In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Bookshelf and M106, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from SVS and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Revel M106 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Revel M106 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 Ultra Bookshelf and Revel M106 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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Drivers
Both Ultra Bookshelf and M106 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
Revel M106 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Ultra Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the M106 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Ultra Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz whereas M106 has a frequency range of 59Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M106's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Ultra Bookshelf and M106 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
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
Ultra Bookshelf features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. M106 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ultra Bookshelf and M106 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 Ultra Bookshelf's and Revel M106's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Bookshelf has external dimensions of 380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm ( 14-15/16 x 8-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Revel M106 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 8-1/4 x 11inch) .
Revel M106 is 8mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Bookshelf but it is also 3mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Revel M106 in scale.
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 Ultra Bookshelf is approximately 612.6cm2 / 95.0inch2 and base area of the Revel M106 is approximately 588.0cm2 / 91.1inch2. The Ultra Bookshelf requires 4% more surface area than the M106 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 Ultra Bookshelf weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs and the Revel M106 weighs 8.41kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Ultra Bookshelf 3% heavier than the M106.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Bookshelf and M106's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Bookshelf?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ultra Bookshelf:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Revel M106?
Here are the items that come with the M106:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
380mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Base Surface Area |
588cm2 (210x280mm)
vs
612cm2 (218x281mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
Revel Performa3 M106 |
Brand |
SVS |
Revel |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
50-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45-32k Hz |
59Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Composite glass-fiber |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2300Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
380.0mm (15") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
280.0mm (11") |
Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
8.41kg (18.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Oak veneer |
Wood/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-28" |
24-25" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |