In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM20 and Ultra Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Definitive Technology and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM20 and SVS Ultra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM20 | SVS Ultra Center |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene | 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 91-23 kHz | 45-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.00kg / 22lbs | 14.09kg / 31lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.3" x 30.5" x 6.5"
134 x 775 x 166 mm | 8-1/8" x 22-1/16" x 11-3/16"
207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM20 and SVS Ultra Center speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Definitive Dymension DM20 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Dymension DM20 is a 2-way design whereas the Ultra Center is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Definitive Dymension DM20SVS Ultra Center
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Dymension DM20 |
SVS Ultra Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Dymension DM20 features a 1" aluminum oxide Hard-Dome Tweeter and 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene Woofer. On the other hand, the Ultra Center features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Dymension DM20 has a frequency range of 91-23 kHz whereas Ultra Center has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dymension DM20's min frequency of 91Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Dymension DM20 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Center which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Dymension DM20 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dymension DM20 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Ultra Center's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive Dymension DM20 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Ultra Center can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Dymension DM20 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Ultra Center.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Definitive Dymension DM20
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Center features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dymension DM20 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM20's Binding post terminals
SVS Ultra Center's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive Dymension DM20's and SVS Ultra Center's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM20 has external dimensions of 134 x 775 x 166 mm (5.3 x 30.5 x 6.5 in) whereas SVS Ultra Center has external dimensions of 207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm (8-1/8 x 22-1/16 x 11-3/16inch).
Definitive Dymension DM20 is 73mm shorter and 119mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Center but it is also 214mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Definitive Dymension DM20 is approximately 1286.5cm2 / 199.4inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Center is approximately 1598.9cm2 / 247.8inch2. The Dymension DM20 requires 20% less surface area than the Ultra Center which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive Dymension DM20 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the SVS Ultra Center weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs. This makes the Ultra Center 41% heavier than the Dymension DM20.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM20 and Ultra Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM20
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Center?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Center:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
134mm
vs
207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1286cm2
vs
1598cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
91 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM20 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
91-23 kHz |
45-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
134.0mm (5.3") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
775.0mm (30.5") |
561.0mm (22.1") |
| Depth |
166.0mm (6.5") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Definitive Dymension DM20 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Center digs deeper - 45Hz against 91Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Definitive Dymension DM20 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Center is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | Definitive Dymension DM20 is easier to place; SVS Ultra Center is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | SVS Ultra Center: bi-amping. Definitive Dymension DM20 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($799 vs $799 a pair). |
A Definitive Dymension DM20 B SVS Ultra Center
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
SVS Ultra Center has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 91Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive Dymension DM20 the better fit for a small room, and SVS Ultra Center for a large room and a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.