Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- The Prime Center is a true 3-way speaker that provides clear dialogue and impactful effects in movies
- The Prime Bookshelf speakers sound rich and full, with excellent directionality as rear surrounds
- Both the Prime Center and Bookshelf speakers are well-built with solid construction
- The speakers share the same 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter, making it possible to use all of their speakers together without worrying about timbre matching
- The SVS Prime speakers offer good performance at an affordable price, competing with speakers in a higher price range
Product Considerations
- The Piano Gloss Black finish, while attractive, is a fingerprint and dust magnet, requiring more maintenance
- The bookshelf speakers do not have a mounting system on the back, limiting wall/ceiling mounting options
- The Prime Center, when powered with lower wattage, may lack clarity in the treble
- Some reviewers noted a slight mid-bass emphasis in their room
- Some reviewers noted a hint of upper-frequency emphasis at times
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the SVS Ultra Center, the Prime Center's high-end clarity is not as good, but the Ultra is twice the price
- Upgraded from Andrew Jones Pioneers, the Prime center and bookshelf speakers provided dialogue and effects with crystal clarity and massive overall quality improvement
Takeaway: The SVS Prime speakers are a great option to get started in home theater, or to upgrade existing speakers, since they give clear sound for both music and movies. They are well-built and offer high-quality sound at a reasonable price, especially when powered with enough wattage.
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Prime Center
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Manufacturer details
- Frequency Response: 48 Hz-25 kHz (±3 dB)
- Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83V @ 1 meter full-space, 300-3kHz)
- Recommended amplifier power: 20-200 watts
- Dimensions: 7.7" (H) X 18.6" (W) X 9.2" (D)
- Weight Unboxed: 20.2 pounds
- Tweeter: 1" Aluminum Dome
- Midrange: 3.5"
- Woofer: Dual 5.25"
- Ports: Dual 1" wide-flared rear-firing ports
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- SVS subwoofers often integrate sophisticated DSP (Digital Signal Processing) engines, accessible via a user-friendly smartphone app, allowing for precise adjustments to parameters like crossover frequencies, parametric EQ, and room gain compensation.
- They prioritize the design of the woofer itself, often using lightweight yet rigid materials like aluminum or composite cones paired with powerful motor assemblies for exceptional excursion and controlled bass reproduction.
- The brand offers different enclosure designs, such as sealed, ported, and cylindrical, to accommodate various room sizes, aesthetic preferences, and sonic goals.
- SVS consistently earns high praise for the quality and responsiveness of its customer service, which includes generous trial periods, warranties, and upgrade policies, fostering a customer-centric experience.
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Used
SVS
What if you spend more?
SVS Ultra Evolution Center speaker represents the culmination of SVS breakthroughs in driver design, component materials, and cabinet architecture, married with a relentless passion for audio excellence. The science of sonic perfection in harmony with a love of convincing and immersive sound.
With a true 3-way driver and crossover design, Ultra Evolution Center renders a broad and diffuse sweet spot so you can enjoy optimal sound in a wider listening area. This is especially important for rooms with multiple seating positions. Voices and sonic details are rendered with pristine clarity and exciting dynamics for more convincing movie and TV sound.
Time-aligned cabinet geometry, diamond coated aluminum dome tweeters, organic cellular lattice diffuser, and other advancements embody an uncompromising approach to speaker design. These innovations are brought to life with painstaking anechoic and real-world measurement and voicing. This final bit of artistry places Ultra Evolution Center among the highest fidelity center channel speakers ever created.
Our mission has always been to ignite a passion for transcendent music and home theater experiences by rendering the truest sonic playback. The joy of pinpoint accuracy, absolute transparency, stunning dynamics, and effortless bass for more people than ever. SVS Ultra Evolution Center deeply connects you to the emotion of sound.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Good bass for its size, exceeding the factory rated 40Hz
- Treble is a strong suit, sounding clean and natural due to the diamond deposition process on the tweeter
- Excels at soundstage and imaging, disappearing well and creating a wide and tall soundstage
- Connectivity options are available
Product Considerations
- Mid-range has some breakup or resonance in the upper frequencies of what the woofer plays
- Some people who are extra sensitive to higher frequencies may find these speakers a bit too bright
- Bass starts to roll off pretty much right at 30 Hz
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KEF R3 Meta: The R3 Meta sounds more neutral, but the Ultra Evolution disappears better and has more going on in the upper frequencies, leading the reviewer to prefer the Ultra Evolution's sound
Takeaway: The SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf speakers offer great sound, especially in imaging. They are worth buying because they bring a high-end listening experience that makes the speakers disappear into the room.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Sweet and smooth sound profile
- Excellent detail for the price
- Great balance and fluidity across registers
- Impressive dynamics and a wide, dimensional stereo imaging, as it can deliver a stunning soundstage
- Overall balanced tonality
- The tweeter is made from quality materials with great care
- Elegant, minimalist design that seamlessly integrates into any audio setup, with a sleek aesthetic and multiple color options
Product Considerations
- Does not feel as substantial as some other speakers in their price class
- Laid-back sound occasionally obscures some definition
- Deep bass may require a subwoofer
- The tweeter is exposed and needs to be handled with care
- Some reviewers would prefer a solid painted color rather than an imitation wood vinyl veneer
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Offers a lot of what makes the Vestia No. 1 great while saving money, but the Vestia No. 1 has more sparkling detail and pristine treble extension
- More compact and easier to place, though the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 looks more premium
- The L100 presented a more precise center image for vocals and dialog, but the Theva's more laid-back sound profile made them a better listen in most cases
- Stepped in pretty seamlessly for KEF LSX 2.1, which includes SVS's 3000 Micro subwoofer, showing impressive sonic skills, though they don't offer the same thunderous bass
- The rear-ported design is a change from the previous entry-level line, Chora, where the port was front-mounted
Takeaway: The Focal Theva No.1 is a well-rounded bookshelf speaker that offers excellent audio performance and detail for its price, with a sleek design that fits into any space. It's a great option for those looking for a hifi experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
With a 19-inch width, the horizontally oriented A44H can sit on a standard rack shelf or be mounted above or below a display. The completely new design also enables the A44H to serve as a center speaker in immersive and 3D speaker configurations. Dual 4-inch long-throw woofers and the X-ART tweeter deliver a wide frequency range, while onboard DSP-based tuning capabilities enable you to tweak the sound easily.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Compact, comfortable, and easy to place, with a lower profile.
- Delivers a powerful, dynamic, and precise sound that delivers an enjoyable experience.
- A rotatable tweeter allows for both horizontal and vertical placement, providing flexibility in different setups.
- On-board DSP-based room correction options, and integration with Sonarworks SoundID Reference for refined tuning.
- A wide sweet spot that is immersive and enjoyable to listen to.
Product Considerations
- The bass response may not be as present or suitable for music production with many sub-bass frequencies.
- The dial for input level adjustment is not stepped, which may make precise matching more difficult.
- Some reviewers suggest a sub may be needed depending on the material being worked with, to supplement the 4-inch woofers.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the ADAM Audio A7X model, the A44H offers a similar response curve.
Takeaway: The A44H monitors offer a unique form factor, versatile placement options, and a detailed sound, making them a great option for smaller spaces or immersive setups. The built-in DSP and integration with Sonarworks provide extensive room correction and customization capabilities.
Video review
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Product Strengths
- The RP-504C II is a solid center channel option, especially within a surround sound setup
- It is sonically better, more refined in the midrange and top end than previous generations, offering a balanced and open sound that can improve intelligibility
- The speaker provides good output levels with low distortion and compression, and is capable of handling power well
Product Considerations
- The RP-504C II has poor directivity in the horizontal region, which can lead to speech intelligibility issues for listeners sitting more than ±10° off-axis
- It has an elevated treble response, rising to about +3dB above average sensitivity levels above 2kHz, which may impact linearity
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs RP504C (Gen 1)—the Gen 2 has a different crossover point (650 and 1950 Hz vs 500 and 1500 Hz), refined mids and highs, and the Gen 1 has a gap that's more similar to the gap in the floor standings
- To Klipsch THX—RP-504C II sounds warmer and more natural
Takeaway: The Klipsch RP-504C II center channel speaker is a capable speaker that may increase the sonic intelligibility of a sound system. It could be a great choice for a home theater setup if clear dialogue and sound reproduction are priorities, and it has good output levels with low distortion and compression.
