In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Tower and Heresy III, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Tower and Klipsch Heresy III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Ultra Tower and Klipsch Heresy III 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
Both Ultra Tower and Heresy III are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
SVS Ultra Tower |
Klipsch Heresy III |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
1 x 12-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 Heresy III features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Ultra Tower has a frequency range of 28-32k Hz whereas Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Ultra Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy III's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
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 Tower and Heresy III 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 Heresy III's is at 99 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heresy III 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.
Ultra Tower can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Heresy III has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Ultra Tower.
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
Both Ultra Tower and Heresy III features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Tower's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 Klipsch Heresy III'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 Klipsch Heresy III has external dimensions of 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm ( 23-7/8 x 15-1/2 x 13-7/16inch) .
Klipsch Heresy III is 552mm shorter and 103mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Tower but it is also 39mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Ultra Tower and Klipsch Heresy III in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Ultra Tower and Klipsch Heresy III Size and External Dimensions
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 Klipsch Heresy III is approximately 1347.5cm2 / 208.9inch2. The Ultra Tower requires 17% more surface area than the Heresy III 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 Klipsch Heresy III weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the Ultra Tower 71% heavier than the Heresy III.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Tower and Heresy III'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 Klipsch Heresy III?
Here are the items that come with the Heresy III:
Floor-standing loudspeakerDetachable grille (installed)Base riser (installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
607mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1347cm2 (394x342mm)
vs
1579cm2 (355x445mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2346USD
vs
2600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS Ultra Tower |
Klipsch Capitol Heresy III |
| Brand |
SVS |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-32k Hz |
58-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.0" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Fiber-composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Treated cloth |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
607.0mm (23.9") |
| Width |
355.0mm (14") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Oak veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Blonde Cherry |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |