVS subs are no wallflowers.

“Home theater and HiFi lovers have been waiting for a lifestyle-friendly subwoofer that can fit anywhere and actually deliver a reference listening experience. I’m so proud of what our engineering team accomplished, a micro subwoofer worthy of the name SVS.” SVS president, Gary Yacoubian

The 3000 Micro was designed to deliver SVS's signature chest-pounding, musical bass to any environment and comes in a lifestyle-friendly Piano Gloss Black or Piano Gloss White finish. The smaller form-factor brings accessibility that really rounds out the SVS line-up. And while this sub is meant to blend into its surroundings more than any of its predecessors, SVS was careful not to lose that reference-quality performance. They approached the micro-sub category and engineering very carefully so as not to compromise output or sound quality, and also to prevent the movement across the room that so many see with micro subs because of their lighter weight.

The SVS 3000 Micro features subwoofer technology and innovations from SVS's flagship 16-Ultra Series, 4000 Series, 3000 Series, and 2000 Pro Series subwoofers. The key focus that makes this micro sub so successful is the dual drivers and the amplifier technology.

Fully Active Dual Opposing 8-inch Drivers

By firing in opposite directions in unison, the mechanical energy transferred to the cabinet is effectively canceled out. This creates a sonically inert enclosure and solves the longtime curse of micro subwoofers moving around a room. The active dual drivers are connected in parallel to a single power amplifier. Both drivers receive the exact same amount of current ensuring precise, accurate bass, without distortion. A progressive inverted surround allows for maximum excursion and is critical to moving massive amounts of air and generating sound pressure levels you can feel at the deepest frequencies from such a small enclosure.

SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer's drivers

Sledge STA-800D2 Amplifier

With 800 watts RMS and 2,500+ watts peak power

Applying innovations from SVS's 16-Ultra subwoofers, the Sledge STA-800D2 amplifier with discrete MOSFET output combines the high current output of MOSFET transistors with Class D efficiency so it can handle demanding bass content without compromising the accuracy in frequency response. SVS deployed a 50 MHz Analog Devices Audio DSP with 56-bit filtering, the most sophisticated DSP engine available in a home audio subwoofer. The abundant processing power maintains pristine sound quality that’s faithful to the source material through advanced in-room tuning, optimized frequency response curves, powerful DSP controls, and more.

Cabinet Design

The 3000 Micro features extra-thick MDF side baffles and rigid internal bracing to support the active dual-driver assembly and to ensure an acoustically inert environment. The highly reinforced internal design eliminates any chance of coloration or resonance from the cabinet, even when the deepest low frequencies are played at high volume. According to SVS, they "opted against using a passive radiator dual-driver design deployed in many micro subwoofers because of their reputation for bloated, boomy, and inaccurate bass."

Convenient Control and Custom Presets

The SVS subwoofer DSP smartphone app for Apple, Android, and Amazon devices offers advanced tuning of the DSP and is the most convenient way to control volume and set and select up to three custom presets. The presets come in handy for one-touch switchovers to tuning optimized for music, movies, gaming. etc. Depending on how involved you want to get, uses can also adjust crossover frequencies, a three-band parametric EQ, polarity, room gain, and other bass-management functions, all from the app.

The SVS subwoofer app also allows advanced customization so you can name your subwoofer for easy preset switching, choose the subwoofer standby mode, and reset the subwoofer to factory settings. Bluetooth connectivity allows full control, even when the subwoofer is out of sight and bi-directional feedback shows adjustments in real-time on both the app and rear panel subwoofer interface. Bidirectional-feedback shows adjustments in real time on both app and subwoofer rear panel interface.

Back of SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer
SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer App

The Bottom Line

Engineering a subwoofer capable of output you can feel at even the lowest frequencies while maintaining effective thermal and energy management in a micro-sized enclosure has long been a challenge for any brand trying to conceive a micro sub. But, as SVS puts it: "Like a magic trick, the 3000 Micro goes where no micro subwoofer has gone before, delivering chest-pounding, room-filling low-frequency output for music and movie lovers with accuracy and precision, from an astonishingly compact 10-inch cabinet." The proof is in the performance and we applaud SVS for their careful and conscious approach to this new addition to their line-up.

  • Frequency Response: 23Hz to 240Hz +/-3dB
  • Dimensions (including grilles and feet): 10.9” (H) 11.7” (W) 10.7” (D)
  • Weight: 22.5lbs
  • Dual opposing 8-inch drivers
  • 800-watt RMS, 2,500-watt peak Sledge STA-800DM amplifier with fully-discrete MOSFET output
  • Structurally reinforced MDF cabinet construction
  • Control via the SVS Subwoofer DSP and Control Smartphone App
  • Includes screw-in isolating elastomer feet
  • Includes heavy-duty, high-current 6-feet power cord
  • Available in high gloss piano black or high gloss piano white

SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer

Available in Piano Gloss Black and Piano Gloss White.

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