Video review
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What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Good tonal balance and neutral sound, with small departures from full neutrality
- Wide soundstage and precise imaging
- Exceptional dynamic range for its size, packing a punch
- Stylish and tasteful design that complements interior decor
- Clear articulation and detailed account of vocals and instruments
Product Considerations
- Low-frequency extension isn't as deep as other similarly priced towers, bass extension is not terribly low for a floor-standing speaker of its pricing
- Best with a subwoofer for action films and those who want bass at and below 40Hz
- The center speaker is less optimal for those situated off-center, with a noticeable dip in frequency response around 2kHz in some rooms
- The on-axis measurements show a slight dip from 5kHz up to 10kHz, which makes the speaker a bit soft on sibilants
- They do not give a lot of deep bass output
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3s: Vestia N°3s have better bass extension
- Vs Philharmonic BMR Tower: BMR Tower digs deeper in bass, but is larger and less efficient
- Vs Arendal 1723 S Tower: 1723 S Tower has more low-frequency extension, but sacrifices some efficiency compared to the Vestia
- Vs KEF R5 Meta: Trade-offs exist in bass extension, size, and efficiency
- Vs Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3: Trade-offs exist in bass extension, size, and efficiency
- Vs Polk Legend L600: Trade-offs exist in bass extension, size, and efficiency
Takeaway: The Vestia No.3 offers excellent sound quality and stylish design, making it a good option for those who want clear sound and a pleasing aesthetic. Adding a subwoofer can enhance the bass for a fuller listening experience, especially for home theater use.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact, space-saving design with a modern look and good build quality and finish
- The MS Tower has a built-in height speaker for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X setups
- Well-balanced sonic performance for both music and home theater applications
- Excellently timbre-matched front mains and center package
- The speakers fill even relatively large rooms with sufficient sonic energy
Product Considerations
- The MS Tower in-room bass response only reached down to around 50 Hz, suggesting a subwoofer is necessary for full bass extension
- The MS Center might not portray depth as adeptly as more expensive center channels
- The MS Tower speakers might not possess the last word in transparency
Takeaway: The NHT MS speakers offer a compact design with good sound for both music and movies, especially for those wanting an easy Dolby Atmos setup. They provide good value and a balanced sonic experience without taking up too much space.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Designed to be minimally invasive and slip easily and undetected into any environment
- Polk has minimized the thickness, making it easy to install in most homes
- Build quality is good and the weight has been kept nice and low
- When set up correctly, it projects well and directly forward and has a slight lean to a warmer tone, but nonetheless has great clarity
Product Considerations
- Installing in-wall speakers is not easy, and professional installation is recommended
- Requires a separate amplifier and a way to connect sound to it
- Installation is not recommended if there is no space behind drywall or on solid surfaces like concrete or stone
- Polk's logo on the grill might be a minor aesthetic issue for some who want it to be inconspicuous
- Sound is not really relevant when evaluating the speaker on its own, as it's designed to be used as part of a full system
Takeaway: The Polk Audio 255c-RT is a great addition to a home theatre sound system, especially when paired with other speakers from the Polk Audio RT line. It has good build quality, and its unobtrusive design makes it a solid choice for creating a multi-directional audio experience for watching movies.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Quite good output levels with low distortion and compression
- Sensitivity measures at about 87dB @ 2.83v/1m, which is nice
Product Considerations
- Elevated treble response rising to about +3dB above the average sensitivity levels above 2kHz
- Linearity takes a hit, in part, to the above-mentioned HF boost
- Poor directivity in the horizontal region with a narrowing response through the midrange
- Viewers/listeners sitting to the side of the speaker more than about ±10° are going to suffer from some speech intelligibility issues
Takeaway: The RP-500C II offers good output levels with low distortion and compression, making it a solid choice for clear sound. Its nice sensitivity helps deliver quality audio for your home theater.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Lively and informative sound
- Speakers integrate well with a subwoofer, creating a seamless coherence
- Opulent and robust design with a high-gloss lacquered aluminum cabinet
- Well-made with quality materials
Product Considerations
- Lacks some solidity
- Smallish soundstage
- Dynamics could be better
Takeaway: The Dali Fazon Mikro Vokal is a stylish and well-made speaker suitable for smaller rooms that offers lively sound and integrates well with a subwoofer. It's a reasonable option to consider if you want both style and sound in a compact form.
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