In this review, we will be comparing Special Forty and Ultra Evolution Nano, 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 Evolution Nano first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Special Forty | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" MSP | 5.25" Composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs | 6.10kg / 13.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 12.36" x 7.48" x 9.57"
314 x 190 x 243mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Special Forty and SVS Ultra Evolution Nano 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 Evolution Nano |
| 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 Evolution Nano are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Special FortySVS Ultra Evolution Nano
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 Evolution Nano |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Evolution Nano features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz.
Frequency Response
Special Forty has a frequency range of 41-23k Hz whereas Ultra Evolution Nano has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Special Forty can go slightly deeper then the Ultra Evolution Nano's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 and Ultra Evolution Nano have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Special Forty sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Ultra Evolution Nano's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Special Forty a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Nano, 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
Special Forty features Gold-plated 5-way type posts and Ultra Evolution Nano has a Gold-plated 5-way type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano's Gold-plated 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Special Forty and Ultra Evolution Nano 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 Evolution Nano'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 Evolution Nano has external dimensions of 314 x 190 x 243mm (12.36 x 7.48 x 9.57”).
Dynaudio Special Forty is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 46mm taller and 64mm deeper than SVS Ultra Evolution Nano.
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.
Dynaudio Special Forty needs about 32% more floor or shelf area. Dynaudio Special Forty is 64mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Dynaudio Special Forty is 46mm 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 Evolution Nano is approximately 461.7cm2 / 71.6inch2. The Special Forty requires 32% more surface area than the Ultra Evolution Nano which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Evolution Nano weighs 6.10kg / 13.4lbs. This makes the Special Forty 33% heavier than the Ultra Evolution Nano.
Here is a comparison of how Special Forty and Ultra Evolution Nano's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
314mm
vs
360mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
461cm2
vs
607cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
Composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
1900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
243.0mm (9.6") |
| Weight |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
6.10kg (13.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White,Black Oak Veneer |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Special Forty costs roughly 3.3x what SVS Ultra Evolution Nano 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 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Special Forty takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is easier to place; Dynaudio Special Forty is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. SVS Ultra Evolution Nano sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is cheaper - $899 against $2,999, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Special Forty B SVS Ultra Evolution Nano
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?
The usual trade-off: Dynaudio Special Forty measures better, SVS Ultra Evolution Nano costs about about 3.3x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Special Forty the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and SVS Ultra Evolution Nano for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Dynaudio Special Forty has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is the easier speaker to get right.
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.