SVS Ultra Evolution

[Chromatischism]

The Ascend speaker looks better here imo.

Agree...don't get me curious about speakers again. I said I was done darnit!

 

[Anton D]

Agree...don't get me curious about speakers again. I said I was done darnit!

But these are so intriguing!

 

[Oddball]

I agree, this looks to be a serious value proposition. I'm excited for this model lineup.

I'm really wondering why people would prefer enormous center channels when the one offered in this lineup has two 6.5in drivers...seriously what are you talking about people? Put the center channel in a TV stand cabinet and look at your TV...

Because they generally perform better and are better match to big towers? Also, putting it "on" something is much better than putting it "in" a TV stand.

 

[cavedriver]

Setting aside the whole distance from the wall thing, I like what they are doing squeezing more woofers, and so more Sd, into those cabinets. What I'm wondering is, are those woofers wired in phase or out of phase? From their literature it would seem they are out of phase, and I assume most "force-coupled" designs are done this way? Other examples would be the KEF Blades and a whole bunch of others. Just wondering if the application is really that simple, like could I just slap two 18" woofers in a box and get ~2400 cm2 of radiating area per tower.

From their website:
"Dual opposing active woofers on the top and bottom of the cabinet render effortless low frequency response while addressing room modes with deep, authoritative bass is evenly spread throughout the listening area.

Mechanical energy from each front-firing woofer is equaled inside the cabinet by the rear-firing woofer eliminating mechanical coloration for pure, accurate low frequencies at any playback level."

 

[MattHooper]

Really great review here that’s getting me excited for more thorough testing of these ultra evolution speakers. There are very light measurements in this review as well that initially look very positive.

Most interesting is that, subjectively, the reviewer puts these speakers over his R11 Meta that was his previous favorite speaker. He admits the R11 measures slightly better but still found the SVS ultra evolution to be preferable. For the cost of these + the center coming in at < $5k compared to the R7/R11 + R6 Meta coming in at $7-8.5k, that would be some incredible performance and cost to value

Agreed. Nice review! He's good at breaking down the features of gear, what it's like to live with gear and the speakers, and doing nice sonic comparisons between speakers - articulates it well.

(Though I still find his persona super cringey)

 

[Penelinfi]

Setting aside the whole distance from the wall thing, I like what they are doing squeezing more woofers, and so more Sd, into those cabinets. What I'm wondering is, are those woofers wired in phase or out of phase? From their literature it would seem they are out of phase, and I assume most "force-coupled" designs are done this way? Other examples would be the KEF Blades and a whole bunch of others. Just wondering if the application is really that simple, like could I just slap two 18" woofers in a box and get ~2400 cm2 of radiating area per tower.

From their website:
"Dual opposing active woofers on the top and bottom of the cabinet render effortless low frequency response while addressing room modes with deep, authoritative bass is evenly spread throughout the listening area.

Mechanical energy from each front-firing woofer is equaled inside the cabinet by the rear-firing woofer eliminating mechanical coloration for pure, accurate low frequencies at any playback level."

Woofers would have to be wired in phase with cones pointing outwards to be force cancelling. Force cancelling, not sound cancelling

Now if you had the magnets sticking outwards for the rear woofers, then you would have to wire them out of phase

 

[Palmspar]

I like dual opposed design it plays 3db louder with the same power.
Double also the power adds 6db its the best way to design speakers/subwoofers.

 

[Chromatischism]

I like dual opposed design it plays 3db louder with the same power.
Double also the power adds 6db its the best way to design speakers/subwoofers.

Depends what is best for you. Sometimes it's the best, and sometimes it isn't.

 

[Palmspar]

Depends what is best for you. Sometimes it's the best, and sometimes it isn't.

For base i think its almost the best way to go, but it is more expensive the extra woofer needs also a stronger amp.

 

[magic44ken]

From a follow up QA video, Kristi mention that the dialogue clarity is not very good compare to other speakers for home theater setup.

