SVS Prime Elevation vs SVS Prime Wireless Comparison

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SVS Prime Elevation

Passive Surround | 55-25k Hz

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SVS Prime Wireless

Powered Bookshelf | 52-25k Hz

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SVS Prime Elevation

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SVS Prime Wireless

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SVS Prime Elevation

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SVS Prime Wireless

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SVS Prime Elevation vs SVS Prime Wireless Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by SVS. SVS Prime Elevation is a Surround speaker whereas the Prime Wireless is a Bookshelf speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of SVS Prime Elevation and SVS Prime Wireless first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	SVS Prime Elevation	SVS Prime Wireless
Brand	SVS United States · founded 1998	SVS United States · founded 1998
Design	2-way	2-way
Built-in amplifier	—	200-watt RMS
Tweeter	1.0" Hard-Dome	1" Dome
Woofer	4.5"	4.5" composite glass-fiber
Frequency response	55-25k Hz	52-25k Hz
Sensitivity	87 dB	—
Impedance	8 ohms	—
Max depth / sample rate	—	24-bit / 192 kHz
Bluetooth	—	Built-in 4.0
App control	—	Yes
Weight	3.54kg / 7.8lbs	3.96kg / 8.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	9-5/16" x 5-1/2" x 7-7/8" 236.5 x 139.7 x 200.0mm	10.3125" x 6.125" x 8.6875" 260 x 155 x 220.7 mm

Prime Elevation and Prime Wireless are members of SVS's Prime series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

SVS Prime Series History

Model	Body	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
SVS Prime Tower	Floor-standing	30-25k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
SVS Prime Bookshelf	Bookshelf	48-25k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
SVS Prime Center	Center Channel	48-25k Hz	86 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"
SVS Prime Pinnacle	Floor-standing	29-25k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	3 x 6.5"
SVS Prime Satellite	Bookshelf	69-25k Hz	85 dB	8Ω	1 x 4.5"
SVS Prime Elevation	Surround	55-25k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	1 x 4.5"

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.

Drivers

Both Prime Elevation and Prime Wireless are 2-way speakers.

SVS Prime Elevation

SVS Prime Wireless

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver	SVS Prime Elevation	SVS Prime Wireless
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.0-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4.5-inch	1 x 4.5-inch

Prime Elevation features a 1.0" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the Prime Wireless features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.

Frequency Response

Prime Elevation has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Prime Wireless has a frequency range of 52-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Prime Wireless can go slightly deeper then the Prime Elevation's min frequency of 55Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Surround class in our database.

Low Frequency

Surround Speakers

Prime Elevation

Prime Wireless

Min

Average

Median

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.

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 SVS Prime Elevation's and SVS Prime Wireless's external dimensions. SVS Prime Elevation has external dimensions of 236.5 x 139.7 x 200.0mm () whereas SVS Prime Wireless has external dimensions of 260 x 155 x 220.7 mm (10.3125 x 6.125 x 8.6875 inch).

SVS Prime Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15.3mm wider, 23.5mm taller and 20.7mm deeper than SVS Prime Elevation.

Size, drawn to scale

Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.

SVS Prime Wireless needs about 22% more floor or shelf area. SVS Prime Wireless is 21mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS Prime Wireless is 24mm taller.

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 Elevation is approximately 279.4cm² / 43.3inch² and base area of the SVS Prime Wireless is approximately 342.1cm² / 53.0inch². The Prime Elevation requires 18% less surface area than the Prime Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of SVS Prime Wireless?

Here are the items that come with the Prime Wireless:

Active wireless speaker
6-feet AC power cord
Grille (pre-installed)
4 Self-adhesive feet
Quick Start Guide
Warranty/Registration Card
SVS brochure

Reasons to choose SVS Prime Elevation over SVS Prime Wireless

Height	236mm vs 260mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	279cm² vs 342cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose SVS Prime Wireless over SVS Prime Elevation

Speaker Type	Powered vs Passive	Built-in amplifier
Low Frequency Response	52 Hz vs 55 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Price per pair*	449USD vs 550USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Ethernet Connection	Yes vs No	High quality streaming over Ethernet
3.5mm Connection	Yes vs No	Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
RCA Connection	Yes vs No	Connection via RCA input

SVS Prime Elevation vs SVS Prime Wireless Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	SVS Prime Elevation	SVS Prime Wireless
Brand	SVS	SVS
Speaker Type	Surround speaker	Powered Stereo Speakers
Sensitivity	87 dB	n/a
Impedance	8 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	55-25k Hz	52-25k Hz
Amplifier
Watts RMS (Continuous)	n/a	200-watt RMS
Max Bit Depth	n/a	24-bit
Max Sample Rate	n/a	192 kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	4.5"	4.5"
Woofer Composition		composite glass-fiber
Tweeter Size	1.0"	1"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	n/a	2000Hz
Firing Direction	n/a	rear
Physical Specs
Height	236.5mm (9.3")	260.0mm (10.2")
Width	139.7mm (5.5")	155.0mm (6.1")
Depth	200.0mm (7.9")	220.7mm (8.7")
Weight	3.54kg (7.8lbs)	3.96kg (8.7lbs)
Enclosure		Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Wood-grain vinyl	n/a
Available Colors	Black Ash	Black
Mounting Bracket		No
Grille	n/a	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Aux Inputs	n/a	3.5mm, RCA
USB Port	n/a	Service only
Phone Input	n/a	No
Subwoofer Output	n/a	Wired
Digital Input	n/a	Optical
HDMI Input	n/a	No
Headphone Jack	n/a	No
Ethernet Port	n/a	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	2 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	2 Years

Verdict

Different kinds of product: one is active with its amplifier built in, the other passive and needs one. Judge them on how you want to own the system, not just the specs.

Area	Better	Why
Bass	B	SVS Prime Wireless digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
What you buy	depends	SVS Prime Wireless is a complete system - just add a source. SVS Prime Elevation also needs an amplifier: more money and another box, but you choose it.
Connections	depends	SVS Prime Wireless has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and streaming built in. With SVS Prime Elevation that all comes from the amplifier you pair it with.
Upgrade path	depends	SVS Prime Elevation can be re-amped later and outlive several amplifiers; SVS Prime Wireless ages as one unit.
Size	depends	SVS Prime Elevation is easier to place; SVS Prime Wireless is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Type	depends	A Passive Surround against a Powered Bookshelf - a different job rather than a better one.
Expandability	B	SVS Prime Wireless: a sub output.
Price	B	SVS Prime Wireless is cheaper - $449 against $550, about 18% less. And that is the whole system.

A SVS Prime Elevation B SVS Prime Wireless
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 Prime Wireless suits you if you want one box, ready to play, with nothing else to buy. SVS Prime Elevation suits you if you already have an amplifier, want to choose the electronics, or expect to upgrade in stages. Neither is the better speaker in the abstract.

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.