In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by SVS. SVS Prime Bookshelf is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Prime Pinnacle is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Bookshelf and SVS Prime Pinnacle first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
SVS Prime Bookshelf Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woofer
- 48-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:7.03kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 337.8" x 8.0" x 10.2"( 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm )
SVS Prime Pinnacle Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 29-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:25.95kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1042.0" x 8" x 13-15/16"( 1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm )
Prime Bookshelf and Prime Pinnacle are members of SVS's Prime series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the SVS Prime Bookshelf and SVS Prime Pinnacle 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* |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Prime Bookshelf and SVS Prime Pinnacle compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Prime Bookshelf is a 2-way design whereas the Prime Pinnacle 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.
| Driver |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Prime Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the Prime Pinnacle features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Prime Bookshelf has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz whereas Prime Pinnacle has a frequency range of 29-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Prime Pinnacle can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Prime Bookshelf's min frequency of 48Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Prime Bookshelf and Prime Pinnacle have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Bookshelf sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Prime Pinnacle's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the SVS Prime Pinnacle a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Bookshelf, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Prime Bookshelf can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Prime Bookshelf has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Prime Pinnacle.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Prime Bookshelf features 5-Way post type posts and Prime Pinnacle has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals
SVS Prime Pinnacle's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Prime Bookshelf and Prime Pinnacle 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare SVS Prime Bookshelf's and SVS Prime Pinnacle's external dimensions. SVS Prime Bookshelf has external dimensions of 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm ( 13.2 x 8.0 x 10.2inch) whereas SVS Prime Pinnacle has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm ( 41 x 8 x 13-15/16inch) .
SVS Prime Pinnacle is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 0.80000000000001mm wider, 704.2mm taller and 93.4mm deeper than SVS Prime Bookshelf.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Bookshelf and SVS Prime Pinnacle in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Prime Bookshelf and SVS Prime Pinnacle 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf is approximately 531.6cm2 / 82.4inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Pinnacle is approximately 724.2cm2 / 112.3inch2. The Prime Bookshelf requires 27% less surface area than the Prime Pinnacle which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Bookshelf?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Bookshelf:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers Owners Manual SVS brochure Online Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Pinnacle?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Pinnacle:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Protective discsOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers