In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Tower and BP-9060, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Tower and Definitive BP-9060 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Ultra Tower and Definitive BP-9060 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 Tower and Definitive BP-9060 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 Tower and BP-9060 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
SVS Ultra Tower |
Definitive BP-9060 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6.5-inch |
3 x 4.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
1 x 10-inch
|
Ultra Tower features a 1.0" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 160HZ and 2000Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9060 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 10" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Ultra Tower has a frequency range of 28-32k Hz whereas BP-9060 has a frequency range of 18-49k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the BP-9060 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Ultra Tower's min frequency of 28Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
Ultra Tower and BP-9060 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Ultra Tower sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the BP-9060's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9060 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Tower, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 Tower features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9060 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Tower's and Definitive BP-9060's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Tower has external dimensions of 1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm ( 45-5/8 x 13-15/16 x 17-1/2inch) whereas Definitive BP-9060 has external dimensions of 1132.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 44-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
SVS Ultra Tower is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 74mm wider, 27mm taller and 94mm deeper than Definitive BP-9060.
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 Tower is approximately 1579.8cm2 / 244.9inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9060 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Ultra Tower requires 60% more surface area than the BP-9060 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Tower weighs 34.27kg / 75.4lbs and the Definitive BP-9060 weighs 22.73kg / 50lbs. This makes the Ultra Tower 51% heavier than the BP-9060.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Tower and BP-9060's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Tower?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ultra Tower:
Floorstanding loudspeakerCloth grille2 Metal grillesFoam port plug4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Protective discs2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9060?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9060:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
49k Hz
vs
32k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
1132mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
986cm2 (281x351mm)
vs
1579cm2 (355x445mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2398USD
vs
2600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
SVS Ultra Tower |
Definitive Technology BP-9060 |
Brand |
SVS |
Definitive Technology |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
20-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
28-32k Hz |
18-49k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
8.0" |
10" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropelene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.0" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
4.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
1132.0mm (44.6") |
Width |
355.0mm (14") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
Weight |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
22.73kg (50lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
MDF/Oak veneer |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
Available Colors |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |