Most consumers believe that the key to a good speaker is punchy bass and sparkling highs. If this is you, you have a lot of options (as many manufacturers offer powerful bass). But the mark of a truly good speaker is its ability to mix sound so that you hear it the way the artist intended. Instead of emphasizing bass and treble, you should aim for balance so you hear all the voices, instruments, and ranges come together to form a perfect union.
The objective is above all to create a sound field which allows each instrument or voice to express itself when necessary (for example during a solo or a particularly important passage for a certain vocal range).
ZDNET’s Key Findings for SVS Prime Wireless Pro Speakers
- You won’t find smoother, better-balanced sound on an active speaker at this price level.
- To get the best bass, it is recommended to pair them with the SVS SB-1000 Pro subwoofer.
I’ve experienced a lot of speakers boosting certain frequency ranges because, well, that’s what’s popular. And some musical genres unintentionally impose these requirements on manufacturers.
But my aural joy is when a pair of speakers can deliver a buttery smooth blend of sounds, without forcing me into a particular range. Instead, I hear the music as the artist intended it. To many, these speakers are called “studio monitors” because they allow the listener to hear the truth of the sound.
This is exactly what powered speakers did for me. Paired with my speakers, everything I was able to do with this setup was gloriously smooth. Listening to music through these speakers was like coming home. Classical, choir, rock, prog, metal, classic rock…the genre didn’t matter, because these speakers could handle it all.
Of course, sound preferences are a personal matter, but when you find a pair of speakers that can deliver neutral sound without lacking enthusiasm, you know you’re in for something special.
SVS Prime Wireless Pro speaker specifications
The specifications of the SVS Prime Wireless Pro powered speakers are as follows:
- Frequency response – 42Hz – 25kHz (+/- 3dB)
- Speakers: 1″ aluminum dome tweeter and 5.25″ mid-bass driver.
- Two power amplifiers class D
- RMS power 200 watts (50 watts X 4)
- Digitally controlled crossover between tweeter and woofer (2kHz (12dB/octave slope))
- Rear port 2.36 inch wide opening
- DTS Play-Fi with 192 kHz/24-bit lossless via critical listening mode over Wi-Fi
- CD quality for Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast for Android smartphones and devices
- Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX
- Spotify Connect
- HDMI audio input compatible with ARC and eARC
- Left/Right RCA input (20K input impedance)
- 3.5mm auxiliary input (20K input impedance)
- Optical Toslink input (S/PDIF receiver operates up to 96 kHz)
- Ethernet connectivity
- USB port
- Subwoofer output – 2V max – auto-sensing low pass filter activates low pass at 80Hz
- Enclosure Dimensions – 230.8mm (H) x 223.8mm (W) x 82mm (D)
- Weight – weight of active speaker: 5.58 kg, weight of passive speaker: 5.3 kg
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Remote control included to switch between inputs, change volume and select presets
Note: The preset function is used in combination with the mobile app that you can pair with the speakers. Although I installed the application, I did not delve into it as I did not find it necessary.
My experience with SVS Prime Wireless Pro speakers
First, I should mention that I have a unique setup. I listen to my turntable and my PC on the same speakers (I know, I’m a bad audiophile). The reason for this setup is that I listen to both while writing. Sometimes I want to listen to a piece of music on vinyl and other times I want to listen to something I don’t yet have on my preferred medium. And since my office (with cats roaming around) isn’t really conducive to installing floor-standing speakers, I tend to opt for a bookshelf.
My previous speakers had auxiliary inputs and line inputs, allowing me to plug my Rega P8 turntable into one and my PC into the other.
The SVS Prime Wireless Pro speakers feature an RCA line input and a 3.5mm line input. It’s impossible to plug in both and expect the speakers to know which device to prioritize. This is why I had to switch my PC to the Bluetooth option and plug my turntable into the RCA input.
The only downside is that my Thelio System76 disconnects the Bluetooth speakers every time the screen locks. So when I reconnect, I have to reconnect the speakers via the Bluetooth manager. It’s not that serious.
Okay, let’s move on to the music. As I said, I subjected these speakers to several musical genres. Here is a representation:
- Classic – Adagio for strings by Samuel Barber. By far my favorite piece of classical music. SVS Prime brought this heartbreaking track to life. Each instrument could be selected from the orchestra and I was able to close my eyes and let the soft sounds wash over me. The climax of the first movement is a very telling moment in this piece, where lower quality speakers can cause distortion at higher volumes. The SVS Primes took it without the slightest crack.
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Choral – A Choral Christmas by Voces8 – There is no more beautiful Christmas album and this recording came to life with every instrument and voice blending together with just enough space and depth to make me feel like I was be in the concert hall. - Classic rock – Kashmir by Led Zeppelin – This recording is from the Mothership version and I have never heard this song so clearly.
- Progressive Rock – Tom Sawyer from Rush – This is the track I test most often and the SVS Prime gave it the punch it deserved. It’s true that I use these speakers with the SVS subwoofer, but the energy you get from the opening of the song immediately made me smile. She is loaded with power and as agile as the musicians.
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Rock/Metal – Band-Maid by YOLO – I love this song. Between Kanami’s virtuosity on guitar, Akane’s pounding rhythms, Misa’s phenomenal basslines, Miku’s rhythm guitar, and Saiki’s vocals, this song fills the room with so much sound. And unlike my previous speakers, the song doesn’t get lost in a wall of kick drums and throbbing bass.
In addition to my test tracks (all played on vinyl), I’ve spent the last couple of weeks listening to Christmas music (as I always do this time of year) and every song has filled me the heart of joy.
ZDNET Buying Tips for SVS Prime Wireless Pro Speakers
If you’re tired of your old speakers sounding too harsh or too muddy, it’s time to step up a gear and buy a pair of active speakers that deliver music the way it was intended .
With perfect balance and gorgeous aesthetics, it’s hard to find a more impressive pair of speakers (at this price point) than these.
Source: “ZDNet.com”