In this review, we will be comparing F501SP and Ultra Tower, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fyne Audio and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F501SP and SVS Ultra Tower first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F501SP | SVS Ultra Tower |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.0" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-34k Hz | 28-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 21.00kg / 46.2lbs | 34.27kg / 75.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38.7" x 11.3" x 12.7"
983.0 x 287.0 x 322.6mm | 45-5/8" x 13-15/16" x 17-1/2"
1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F501SP and SVS Ultra Tower 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* |
Fyne Audio F501SP |
SVS Ultra Tower |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both F501SP and Ultra Tower are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F501SP |
SVS Ultra Tower |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
F501SP features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz, 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the Ultra Tower features a 1.0" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 160HZ and 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
F501SP has a frequency range of 36-34k Hz whereas Ultra Tower has a frequency range of 28-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Ultra Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the F501SP's min frequency of 36Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
F501SP and Ultra Tower have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. F501SP sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Ultra Tower's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F501SP a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Tower, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 Tower features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F501SP has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Tower's Binding 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 Fyne Audio F501SP's and SVS Ultra Tower's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F501SP has external dimensions of 983.0 x 287.0 x 322.6mm (38.7 x 11.3 x 12.7inch) whereas SVS Ultra Tower has external dimensions of 1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm (45-5/8 x 13-15/16 x 17-1/2inch).
SVS Ultra Tower is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 68mm wider, 176mm taller and 122.4mm deeper than Fyne Audio F501SP.
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 Fyne Audio F501SP is approximately 925.9cm2 / 143.5inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Tower is approximately 1579.8cm2 / 244.9inch2. The F501SP requires 41% less surface area than the Ultra Tower 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 Fyne Audio F501SP weighs 21.00kg / 46.2lbs and the SVS Ultra Tower weighs 34.27kg / 75.4lbs. This makes the Ultra Tower 63% heavier than the F501SP.
Here is a comparison of how F501SP and Ultra Tower's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Tower?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Tower:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Cloth grille
- 2 Metal grilles
- Foam port plug
- 4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
32k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
983mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
925cm2
vs
1579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
2600USD
vs
4799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F501SP |
SVS Ultra Tower |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-34k Hz |
28-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz, 1700 Hz |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
983.0mm (38.7") |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
| Width |
287.0mm (11.3") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
322.6mm (12.7") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
21.00kg (46.2lbs) |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Oak veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Fyne Audio F501SP costs roughly 1.8x what SVS Ultra Tower 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 |
B |
SVS Ultra Tower digs deeper - 28Hz against 36Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Fyne Audio F501SP is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size |
depends |
Fyne Audio F501SP is easier to place; SVS Ultra Tower is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
SVS Ultra Tower: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
SVS Ultra Tower is cheaper - $2,600 against $4,799, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F501SP
B SVS Ultra Tower
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 Tower 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 36Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F501SP the better fit for a small room and a mid-size room, and SVS Ultra Tower 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.