In this review, we will be comparing Prime Tower and BP-9020, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Tower and Definitive BP-9020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Prime Tower and Definitive BP-9020 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Prime Tower and Definitive BP-9020 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
Both Prime Tower and BP-9020 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
SVS Prime Tower |
Definitive BP-9020 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
3 x 3.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Prime Tower features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9020 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Prime Tower has a frequency range of 30-25k Hz whereas BP-9020 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the BP-9020 can go slightly deeper then the Prime Tower's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 Tower and BP-9020 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Tower sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the BP-9020's is at 92 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9020 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime 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. 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 Tower can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BP-9020 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Prime Tower.
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 Tower features 5-Way post, RCA type posts and BP-9020 has a 5-Way post, RCA type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Tower's and Definitive BP-9020's external dimensions. SVS Prime Tower has external dimensions of 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm ( 36-5/8 x 8 x 11-11/16inch) whereas Definitive BP-9020 has external dimensions of 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 35-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
SVS Prime Tower is 77mm narrower and 54mm less deeper than Definitive BP-9020 but it is also 27mm 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 Tower is approximately 605.9cm2 / 93.9inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9020 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Prime Tower requires 39% less surface area than the BP-9020 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 Tower weighs 18.23kg / 40.1lbs and the Definitive BP-9020 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the Prime Tower 34% heavier than the BP-9020.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Tower and BP-9020'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 Tower?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Tower:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Protective discsOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9020?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9020:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Base Surface Area |
605cm2 (204x297mm)
vs
986cm2 (281x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
30 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 |
904mm
vs
931mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
SVS Prime Tower |
Definitive Technology BP-9020 |
Brand |
SVS |
Definitive Technology |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
20-250 watts |
50-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
30-25k Hz |
28-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
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 |
4.5" |
3.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
931.0mm (36.7") |
904.0mm (35.6") |
Width |
204.0mm (8") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
Weight |
18.23kg (40.1lbs) |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
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 |