In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Bookshelf and D320, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from SVS and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Wharfedale D320 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Wharfedale D320 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 Wharfedale D320 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 D320 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
Wharfedale D320 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 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 D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Ultra Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz whereas D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D320's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 D320 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.
Ultra Bookshelf can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D320 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Ultra Bookshelf.
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. D320 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Ultra Bookshelf has a rear firing port whereas D320 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale D320's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to SVS Ultra Bookshelf with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale D320'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 Wharfedale D320 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) .
SVS Ultra Bookshelf is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 59mm taller and 4mm deeper than Wharfedale D320.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and Wharfedale D320 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 Wharfedale D320 is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2. The Ultra Bookshelf requires 22% more surface area than the D320 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 Wharfedale D320 weighs 6.02kg / 13.2lbs. This makes the Ultra Bookshelf 44% heavier than the D320.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Bookshelf and D320'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 Wharfedale D320?
Here are the items that come with the D320:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)User-feets ManualInstallation Guide
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
56 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 |
321mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
501cm2 (181x277mm)
vs
612cm2 (218x281mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
Wharfedale D320 |
Brand |
SVS |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
25-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45-32k Hz |
56-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Composite glass-fiber |
Woven Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Polyether |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
380.0mm (15") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
6.02kg (13.2lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Oak veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-28" |
22-24" |
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 |