SVS Ultra Bookshelf Speakers Review

[Papking]

"How would you compare these speakers to the Elac Uni-fi UF5's?" I just went through a long process in buying new bookself speakers. The Ultras and the all 3 of the new Elac bookshelves. To my ears the Ultra sound much nicer. Better lows and much better highs. Great imaging and sound stage. The Ultras beat out every speaker I tested except for one big surprise. The Klipsch RP-160ms. I only added the Klipschs to my list because I got a great deal on them from Amazon. I was shocked when after all the testing the Klipsch came out on top with the SVs Ultras coming in a close 2nd. The new Klipsch tweeters/horns sound so much better than their old tweeters. No more sizzling highs. I never thought I would ever own a Klipsch speaker but the RP-160ms souned the best for me., Great bass, solid midrange and wonderful highs, never fatigueing. The sound stage is hugh and extens past the speakers. Imaging is excellent. I f anyone is in the market for bookshelf speakers they should give these a listen.
Speakers tested: Wharfedale Denton aniversery model, B&W 685 S2, Elac B5, B6 & the Unifis, SVS Ultras and Klipsch RP-160m.

 

[Carl08]

Great information. Thank you. I was interested briefly in the Klipsch RP-160m. I'm glad you found them impressive. Might have to go order the SVS Ultras and do some in-home listening now.

 

[Pogre]

I love these speakers. Part of the reason I gave them a shot is because of this review and video. They really are fantastic speakers. I have a pretty large room (16 x 30 with another open room to the side and a hallway) with vaulted ceilings and they have no trouble filling the room and sound great doing it.

I have a pair of SB1000s along with them and power them with a Denon AVR X1200W. They do need some help with the lower frequencies in my large room. I could see maybe going without subs in a smaller room. I was surprised how clean they are right down to their rated (or close to) response. I've never had them bottom out on me either, even full range at "spirited levels", as I believe you put it. I enjoyed re-reading this review. It's always fun to read positive things about something you own.

 

[Carl08]

I just ordered the Ultra bookshelves and the ultra center. Will do some listening and comparisons.

 

[Pogre]

I just ordered the Ultra bookshelves and the ultra center. Will do some listening and comparisons.

I think you're really gonna like them. I still need the center channel, but 700 bones is hard to justify to the wife when we have a phantom mode. sigh

 

[lovinthehd]

I think you're really gonna like them. I still need the center channel, but 700 bones is hard to justify to the wife when we have a phantom mode. sigh

Who told her about phantom mode!?

 

[Pogre]

Who told her about phantom mode!?

I knew someone was gonna call me out for that... *grumble*

 

[Klipschhead302]

I knew someone was gonna call me out for that... *grumble*

I have over-explained the system to the wife as well which has backfired a few times. They remember EVERYTHING.

Except how to use the remote!


..

 

[phxrider]

So, on a Yamaha MX-A5000 amp with a switch for setting speaker impedance, would you need to set the switch to the lower impedance setting?

 

[Pogre]

So, on a Yamaha MX-A5000 amp with a switch for setting speaker impedance, would you need to set the switch to the lower impedance setting?

No. Never. Always leave it on the 8 ohm setting.

 

[phxrider]

No. Never. Always leave it on the 8 ohm setting.

Thanks, Pogre. One more question... I looked at your system and I see you have both Ultra Towers and Bookshelves. I'm contemplating whether to go all Ultra Bookshelves + Ultra Center or go with the Towers for the main L+R speakers... can you talk me into going one way or the other? Since it also matters, my sub is a PCU13 with the newer Sledge amp. Thanks.

 

[Pogre]

Thanks, Pogre. One more question... I looked at your system and I see you have both Ultra Towers and Bookshelves. I'm contemplating whether to go all Ultra Bookshelves + Ultra Center or go with the Towers for the main L+R speakers... can you talk me into going one way or the other? Since it also matters, my sub is a PCU13 with the newer Sledge amp. Thanks.

That really depends on your room size. Maybe go with the bookshelf speakers for mains (and center channel if you have the room) and put the savings into another PC13? I started using 2 subs and now I can't go with just one any more. My bass response is excellent throughout the whole seating area and so smooth.

The bookshelfs really are worthy main speakers with some help from a sub(s). I have a very large room and when the voice that won't stop started on me I was forced to use that to "justify" buying towers and an amp. The towers are an extravagance for me.

All rooms are different tho. Maybe 1 sub is plenty for your room. What you gain with towers over bs is more deep bass extension (but you already have a sub) and for me, more presence in the midrange. They seem fatter and fuller to me. That could be placebo, but I'll take it. It's a good placebo for me. What kind of room size are we talking here?

 

[phxrider]

I forget the exact measurements off hand but it's a pretty big room, probably 20'x12' with a 12' ceiling, and it's open to the kitchen and sides... Pretty much an acoustic nightmare, in theory...

However, right now I have 5x Yamaha HS80m studio monitors and the PCU13 for my "real" speakers and it's LOUD and the bass is STRONG. But I'd like something with a little better clarity (and that don't need XLR cables + power + trigger wires and boxes, for improved WAF/GAF) which is why I'm considering the SVSes. I was actually considering going to a single or dual PBU16 for the sub (or running the 13 with a 16 until I can get another 16). The Atmos speakers are Klipsch Quintets that she already had wired into the ceiling when I moved in, and I repurposed the center into a single surround back. (In case you're guessing, I don't already own the MX-A5000, I would get one if I moved away from powered monitors though.)

 

[Pogre]

I forget the exact measurements off hand but it's a pretty big room, probably 20'x12' with a 12' ceiling, and it's open to the kitchen and sides... Pretty much an acoustic nightmare, in theory...

However, right now I have 5x Yamaha HS80m studio monitors and the PCU13 for my "real" speakers and it's LOUD and the bass is STRONG. But I'd like something with a little better clarity (and that don't need XLR cables + power + trigger wires and boxes, for improved WAF/GAF) which is why I'm considering the SVSes. I was actually considering going to a single or dual PBU16 for the sub (or running the 13 with a 16 until I can get another 16). The Atmos speakers are Klipsch Quintets that she already had wired into the ceiling when I moved in, and I repurposed the center into a single surround back. (In case you're guessing, I don't already own the MX-A5000, I would get one if I moved away from powered monitors though.)

I would love a pair of PBU 16's, but they're a little out of my price range. I really think you'd be great with another PCU 13. As for the speakers, if you have the money and like the looks by all means get the towers (I did), but you will get very similar performance from the bookshelf speakers when a sub or 2 are in the mix.

For that matter, if you can afford a pair of PBU 16's... I'm jealous. There is better pricing from equally respected manufacturers, so you know. Hsu, Rythmik and a few more. I went with Hsu's VTF-3 MK5 dual drive package and don't regret it. sounds amazing.

 

[phxrider]

For that matter, if you can afford a pair of PBU 16's... I'm jealous. There is better pricing from equally respected manufacturers, so you know. Hsu, Rythmik and a few more. I went with Hsu's VTF-3 MK5 dual drive package and don't regret it. sounds amazing.

Well, the girlfriend and I moved in together a few months ago and I'm finding myself with a nice jump in disposable income from combining expenses, lower insurance in the new zip code, eating at home more, etc. Since she had the speakers on the ceiling, I used that to justify upgrading my pre-pro from a Onkyo PR-SC885P to a Yamaha CX-A5100 for Atmos and converted her old receiver into an amp for them, and I'm actually pretty shocked at the improvement in the overall sound. Now I'm getting that "voice that won't stop" you mentioned... It's been quite a few years since I've upgraded anything, so what the heck.... BTW, Atmos is REALLY cool if you haven't tried it - better than I expected.

A friend of mine has Hsu and his system sounds terrific - but these Ultras are getting SUCH good reviews, I'm really leaning that way, plus between Ed Mullen responding personally to pretty much any issue I've ever had, sending me a new woofer with "running improvements" when I mentioned I heard some bottoming, and giving me a Sledge amp at cost when the original BASH one died, SVS has provided me amazing customer service over the years - it's really hard to go with someone else when I know they have something top notch to sell me at a reasonable price.

 

[Pogre]

Well, the girlfriend and I moved in together a few months ago and I'm finding myself with a nice jump in disposable income from combining expenses, lower insurance in the new zip code, eating at home more, etc. Since she had the speakers on the ceiling, I used that to justify upgrading my pre-pro from a Onkyo PR-SC885P to a Yamaha CX-A5100 for Atmos and converted her old receiver into an amp for them, and I'm actually pretty shocked at the improvement in the overall sound. Now I'm getting that "voice that won't stop" you mentioned... It's been quite a few years since I've upgraded anything, so what the heck.... BTW, Atmos is REALLY cool if you haven't tried it - better than I expected.

A friend of mine has Hsu and his system sounds terrific - but these Ultras are getting SUCH good reviews, I'm really leaning that way, plus between Ed Mullen responding personally to pretty much any issue I've ever had, sending me a new woofer with "running improvements" when I mentioned I heard some bottoming, and giving me a Sledge amp at cost when the original BASH one died, SVS has provided me amazing customer service over the years - it's really hard to go with someone else when I know they have something top notch to sell me at a reasonable price.

Mention that stuff if you contact them. They'll probably offer a discount, especially if you order in multiples.

I've not heard a lot of other very well respected brands but I think I know good sound when I hear it and the Ultras really do sound amazing. They can handle some power, the BS dig surprisingly deep and they both have pinpoint imaging and are very accurate. The tweeters they sourced for them are really, really good. Not harsh or tinny sounding at all and an fea optimized wave guide.

I love mine, if you can't tell...

 

[Asif1980]

Hey all- after being in LCR for almost 2 years, I'll be adding surrounds. My LR are Tekton design Double Impacts and SVS ultra center, should I go SVS Ultra bookshelves or SVS Ultra Surrounds?? I don't see that many reviews for Ultra-Surrounds but Ultra Bookshelves has some many reviews.