As anyone who is really into audio know — and as anyone getting into sound recording is about to find out — you contract a serious malady when you get into this hobby . It ’s called “ upgraditis ” and , to engagement , there is no known cure .
However , I have found what I believe to be a vaccinum of extremely eminent efficaciousness . You might expect this non - medical marvel of an inoculation to be big bucks . But — at least in the world of high - conclusion audio — this sonic salve from an audiological apothecary is , relatively speaking , a deal of epic proportion .
The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speaker are excellent in so many ways that it might seem concentrated to believe . But give me a moment and let ’s see if I might be able to convince you .
First : The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle , the latest evolution in the company ’s speaker lineup , is indeed thepinnacleof their utterer lineup . The name in reality means what it say .
And I have a footling bit of account with this caller . I once worked at Aperion Audio , which was the first and , for a abbreviated time , the only internet - direct utterer marque . This was back when the idea of selling sound recording and video gear — speech sound unheard and sight unseen — was considered indulgence .
Soon , others hopped onto the cyberspace - direct bandwagon , cutting out the interlocutor and saving customers money , all backed by a risk - free 30 - day trial . SVS was one of those others . At first it compete only with subwoofers — that ’s all they did — and they dominated the dress shop subwoofer infinite . They still do .
When look for verbaliser , mass grass with their eyes as well as their auricle .
Then SVS decide to leap into verbaliser , which made my job more complicated : I had to convince folks why they should buy Aperion speakers instead of SVS . And in those early Day , I did n’t care for the SVS speaker system sound , as the treble was too harsh and too forward .
After I left Aperion and started review audio appurtenance for Digital Trends , I launch myself in reception of theSVS Ultra series speakersand , a little later , theSVS Prime Series speakers . And I was blown away . The treble still feel a routine crispy , but those speaker unit set out so much right , and the unmingled note value was undeniable . I recommended them because I acknowledge tons of folks would get it on them , if they could squeeze the jolly industrial or utilitarian look .
Those speakers mean business , and they look the part . confront it , when looking for utterer , the great unwashed shop with their middle as well as their ears . And it ’s uncommon when the latter can completely reverse the former , especially when aim speakers in living spaces versus dedicated sound rooms or home theatre .
Which bring us to the SVS Evolution serial , and specifically the top - of - the - line Pinnacle fashion model .
The specs
The last speakers I ever need
These speakers are a joy for the pinna and the eyes . They ’re not just nice to look at — their appearance is part of the verbalizer ’ function . The audio tuning is the best work SVS has done , making these utterer among the well - sounding you’re able to buy , even when compared to those at two or three times the price .
If these were the last speakers I was provide to own for the residual of my life , I ’d be thrilled .
At 50.2 inches , the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers stand just over 4 foot tall . They are just under 12 inches encompassing , and ladder a mite over 18 inches deep from the most forward point to the apex of the angle on the back . harmonize to SVS , each speaker weigh 96.7 pounds , and the shipping weight comes in at about 110 pounds .
SVS ’s packaging is 2d to none in full term of security and presentation . These beauties are boxed in extremely well - pad and built promotion , making them unlikely to suffer transport damage in transit .
That ’s vital : It would be a call shame to see the beautiful twist damaged . Most of the storage locker is construct of ¾-inch thickset MDF or HDF , while the front baffle is extra compact ( at 1 column inch ) to help pink down any rapport — both directly from the driver , as well as sympathetic console vibrations . Inside , SVS reports encompassing internal brace and damp textile , which contributes to an seemingly inert cabinet that very much passes the knuckle trial .
When it comes to the cast of the storage locker , it ’s not made this way just to look cool ( to me it gives off Focal Kanta vibe ) , but to provide something call “ time alignment . ” The musical theme is to ensure that all frequencies arrive at the ear at the same time and in the right form — it ’s meant to be helpful in three - manner speaker designing .
It ’s a woofer / mid / tweet / mid / woofer arrangement , which is like an MTM speaker flanked at the bottom by woofer . The 1 - in dome tweeter is coat in diamond vapour , which is meant to strengthen without tot up a bunch of system of weights . The latticework - fashion grill over the tweeter not only protects it from being punched in by tiddler or pets — it is also meant to reduce diffraction and standing waves so you get gross high - frequency reaction .
Flanking that are two 5.25 - inch midrange drivers — these are in their own inclosure within the console , isolate from both the two front - face 8 - inch woofers and the rear - terminate 8 - inch woofers .
Multiple woofers patently suffer to increase freshwater bass response , but get them opposed substance that you ’re load the room with bass from multiple locations , which help keep the bass even or repress dead zones . But it also think of the bass waves inside the locker will cancel themselves out since they are 180 degrees out of form , which results in less heavy coloration from the cabinet .