 

[Dogsled21]

Ultra Evolution Pinnacle review? Looks like the parts could be good. The driver alignment marketing is interesting but probably just marketing - the 'time alignment' described really only works at a small point in space and generally for 1rst order acoustic rolloffs between the drivers, ala Dunlavy Audio. The Dunlavy's really could generate a credible acoustic squarewave, but one's head had to be in a vise...Would be very interested in detailed measurements of the radiation into a typical room.

 

[Penelinfi]

Measurements may be coming "Soon™"
Also isn't there already a thread for SVS Evo stuff?

 

[staticV3]

SVS Ultra Evolution

SVS is one of those companies that leaves me on the fence. They do appear to employ science, but doesn't look like they employ a lot of deep science. From there website, they have a picture of their speakers in an anechoic chamber, but they don't publish much measurements on their speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[AdamG]

SVS Ultra Evolution

SVS is one of those companies that leaves me on the fence. They do appear to employ science, but doesn't look like they employ a lot of deep science. From there website, they have a picture of their speakers in an anechoic chamber, but they don't publish much measurements on their speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Merged here. Thanks to @staticV3 for you continued efforts to keep the forum in check.

 

[Dogsled21]

Thanks for keeping the threads together - did not know about the SVS thread in general.
One other issue with the "new" SVS speaker and that topology style in general is the driver spacing can generate lobing in the radiation due to the separation distance of the drivers. Being a passive design, the xovers will have an effect of course. If the bass to mid xover is too high one will notice when standing up and sitting down - sound will change subtly. Looking forward to seeing some data and evals. I also agree a waveguide on tweeters these days is kinda standard - seems to help pattern control with no downside.

 

[ryanosaur]

Review will be available this afternoon:

SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Review

When SVS unveiled their new Ultra Evolution loudspeaker series to the world at the 2024 CES in January, many in the audio industry were surprised at just how radically SVS changed their top-tier speaker series. Typically, when a major loudspeaker manufacturer refreshes a speaker line, they keep...

forums.audioholics.com

 

[Penelinfi]

From the Audioholics review ( https://www.audioholics.com/tower-speaker-reviews/svs-pinnacle )

 

[lewdish]

From the Audioholics review ( https://www.audioholics.com/tower-speaker-reviews/svs-pinnacle )

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I wish i had better reference for the quality of Audioholics measurements, I think based on Audioholics measurements but they measure decent. Surprisingly bass isnt super linear, but idk if thats just Audioholics being unable to measure them properly peaks at 70hz and -6db below that is ~44hz. Curious if the dynamic range is good though since you have 4 woofers. The broad dip between 1-3khz maybe crossover related or just weird measurements and could be EQ'ed i guess?

Directivity looks really good though and nice and wide. I think for $4k a pair its still a very good deal

 

[ryanosaur]

I wish i had better reference for the quality of Audioholics measurements, I think based on Audioholics measurements but they measure decent. Surprisingly bass isnt super linear, but idk if thats just Audioholics being unable to measure them properly peaks at 70hz and -6db below that is ~44hz. Curious if the dynamic range is good though since you have 4 woofers. The broad dip between 1-3khz maybe crossover related or just weird measurements and could be EQ'ed i guess?

Directivity looks really good though and nice and wide. I think for $4k a pair its still a very good deal

James’ measurements are usually agreed to be very good. In situations where true anechoic data is available, his quasi-anechoic measures match well and each confirms the other.
For Bass, he does a groundplane measurement to get accurate readings.

 

[valerianf]

”The broad dip between 1-3khz maybe crossover related or just weird measurements and could be EQ'ed i guess?"
On a foreign website that measured this speaker found the same deep in the FR and claimed that SVS acknowledge it was real.
It may be one reason not buy this speaker untill exists a revision equipped with a better designed crossover cutting the tweeter at a higher frequency.