In this review, we will be comparing Special Forty and Ultra Bookshelf, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Special Forty and SVS Ultra Bookshelf first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Special Forty | SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" MSP | 6.5" Composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23k Hz | 45-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-3/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-1/16"
360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm | 14-15/16" x 8-9/16" x 11-1/16"
380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Special Forty and SVS Ultra Bookshelf 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* |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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
Both Special Forty and Ultra Bookshelf are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Special FortySVS Ultra Bookshelf
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Special Forty features a 1.1" Esotar Forty Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz. On the other hand, the Ultra Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Special Forty has a frequency range of 41-23k Hz whereas Ultra Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Special Forty can go slightly deeper then the Ultra Bookshelf's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Special Forty is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Bookshelf which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Special Forty sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Ultra Bookshelf's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the SVS Ultra Bookshelf a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Special Forty, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Bookshelf features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Special Forty has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Special Forty and Ultra Bookshelf have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Dynaudio Special Forty's and SVS Ultra Bookshelf's external dimensions. Dynaudio Special Forty has external dimensions of 360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm (14-3/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-1/16inch) whereas SVS Ultra Bookshelf has external dimensions of 380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm (14-15/16 x 8-9/16 x 11-1/16inch).
Dynaudio Special Forty is 20mm narrower and 20mm shorter than SVS Ultra Bookshelf but it is also 26mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Dynaudio Special Forty is 26mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS Ultra Bookshelf is 20mm taller.
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 Dynaudio Special Forty is approximately 607.9cm2 / 94.2inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Bookshelf is approximately 612.6cm2 / 95.0inch2. The Special Forty requires 1% less surface area than the Ultra Bookshelf 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 Dynaudio Special Forty weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs and the SVS Ultra Bookshelf weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Ultra Bookshelf 7% heavier than the Special Forty.
Here is a comparison of how Special Forty and Ultra Bookshelf's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Bookshelf?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Bookshelf:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
360mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
607cm2
vs
612cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 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 |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23k Hz |
45-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
Composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Oak veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Special Forty costs roughly 2.5x what SVS Ultra Bookshelf does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Dynaudio Special Forty digs deeper - 41Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Bookshelf is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Special Forty takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | SVS Ultra Bookshelf: bi-amping. SVS Ultra Bookshelf sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Bookshelf is cheaper - $1,200 against $2,999, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Special Forty B SVS Ultra Bookshelf
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Special Forty the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and SVS Ultra Bookshelf for a mid-size room and a large room. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,799 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.