There are also two ports , one at the top and one at the bottom , because each go down of woofer is in its own enclosing within the enclosure .
summate all of this up and you ’re already looking at a insurance premium verbaliser . But there ’s more . The direction SVS designed the crossover for this speaker sees the tweeter dip down to around 1800 Hz , which is low . This allow the midrange driver to be freed up , theoretically allowing for a more linear reception between the crushed soprano and upper midrange , as well as a more logical sound overall . In picture of the tender drivers , they look topnotch full-bodied and overbuilt by designing for carrying out .
SVS claims this speaker system has a 6 - ohm nominal impedance , but it acts like a 4 - ohm speaker for me . Why is that relevant ?
As electric resistance drop , the pauperism for unchanging power increases importantly . You do n’t postulate a ton of W to fall these speaker up , but to get the kinetics and clarity they ’re capable of , you need a middling capable amp . You want an amp that is 4 - Georg Simon Ohm stable , and while there are some husky high - end A / V receivers that are up to the undertaking , these speakers are going to sound best with luxuriously - power two - communication channel mix amps or main amplifiers like those from Outlaw Audio .
They just effortlessly procreate truthful sound , full of life .
When it come to positioning these Speaker , they need elbow room to breathe . The nigher to the bulwark you set the back of the Pinnacle – which has both two 8 - inch woofers and two heavy flared ports , all of which are emitting freshwater bass – the more you are going to perplex or even compromise their freshwater bass performance . I catch the dear results by placing the back of the loudspeaker system about 3 feet away from the paries . However , the speakers have good enough dispersion that it ’s not necessary to get so specific with the positioning .
The astuteness and the breadth of the soundstage is massive and allows for incredibly exact instrument placement , depend on how the music is mixed . The phantom center is fabulously convincing – you ’d swan there was a marrow channel in the television , it ’s that naturalistic . I ’m point over heels for the Libra the Balance of warmth , sweetness , and detail these utterer give to the treble part . And on residual , the Pinnacles are among the most satisfying speakers I ’ve listened to , long term .
They are warm , but not veiled ; sweet , but never clamant ; and detail , but not forward . These speaker do n’t shout at you with their resolution – they just effortlessly multiply truthful sound , full of life story . you could listen to them for hr and hours on end without ever get tire out out , and yet they offer so much detail to delight your ears . The attempt , decay , and gang of cymbal and high - hats is honest and constituent . Breathy vocals envelope you like a velvet blanket .
How they sound
I ’m tough on loudspeaker when it comes to how they wield brass musical instrument and their complex overtones . I ’m a trumpet role player , so when I listen to the likes of Michael Jackson’sThrilleror George Benson’sGive Me the Night , I face for zing , eagerness , sand , richness , and the harmonic noise and consonance that you may only hear among brass section overtones from a horn section . That ’s where the Pinnacle really steals my gist : It reproduces recordings powerful in so many ways , but the car horn section just sound awesome .
outspoken reproductions – such as those by Fleetwood Mac , Michael McDonald , Jill Scott , Erykah Badu , Elton John – are among the best I ’ve get a line from a speaker unit using dynamical drivers . I still have an affinity for planar magnetic speaker unit like Magnepans when it come to some song , but the Pinnacle is delightfully close to that kind of receptivity and air , balance with fertility and tonal legitimacy . The Dahlquist DQ-20 yield me similar chill .
The adept loudspeaker system are music genre - agnostic … these can do just about anything .
On the crunchier end of the spectrum , the dynamics and deficiency of aberration on records likeToto IVand some Snarky Puppy and respectable previous Led Zeppelin album are a marvel to behold . I love it when a speaker can deal delicate jazz and strong-growing rock evenly well .
The good speakers are genre - agnostical , and that ’s how the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles roll . They can do just about anything . And part of the ground is that the basso is everything you desire and call for , no subwoofer want . These speakers go low and thick , but most importantly , they go precisely where the medicine tells them to .
You will hear the good these speakers have to offer when seated in front of them . They are n’t so directive that they vocalize completely different when you stomach up and move around , but to really pick up the inner details , you ask to be invest .
These utterer are big and they need a fair amount of distance . They also need some unanimous power . Do n’t hear to take to the woods these with a Wiim Amp or others built on the same amp analysis situs ( because when they are done , they are done ) . Give the Pinnacle a great amp ; the reward you get from that investment will pay silly dividend .
Another crucial stage is that SVS does n’t own the belt - for - your buck speaker market here . The Ultra Evolution Pinnacle has quite a lot of contender from the likes of the Focal Aria Evo X ( specifically the Number 3 ) , the Martin Logan XT F200 , and the Perlisten R5 T – all fantabulous full - range tower speakers in the same Mary Leontyne Price kitchen range .
But the Ultra Evolution Pinnacles do it for me . These utterer will be my mention speakers until or unless something can tip them from their potty .
possibly that ’s the greatest compliment I can pay up the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers : I do n’t want to be without them . With their sound and looks , my ears and eyes do n’t go wandering . The grass does n’t look greener elsewhere .
Maybe there is no cure for upgraditis , but the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles are the closemouthed affair to one that I lie with .
