In this review, we will be comparing Prime Tower and 700F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Tower and Paradigm 700F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
SVS Prime Tower Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 30-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:18.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 931.0" x 8" x 11-11/16"( 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm )
Paradigm 700F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.5" Midrange
- 2 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer
- 5.5" Midrange
- 45-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-180watts
- Weight:21.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1018.0" x 8-7/16" x 12-7/8"( 1018.0 x 215.0 x 328.0mm )
What size room are the SVS Prime Tower and Paradigm 700F 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 Tower |
Paradigm 700F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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 Tower and Paradigm 700F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Prime Tower and 700F are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
SVS Prime Tower |
Paradigm 700F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 5.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 700F features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.5" Midrange and 2 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Prime Tower has a frequency range of 30-25k Hz whereas 700F has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Prime Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 700F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 700F 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 700F's is at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Paradigm 700F 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 700F has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 70 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
700F features Posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Prime Tower has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Tower's 5-Way post terminals
Paradigm 700F's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Prime Tower and 700F 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 Tower's and Paradigm 700F'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 Paradigm 700F has external dimensions of 1018.0 x 215.0 x 328.0mm ( 40-1/16 x 8-7/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
Paradigm 700F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11mm wider, 87mm taller and 31mm deeper than SVS Prime Tower.
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 Paradigm 700F is approximately 705.2cm2 / 109.3inch2. The Prime Tower requires 14% less surface area than the 700F 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 Paradigm 700F weighs 21.91kg / 48.2lbs. This makes the 700F 20% heavier than the Prime Tower.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Tower and 700F'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 Paradigm 700F?
Here are the items that come with the 700F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
Grille
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
4 Hex-nuts
2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
931mm
vs
1018mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
605cm2
vs
705cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
SVS Prime Tower |
Paradigm Premier 700F |
| Brand |
SVS |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-25k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
5.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
931.0mm (36.7") |
1018.0mm (40.1") |
| Width |
204.0mm (8") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
18.23kg (40.1lbs) |
21.91kg (48.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |