In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Evolution Nano and Prime Bookshelf, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Evolution Nano and SVS Prime Bookshelf first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano | SVS Prime Bookshelf |
|---|
| Brand | SVS
United States · founded 1998 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Composite glass-fiber | 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-40k Hz | 48-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.10kg / 13.4lbs | 7.03kg / 15.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.36" x 7.48" x 9.57"
314 x 190 x 243mm | 13.2" x 8.0" x 10.2"
337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm |
|---|
What size room are the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 Nano |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
| 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 Nano and Prime Bookshelf are 2-way speakers.
SVS Ultra Evolution NanoSVS Prime Bookshelf
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 Nano |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Ultra Evolution Nano 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 Prime Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Ultra Evolution Nano has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas Prime Bookshelf has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Ultra Evolution Nano can go slightly deeper then the Prime Bookshelf'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 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Ultra Evolution Nano is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Prime Bookshelf which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Ultra Evolution Nano sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Prime Bookshelf's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the SVS Prime Bookshelf a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Nano, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 150 watts RMS, though Ultra Evolution Nano is rated 20-150 watts and Prime Bookshelf 25-150 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Evolution Nano features 5-way post type posts and Prime Bookshelf has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano's Gold-plated 5-way terminals
SVS Prime Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ultra Evolution Nano and Prime Bookshelf 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 Nano's and SVS Prime Bookshelf's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Evolution Nano has external dimensions of 314 x 190 x 243mm (12.36 x 7.48 x 9.57”) whereas SVS Prime Bookshelf has external dimensions of 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm (13.2 x 8.0 x 10.2inch).
SVS Prime Bookshelf is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13.2mm wider, 23.8mm taller and 18.6mm deeper than SVS Ultra Evolution Nano.
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.
SVS Prime Bookshelf needs about 15% more floor or shelf area. SVS Prime Bookshelf is 19mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS Prime Bookshelf is 24mm 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 Nano is approximately 461.7cm2 / 71.6inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Bookshelf is approximately 531.6cm2 / 82.4inch2. The Ultra Evolution Nano requires 13% less surface area than the Prime Bookshelf 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 Evolution Nano weighs 6.10kg / 13.4lbs and the SVS Prime Bookshelf weighs 7.03kg / 15.5lbs. This makes the Prime Bookshelf 15% heavier than the Ultra Evolution Nano.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Evolution Nano and Prime Bookshelf'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 Prime Bookshelf?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Bookshelf:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers
- Owners Manual SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
314mm
vs
337mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
461cm2
vs
531cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS Ultra Evolution Nano |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
| Brand |
SVS |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
48-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite glass-fiber |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1900Hz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
314.0mm (12.4") |
337.8mm (13.3") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
203.2mm (8") |
| Depth |
243.0mm (9.6") |
261.6mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
6.10kg (13.4lbs) |
7.03kg (15.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White,Black Oak Veneer |
Black Ash,Piano Gloss Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: SVS Ultra Evolution Nano is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | SVS Ultra Evolution Nano digs deeper - 44Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | SVS Prime Bookshelf is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Prime Bookshelf is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | SVS Prime Bookshelf is cheaper - $600 against $899, about 33% less. |
A SVS Ultra Evolution Nano B SVS Prime Bookshelf
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 Bookshelf has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, SVS Prime Bookshelf is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $299 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.