SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

SVS Ultra Center vs JBL HDI-4500 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

SVS Ultra Center

Passive Center Channel | 45-32k Hz

SVS Ultra Center
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
JBL HDI-4500

Passive Center Channel | 50-30k Hz

JBL HDI-4500
CHECK PRICE
SVS Ultra Center SVS Ultra Center
See at AMAZON
JBL HDI-4500 JBL HDI-4500
See at AMAZON
SVS Ultra Center
See at AMAZON
JBL HDI-4500
See at AMAZON
SVS Ultra Center vs JBL HDI-4500 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Center and HDI-4500, two Passive Center Channel speakers from SVS and JBL.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of SVS Ultra Center and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

SVS Ultra Center Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer
  • 45-32k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-225watts
  • Weight:14.09kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 207.0" x 22-1/16" x 11-3/16"( 207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm )

JBL HDI-4500 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter
  • 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer
  • 50-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-250watts
  • Weight:20.15kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"( 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm )

What size room are the SVS Ultra Center and JBL HDI-4500 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 Ultra Center JBL HDI-4500
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average Average

(* 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 Ultra Center and JBL HDI-4500 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Ultra Center is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-4500 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.

Driver SVS Ultra Center JBL HDI-4500
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 4-inch -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 4 x 5.25-inch

Ultra Center features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz. On the other hand, the HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer .

Frequency Response

Ultra Center has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HDI-4500's min frequency of 50Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Ultra Center
HDI-4500
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

SVS Ultra Center
JBL HDI-4500
Min
Average
Max

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 Center is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-4500 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-4500 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Ultra Center sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the HDI-4500's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-4500 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Ultra Center
HDI-4500
Min
Average
Max

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 Center can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Ultra Center has a max power handling value of 225 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the HDI-4500.

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 Center features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

SVS Ultra Center Terminals
SVS Ultra Center's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

JBL HDI-45005-Way post Terminals
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Ultra Center and HDI-4500 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 Center's and JBL HDI-4500's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Center has external dimensions of 207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm ( 8-1/8 x 22-1/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) .

SVS Ultra Center is 281mm narrower and 25mm less deeper than JBL HDI-4500 but it is also 10mm 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 Ultra Center is approximately 1598.9cm2 / 247.8inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The Ultra Center requires 39% less surface area than the HDI-4500 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 Ultra Center weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs. This makes the HDI-4500 43% heavier than the Ultra Center.

Here is a comparison of how Ultra Center and HDI-4500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
SVS Ultra Center
JBL HDI-4500
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Center?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ultra Center:
  • Center channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • Owners Manual
  • SVS brochure
  • Online Product Registration Card
  • What's in the Box of JBL HDI-4500?

    Here are the items that come with the HDI-4500:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual

  • Reasons to choose SVS Ultra Center over JBL HDI-4500
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 45 Hz vs 50 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 32k Hz vs 30k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Base Surface Area 1598cm2 vs 2610cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 799USD vs 1925USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL HDI-4500 over SVS Ultra Center

    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 225 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 4 vs 2 More woofers
    Height 197mm vs 207mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    SVS Ultra Center vs JBL HDI-4500 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General SVS Ultra Center JBL HDI-4500
    Brand SVS JBL
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center channel speaker
    Power Range 20-225 watts 20-250 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 45-32k Hz 50-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 4
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition composite glass-fiber Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Dome horn-loaded high-frequency compression
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 4" N/A"
    Crossover Frequency 500Hz and 2200Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 207.0mm (8.1") 197.0mm (7.8")
    Width 561.0mm (22.1") 842.0mm (33.1")
    Depth 285.0mm (11.2") 310.0mm (12.2")
    Weight 14.09kg (31lbs) 20.15kg (44.3lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Available Colors Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White Walnut
    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

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction