Welcome to another “First Look” on bestofhighend.com, a blend of unboxing and preview where we dive into exciting high-end audio gear. This time: the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, and you can watch the full video above.
What kind of product?
Today we’re taking a look at the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, a two-way, rear-ported stand-mount speaker and the biggest one in SVS’s flagship Ultra Evolution series. It’s aimed at people who want serious two-channel sound, but it fits just as well in a home theater.
Brand?
SVS is an American brand from Ohio, and most people know them for their subwoofers. Over the years they’ve built a strong speaker lineup too, and the Ultra Evolution series sits at the very top of it. This is where SVS shows what it can do when it goes all out on driver design and cabinet engineering.
Current price?
The SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf costs €1,499 for the pair. For a flagship stand-mount from SVS, that’s a pretty sensible price. Prices can differ per country and per store, so check what it costs where you live.
What’s in the box?
Inside the box you’ll find the pair of speakers, the grilles, and the usual paperwork like the manual and a thank-you card. The speaker cables and stands are not included, so you’ll have to buy them separately.
Closer look?
The first thing you notice is that these are quite big for a stand-mount. Each one is almost 40cm tall and weighs about 8.5kg, so they feel solid and well built right out of the box. You can get them in Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black, or Black Oak wood veneer. Ours is the Black Oak version, and it looks great. The piano gloss versions do like to collect fingerprints, though, so keep a cloth close by.
Features?
The star of the show is the one-inch diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter, which sits behind SVS’s organic cell lattice diffuser. The idea is airy, detailed highs with wide dispersion, so the sweet spot isn’t quite so small.
It’s paired with a 6.5-inch glass-fiber composite woofer in a time-aligned cabinet, which SVS says should give you better imaging and a more coherent soundstage. On paper, the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf reaches down to 40Hz, and with 87dB sensitivity and a 6-ohm impedance it should be fairly easy to drive. A good amp will still help, though. And SVS backs them with a five-year warranty.
SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf specifications
- Type: two-way, rear-ported stand-mount loudspeaker
- Tweeter: 1-inch diamond-coated aluminum dome with organic cell lattice diffuser
- Woofer: 6.5-inch glass-fiber composite cone
- Frequency response: down to 40Hz
- Sensitivity: 87dB
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Height and weight: almost 40cm, about 8.5kg per speaker
- Finishes: Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black, Black Oak wood veneer
- Warranty: five years
- Price: €1,499 per pair
For whom is this product?
These are for people who want a big, full sound without going for floor-standers. If you’re coming from a smaller stand-mount and want a step up, or you want a high-end front pair for a home theater you can expand later, these make a lot of sense.
Conclusion?
The SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf looks and feels like a proper flagship. The diamond tweeter and the time-aligned cabinet are interesting ideas on paper, and the build quality is impressive. We just connected them to our system, and they already sound amazing. But we’re not going to spoil too much yet. For all the details on how they perform, check out our full review, coming soon on bestofhighend.com.
Looking for more First Looks? Check out our Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 and the rest of our First Look series.
More information: svsound.com
