SVS Prime Bookshelf Speakers

SVS Prime Bookshelf Speakers

The SVS Prime Bookshelf Speaker shows just what SVS are capable of when they turn their hand to something other than subwoofers. While many companies build their speakers using off-the-shelf components, SVS show their commitment by designing all their drivers in-house. This, of course, is a great advantage because it gives them complete control over how the drivers, crossover, and cabinet interact.

The Prime Bookshelf speakers are sonic overachievers on all levels. Stunningly dynamic, pinpoint accurate and utterly transparent, they deftly serve as reference monitor loudspeakers in a two-channel system, or as high performance front, centre, or side/rear surround speakers in a multi-channel home theatre.

Borrowing engineering and design cues from the acclaimed Ultra Series and embodying all the traits of a truly high-end speaker, the Prime Bookshelf speakers convey accurate spatial imaging, throw an expansive soundstage and deliver uncompromising fidelity throughout the frequency spectrum. The effortless low frequency extension, commanding but detailed midrange and airy, unveiled highs far exceed expectations of other speakers in their class. Even the cabinet geometry and internal bracing are optimised for uncompromised audio playback and complemented by stunning piano gloss and black ash finishes.

Standing out among the crowd of bookshelf speakers is no easy task, yet the Prime Bookshelf defies convention to outperform reference monitors costing twice as much or more. Every aspect of the Prime Bookshelf speaker was designed for sonic excellence. From the premium grade driver and sophisticated SoundMatch crossover to the extra-thick baffle, internal bracing, and FEA optimised tweeter diffuser, the Prime Bookshelf speaker's design and engineering credentials put it in the realm of much costlier, and much larger speakers.

Prime Driver & Tweeter Design

Thoughtfully designed for acoustic excellence, the Prime Bookshelf speaker's 6.5 inch (165mm) woofer is mounted in its own dedicated and completely sealed compartment to ensure smooth, precise and clear midrange and bass output that's free from coloration. The cone material is extremely light and rigid and maintains a flat frequency response across the all important mid-range frequencies. Low frequency extension is shockingly deep and effortless considering the cabinet size and the Prime Bookshelf speaker can hit reference volume with amazing clarity, no distortion and headroom to spare.

The Prime Bookshelf speaker's 1 inch (25mm) aluminium dome tweeter is light, efficient, and rigid, and plays crystal clear at high volumes. The clarity offers a sense of utter transparency, while offering an 'airy' presentation and incredibly unveiled highs so female vocals and dialogue and high-pitched sound effects and musical content always sound crisp, smooth and natural.

Innovative SoundMatch Crossover Design

Since premium drivers require an equally capable crossover, no expense was spared with the innovative SVS SoundMatch 2-way crossover. Its tapered array is designed to minimise the potential for beaming. This creates an expansive, yet focused and precise soundstage, with an accurate frequency response at all listening positions in the room. The precise tuning of the SoundMatch Crossover also ensures pinpoint accuracy of highs, mids, and lows, while maintaining pristine signal purity.

Performance Driven Cabinet Design & Geometry

Tapered edges on the Prime Bookshelf speaker's front baffle, known as chamfers, minimise edge diffraction for clear and precise soundstaging. The cabinet's presence offers a modern industrial feel with acoustic enhancements like shorting rings and a tweeter diffuser which add performance-driven style. All advancements are packed into a compact but attractive cabinet, that's easily mountable anywhere, and available in stunning piano gloss black or premium black ash finish.

Our Review

The Prime Bookshelf Speakers show that SVS aren't all about subwoofers. They've taken what they've leant over the years from engineering some of the most respected subwoofers available and applied the same rigorous engineering and use of top-quality components to their most affordable Prime speaker line. The compact Prime Bookshelf Speakers don't take up very much space, but they paint a compellingly clear sonic picture of whatever music or movie you are playing.