SVS Prime Wireless Pro Review
A complete, great-sounding system with streaming features for less than $1,100? That’s what SVS promises with the compact SVS Prime Wireless Pro—and it delivers.
by Tom Frantzen
If I had to define requirements for an entertainment center in a modern German living room shared by two or three generations, it would probably look quite similar to the SVS Prime Wireless Pro.
In other words, “All in One” devices and speakers with compact dimensions, a variety of connection options, easy handling, and an affordable price tag.
Okay, in my case, I’d also have quite a high demand on sound quality. We’ll take a closer look at that in a moment. First, let’s unpack them.
The two “satellites” in a black piano-lacquer finish are comparable in size to some high-quality compact speakers, and they have no reason to hide. Of course, this American set belongs to a different category. The right speaker houses all the controls and management for the integrated system. On the left side of its front, you select the source and adjust the brightness of the easily readable OLED display. On the far right, you control volume and Play/Pause or Mute. The half-dozen backlit buttons between them can be assigned to presets—so each family member can access their favorite source and settings with a single press. The left speaker is purely passive.
Connection to the TV World
An ARC- and eARC-compatible HDMI port ensures it can connect to your TV setup. It’s surprising that there are still devices—quite a few of them—that lack this crucial interface. Both variants matter, as some TVs currently have incompatibilities due to non-standard designs.
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We’ll dig deeper into that in a future post, because apparently, if one TV manufacturer deviates from the standards, other consumer electronics makers—and especially their customers—end up suffering. An LFE RCA jack offers a spot for an optional active subwoofer, which we’ll discuss later.
Beyond that, the compact SVS set includes analog RCA inputs, an additional 3.5 mm jack, and an optical digital input, so you can hook up satellite receivers, DVD/Blu-ray players, or other devices directly.
A practical idea to enable as many sources as possible on the system is to connect an optical cable to the TV, so everything you hook up via HDMI to the TV can join in. And since this route provides galvanic (ground) isolation, you’re less likely to run into hum noise. The WLAN/Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons make it easy to add the system to your home network, and a USB service port handles potential firmware updates or repairs, if needed. We would have liked an extra USB port for memory sticks or hard drives, but you can usually find that on players or TVs anyway.
This little system is incredibly easy to love. It’s inexpensive, sounds way better than you’d expect for this price, and it doesn’t drag you through endless, complicated setup routines. In fact, the SVS is possibly one of the easiest systems to configure: in just a few minutes, you’re ready to go. Integrating it into your network or TV is child’s play, thanks to the well-thought-out connection options. Operating it on the device, with the remote control, or using the Play-Fi app is also a breeze.
“Volksempfänger”
With Google ChromeCast and DTS Play-Fi, SVS chose two open, future-proof platforms to cover all eventualities with streaming services and other compatible devices or apps—no matter whether you use an Apple or Android phone or tablet. We tested both with an iPhone and a Samsung, and in no time we accessed the 7Review music servers, which hold terabytes of music.
Of course, people will often use a phone and app instead of the remote, but it’s still nice that one is included.
The range of features is virtually complete. We find the built-in, future-proof platforms especially noteworthy.
WHAT WE LISTENED WITH
Fleetwood Mac: Tango In The Night
Possibly overshadowed by “Rumours,” but still a top album.
The connection panel basically leaves nothing to be desired. HDMI, LAN, subwoofer, analog, and digital sources are all accounted for.
Including the Bluetooth standard and your mobile library, you have at least three straightforward ways to access your favorite music. That’s quite commendable.
The large and not inexpensive OLED display also deserves mention: it shows plenty of useful information in high quality—easily legible from a distance. You’ll see the selected source, volume level, pause/mute status, and any track details. Naturally, it also gives feedback when you operate the system.
Not Completely Wireless
Like many others, this isn’t truly “wireless.” A small but unavoidable cost-saving measure is that, besides the power cord, the left passive speaker (the “slave”) is driven by a special cable from the right master speaker.
That’s absolutely fine if the sound is as impressive as it is here. We like that the special cable is around three meters long, which is good for a proper stereo spread. However, we wouldn’t have minded if the power cable were half a meter longer for our small listening room. But since it’s a standard cable, it’s not a major concern.
Bass Upgrade Possible
An “audiophile upgrade” path exists, too. Even though the set already beats most common TV sound solutions in its base version, you can go further by adding a subwoofer. SVS, being a specialist, offers a variety of models, making it easy to step up the sound quality and create a mini home theater for even more fun.
For example, the SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer—priced at around $1,210—might fit the budget nicely in terms of looks, technology, and cost. The previously mentioned LFE jack on the back of the master speaker makes
The included special cable is like a “tether” for the purely passive left speaker.
it possible. A sub isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s a nice option. Once you cross $ total, however, you’re looking at a different range of competitors. Even as it is, these “little ones” can really pack a punch and sound lively—even somewhat bold—bringing plenty of energy. They’re not shy. Thanks to four 50-watt amps for the pair of 13 cm woofers and the aluminum dome tweeters, tracks like Carolin No’s “Still Waters Run Deep” and Flim & the BBs’ “TriCycle” fill the room with a clean, driving sound. It’s amazing how much volume and rhythm this set can produce—and yes, it really makes music!
More Than a Soundbar
Eva Cassidy’s voice, sadly lost too soon, sounds delicate, lifelike, and expressive on the virtual stage. We don’t want to stop testing this little system. It’s certainly not just a TV soundbar replacement; it could also serve as an audiophile entry-level or step-up system for the living room.
The “want-to-own factor” is pretty strong for this flexible little gem of modern, powerful electronics. After its huge success in the USA, it might well become a bestseller here, too. We wholeheartedly recommend it, and in a home office test spanning ages 14 to 77, we all had fun with it! Whether for movies, music, or pure entertainment, all that’s left to say is: welcome to the playroom!
HDMI and a small OLED display give the SVS active set a “star quality,” plus it has clever operating features.
SVS offers the set in black or white.
SVS Prime Wireless Pro Specs
Dimensions: 18 x 30 x 23 cm (W x H x D)
Warranty: 5 years
This is a very lively, full-sounding, compact system with outstanding features and smart active/streaming electronics. Surprisingly audiophile and capable of high volume—a real soundbar killer and a fantastic value!
Measurements
Lower cutoff frequency (-3 dBSPL): 82 Hz
Distortion factor at 63/3k/10k Hz: 3.9/0.08/0.091
Lab Comment: Due to the design, we couldn’t determine all measurement values, but the ones taken are excellent. The frequency response—both on-axis and off-axis—is very balanced and neutral, with no apparent bass boost. The step response is also excellent.
Features
Two-way active speaker set with a 24-bit/192 kHz converter, ChromeCast/Play-Fi, HD streaming, and 4×50-watt amplifiers; HDMI, Toslink, analog inputs, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, LAN; one speaker houses the control electronics, and the other is passive via cable.
Verdict
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