In this review, we will be comparing Prime Pinnacle and BP-9040, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Pinnacle and Definitive BP-9040 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Prime Pinnacle | Definitive BP-9040 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 3 x 4.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Polypropylene | 8" Polypropelene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-25k Hz | 22-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.95kg / 57.1lbs | 16.36kg / 36lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41" x 8" x 13-15/16"
1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm | 39-1/16" x 11-1/16" x 13-13/16"
993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the SVS Prime Pinnacle and Definitive BP-9040 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 Pinnacle |
Definitive BP-9040 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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Drivers
Both Prime Pinnacle and BP-9040 are 3-way speakers.
SVS Prime PinnacleDefinitive BP-9040
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 Pinnacle |
Definitive BP-9040 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
3 x 4.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Prime Pinnacle has a frequency range of 29-25k Hz whereas BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Prime Pinnacle's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
Prime Pinnacle and BP-9040 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Pinnacle sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the BP-9040's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9040 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Pinnacle, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though Prime Pinnacle is rated 20-300 watts and BP-9040 50-300 watts.
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
Prime Pinnacle features 5-Way post, RCA type posts and BP-9040 has a 5-Way post, RCA type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Pinnacle's 5-Way post terminals
Definitive BP-9040's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
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 Pinnacle's and Definitive BP-9040's external dimensions. SVS Prime Pinnacle has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm (41 x 8 x 13-15/16inch) whereas Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm (39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch).
Definitive BP-9040 is 49mm shorter and 4mm less deeper than SVS Prime Pinnacle but it is also 77mm 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 SVS Prime Pinnacle is approximately 724.2cm2 / 112.3inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Prime Pinnacle requires 27% less surface area than the BP-9040 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 SVS Prime Pinnacle weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs and the Definitive BP-9040 weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the Prime Pinnacle 59% heavier than the BP-9040.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Pinnacle and BP-9040'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 Prime Pinnacle?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Pinnacle:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9040?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9040:
- Tower loudspeaker
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Top-plate (installed)
- Stabilizer base
- 4 Floor guides
- 4 Carpet spikes
- 4 Screws
- 4 Nuts
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
724cm2
vs
986cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
993mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
Definitive Technology BP-9040 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-25k Hz |
22-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropelene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
300Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
993.0mm (39.1") |
| Width |
204.0mm (8") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
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 |
Definitive BP-9040 digs deeper - 22Hz against 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Definitive BP-9040 is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size |
depends |
SVS Prime Pinnacle is easier to place; Definitive BP-9040 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Definitive BP-9040: Atmos drivers. SVS Prime Pinnacle sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($2,000 vs $1,998 a pair). |
A SVS Prime Pinnacle
B Definitive BP-9040
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Definitive BP-9040 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 29Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Definitive BP-9040 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.