In this review, we will be comparing Apex A40 and Ultra Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Apex A40 and SVS Ultra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Apex A40 | SVS Ultra Center |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) | 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-35k Hz | 45-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.91kg / 15.2lbs | 14.09kg / 31lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-1/2" x 24" x 4-3/4"
140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm | 8-1/8" x 22-1/16" x 11-3/16"
207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Apex A40 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* |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
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 Apex A40 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.
Monitor Audio Apex A40SVS 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 |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
SVS Ultra Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Apex A40 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) 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
Apex A40 has a frequency range of 50-35k Hz 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 Apex A40's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Apex A40 and Ultra Center have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Apex A40 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Ultra Center's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Apex A40 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 Apex A40 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Center features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Apex A40 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Monitor Audio Apex A40's and SVS Ultra Center's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Apex A40 has external dimensions of 140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm (5-1/2 x 24 x 4-3/4inch) 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).
Monitor Audio Apex A40 is 67mm shorter and 164mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Center but it is also 49mm 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 is approximately 738.1cm2 / 114.4inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Center is approximately 1598.9cm2 / 247.8inch2. The Apex A40 requires 54% 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 weighs 6.91kg / 15.2lbs and the SVS Ultra Center weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs. This makes the Ultra Center 104% heavier than the Apex A40.
Here is a comparison of how Apex A40 and Ultra Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Apex A40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Apex A40:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- Bracket (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Set Up Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Important Information
- Mounting Template
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 |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
32k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
140mm
vs
207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
738cm2
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 |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1125USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-35k Hz |
45-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) |
composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
140.0mm (5.5") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
610.0mm (24") |
561.0mm (22.1") |
| Depth |
121.0mm (4.8") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
6.91kg (15.2lbs) |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Center digs deeper - 45Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is easier to place; SVS Ultra Center is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | SVS Ultra Center: bi-amping. SVS Ultra Center sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Center is cheaper - $799 against $1,125, about 29% less. |
A Monitor Audio Apex A40 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 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Apex A40 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.