In this review, we will be comparing Premier 820 v2 and Ultra Tower, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Paradigm and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm Premier 820 v2 and SVS Ultra Tower first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm Premier 820 v2 | SVS Ultra Tower |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1.0" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" | 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-23k Hz | 28-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-250 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 29.48kg / 64.9lbs | 34.27kg / 75.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-7/16" x 13-1/8" x 18-5/8"
1103.3 x 333.4 x 473.1mm | 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 Premier 820 v2 and Ultra Tower are 3-way speakers.
Paradigm Premier 820 v2SVS 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 |
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 |
SVS Ultra Tower |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
2 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
Premier 820 v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz. 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
Premier 820 v2 has a frequency range of 52-23k 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 Premier 820 v2's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Premier 820 v2 and Ultra Tower have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 820 v2 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Ultra Tower's is at 88 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Paradigm Premier 820 v2 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 Premier 820 v2 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. Premier 820 v2 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 Paradigm Premier 820 v2's and SVS Ultra Tower's external dimensions. Paradigm Premier 820 v2 has external dimensions of 1103.3 x 333.4 x 473.1mm () 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).
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is 21.6mm narrower and 55.7mm shorter than SVS Ultra Tower but it is also 28.1mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Paradigm Premier 820 v2 and SVS Ultra Tower in scale.
Comparison image of Paradigm Premier 820 v2 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 Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is approximately 1577.3cm2 / 244.5inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Tower is approximately 1579.8cm2 / 244.9inch2. The Premier 820 v2 requires 0% 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 Paradigm Premier 820 v2 weighs 29.48kg / 64.9lbs and the SVS Ultra Tower weighs 34.27kg / 75.4lbs. This makes the Ultra Tower 16% heavier than the Premier 820 v2.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 820 v2 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 |
93 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
1103mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1577cm2
vs
1579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 |
SVS Ultra Tower |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-250 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-23k Hz |
28-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1103.3mm (43.4") |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
| Width |
333.4mm (13.1") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
473.1mm (18.6") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
29.48kg (64.9lbs) |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Oak veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Tower digs deeper - 28Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is more sensitive (93dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | SVS Ultra Tower: bi-amping. Paradigm Premier 820 v2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,600 vs $2,600 a pair). |
A Paradigm Premier 820 v2 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Paradigm Premier 820 v2 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.