In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by SVS. SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation is a Surround speaker whereas the Ultra Evolution Nano is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation and SVS Ultra Evolution Nano first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
|---|
| Brand | SVS
United States · founded 1998 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Composite glass-fiber | 5.25" Composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-40k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs | 6.10kg / 13.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.14" x 7.28" x 9.82"
283 x 185 x 249.4mm | 12.36" x 7.48" x 9.57"
314 x 190 x 243mm |
|---|
Ultra Evolution Elevation and Ultra Evolution Nano are members of SVS's Ultra Evolution series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
SVS Ultra Evolution Series
History
What size room are the SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation and SVS Ultra Evolution Nano 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 Evolution Elevation |
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Ultra Evolution Elevation and Ultra Evolution Nano are 2-way speakers.
SVS Ultra Evolution ElevationSVS Ultra Evolution Nano
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 Ultra Evolution Elevation |
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Ultra Evolution Elevation features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz. On the other hand, the Ultra Evolution Nano features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz.
Frequency Response
Ultra Evolution Elevation has a frequency range of 48-40k Hz whereas Ultra Evolution Nano has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Ultra Evolution Nano can go slightly deeper then the Ultra Evolution Elevation's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
Ultra Evolution Elevation
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Ultra Evolution Elevation and Ultra Evolution Nano have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Ultra Evolution Elevation sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Ultra Evolution Nano's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Nano, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround Speakers
Ultra Evolution Elevation
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Ultra Evolution Elevation and Ultra Evolution Nano have the same power range of 20-150 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Evolution Elevation features Gold-plated 5-way type posts and Ultra Evolution Nano has a Gold-plated 5-way type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation's Gold-plated 5-way terminals
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano's Gold-plated 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ultra Evolution Elevation and Ultra Evolution Nano 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 Ultra Evolution Elevation's and SVS Ultra Evolution Nano's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation has external dimensions of 283 x 185 x 249.4mm (11.14 x 7.28 x 9.82”) whereas SVS Ultra Evolution Nano has external dimensions of 314 x 190 x 243mm (12.36 x 7.48 x 9.57”).
SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation is 5mm narrower and 31mm shorter than SVS Ultra Evolution Nano but it is also 6mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is 31mm 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 Evolution Elevation is approximately 460.7cm2 / 71.4inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is approximately 461.7cm2 / 71.6inch2. The Ultra Evolution Elevation requires 0% less surface area than the Ultra Evolution Nano which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.