In this review, we will be comparing Revolution XT 6F and Prime Tower, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Tannoy and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Tannoy Revolution XT 6F and SVS Prime Tower first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Tannoy Revolution XT 6F | SVS Prime Tower |
|---|
| Brand | Tannoy
United Kingdom · founded 1926 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-32k Hz | 30-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.30kg / 35.9lbs | 18.23kg / 40.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39.6" x 10.6" x 12.5"
1005.8 x 269.2 x 317.5mm | 36-5/8" x 8" x 11-11/16"
931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Tannoy Revolution XT 6F and SVS Prime Tower 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* |
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F |
SVS Prime Tower |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Revolution XT 6F and Prime Tower are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F |
SVS Prime Tower |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Revolution XT 6F features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz & 1.8 kHz. On the other hand, the Prime Tower features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Revolution XT 6F has a frequency range of 38-32k Hz whereas Prime Tower has a frequency range of 30-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Prime Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Revolution XT 6F's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Revolution XT 6F and Prime Tower have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Revolution XT 6F sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Prime Tower's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Tannoy Revolution XT 6F a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Tower, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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
Revolution XT 6F features 5-Way post type posts and Prime Tower has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Tower's 5-Way post terminals
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 Tannoy Revolution XT 6F's and SVS Prime Tower's external dimensions. Tannoy Revolution XT 6F has external dimensions of 1005.8 x 269.2 x 317.5mm (39.6 x 10.6 x 12.5inch) whereas SVS Prime Tower has external dimensions of 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm (36-5/8 x 8 x 11-11/16inch).
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65.2mm wider, 74.8mm taller and 20.5mm deeper than SVS Prime Tower.
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.
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F needs about 41% more floor or shelf area. Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is 21mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is 75mm 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 Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is approximately 854.8cm2 / 132.5inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Tower is approximately 605.9cm2 / 93.9inch2. The Revolution XT 6F requires 41% more surface area than the Prime Tower 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 Tannoy Revolution XT 6F weighs 16.30kg / 35.9lbs and the SVS Prime Tower weighs 18.23kg / 40.1lbs. This makes the Prime Tower 12% heavier than the Revolution XT 6F.
Here is a comparison of how Revolution XT 6F and Prime Tower'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 Prime Tower?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Tower:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
931mm
vs
1005mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
605cm2
vs
854cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F |
SVS Prime Tower |
| Brand |
Tannoy |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-32k Hz |
30-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz & 1.8 kHz |
350Hz and 2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1005.8mm (39.6") |
931.0mm (36.7") |
| Width |
269.2mm (10.6") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
317.5mm (12.5") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Weight |
16.30kg (35.9lbs) |
18.23kg (40.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Prime Tower digs deeper - 30Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size | depends | SVS Prime Tower is easier to place; Tannoy Revolution XT 6F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | SVS Prime Tower is cheaper - $1,400 against $1,998, about 30% less. |
A Tannoy Revolution XT 6F B SVS Prime Tower
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Tannoy Revolution XT 6F the better fit for a small room and a mid-size room, and SVS Prime Tower for a large room and a very large room.
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.