In this review, we will be comparing Model Seven and Ultra Tower, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Model Seven and SVS Ultra Tower first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Model Seven | SVS Ultra Tower |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1.0" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 13" Pulp-Paper | 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-20k Hz | 28-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.82kg / 78.8lbs | 34.27kg / 75.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41" x 18" x 12-1/4"
1042.0 x 458.0 x 312.0mm | 45-5/8" x 13-15/16" x 17-1/2"
1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Model Seven and Ultra Tower are 3-way speakers.
KLH Model SevenSVS Ultra Tower
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KLH Model Seven |
SVS Ultra Tower |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
2 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 13-inch
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
Model Seven features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 13" Pulp-Paper Woofer. 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
Model Seven has a frequency range of 38-20k 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 Model Seven's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
Model Seven is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Tower 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 Model Seven can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Model Seven sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Ultra Tower's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KLH Model Seven a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Tower, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 Tower can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Model Seven has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Ultra Tower.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Tower features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Model Seven 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 KLH Model Seven's and SVS Ultra Tower's external dimensions. KLH Model Seven has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 458.0 x 312.0mm (41inch x 18inch x 12-1/4inch) 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).
KLH Model Seven is 117mm shorter and 133mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Tower but it is also 103mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Model Seven and SVS Ultra Tower in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Model Seven and SVS Ultra Tower Size and External Dimensions
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 KLH Model Seven is approximately 1429.0cm2 / 221.5inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Tower is approximately 1579.8cm2 / 244.9inch2. The Model Seven requires 10% 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 KLH Model Seven weighs 35.82kg / 78.8lbs and the SVS Ultra Tower weighs 34.27kg / 75.4lbs. This makes the Model Seven 5% heavier than the Ultra Tower.
Here is a comparison of how Model Seven 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 KLH Model Seven?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Seven:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Riser bases
- 2 Grilles
- Owner's Manual
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 |
 Woofer Size |
13 inches
vs
8.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1042mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1429cm2
vs
1579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
2600USD
vs
4998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Model Seven |
SVS Ultra Tower |
| Brand |
KLH |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-20k Hz |
28-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
13" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp-Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
| Width |
458.0mm (18") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
35.82kg (78.8lbs) |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Oak veneer |
| Available Colors |
Mahogany |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KLH Model Seven costs roughly 1.9x 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 38Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Model Seven is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Tower 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 (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | SVS Ultra Tower: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Tower is cheaper - $2,600 against $4,998, about 48% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Model Seven B SVS Ultra Tower
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 Tower is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KLH Model Seven if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Model Seven is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.