In this review, we will be comparing Prime Wireless and R-41PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from SVS and Klipsch. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Wireless and Klipsch R-41PM first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Prime Wireless | Klipsch R-41PM |
|---|
| Brand | SVS
United States · founded 1998 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.0" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" composite glass-fiber | 4.0" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-25k Hz | 76-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 3.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 3.96kg / 8.7lbs | 3.70kg / 8.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.3125" x 6.125" x 8.6875"
260 x 155 x 220.7 mm | 11.0625" x 5.8125" x 9.5"
281.0 x 147.6 x 241.3mm |
|---|
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 Wireless and R-41PM are 2-way speakers.
SVS Prime WirelessKlipsch R-41PM
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 Wireless |
Klipsch R-41PM |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.0-inch
|
Prime Wireless features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the R-41PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.0" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1770Hz.
Frequency Response
Prime Wireless has a frequency range of 52-25k Hz whereas R-41PM has a frequency range of 76-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Prime Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-41PM's min frequency of 76Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Prime Wireless and R-41PM 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
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 Wireless's and Klipsch R-41PM's external dimensions. SVS Prime Wireless has external dimensions of 260 x 155 x 220.7 mm (10.3125 x 6.125 x 8.6875 inch) whereas Klipsch R-41PM has external dimensions of 281.0 x 147.6 x 241.3mm (11.0625 x 5.8125 x 9.5inch).
SVS Prime Wireless is 21mm shorter and 20.6mm less deeper than Klipsch R-41PM but it is also 7.4mm 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 Wireless is approximately 342.1cm2 / 53.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-41PM is approximately 356.2cm2 / 55.2inch2. The Prime Wireless requires 4% less surface area than the R-41PM 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 Wireless weighs 3.96kg / 8.7lbs and the Klipsch R-41PM weighs 3.70kg / 8.1lbs. This makes the Prime Wireless 7% heavier than the R-41PM.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Wireless and R-41PM's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Wireless?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-41PM?
Here are the items that come with the R-41PM:
- Powered speaker (right)
- Passive speaker (left)
- 2 Grilles
- 68-inch AC power cord
- Remote control
- 2
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
260mm
vs
281mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
342cm2
vs
356cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Service only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
| General |
SVS Prime Wireless |
Klipsch Reference R-41PM |
| Brand |
SVS |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
52-25k Hz |
76-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
140-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
composite glass-fiber |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
1770Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
147.6mm (5.8") |
| Depth |
220.7mm (8.7") |
241.3mm (9.5") |
| Weight |
3.96kg (8.7lbs) |
3.70kg (8.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Service only |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | SVS Prime Wireless digs deeper - 52Hz against 76Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | SVS Prime Wireless has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 70W RMS). |
| Connections | A | SVS Prime Wireless adds Wi-Fi and streaming; Klipsch R-41PM adds phono. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | SVS Prime Wireless: a sub output; Klipsch R-41PM: a sub output. SVS Prime Wireless sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | SVS Prime Wireless is cheaper - $449 against $499, about 10% less. |
A SVS Prime Wireless B Klipsch R-41PM
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Klipsch R-41PM if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.