(January 9, 2024) SVS has exploded into the new year with a soft launch that's sure to please fans of the brand and home theater enthusiasts looking for a high-end experience backed by a company that always delivers tremendous bang for the buck. Nearly five years removed from its last major speaker model announcement – Prime Pinnacle – SVS is using the grand stage of CES 2024 to unveil the`"Ultra Evolution" series. Complete with seven exciting new models, Ultra Evolution is poised to deliver a new echelon of brand performance.
The Ultra Evolution series showcases a harmonious blend of elegant design and high-performance audio components. The flagship model, Pinnacle, is a testament to this combination, offering a robust and sophisticated look alongside the precision and clarity of cutting-edge audio technology. Its design echoes the luxury aesthetics of brands like Focal and Wilson Audio, and is particularly reminiscent of the uniquely modern appearance of Focal's Kanta No2.
The bowed nature of the series's three tower models suggests that SVS's design team was keen on emphasizing time alignment through physical design. The models are shaped in a way that steps the speaker's drivers, placing the tweeter slightly back as compared to mid-range drivers and woofers. Additionally, photographs suggest that some drivers are angled towards the listener. These kinds of elements help ensure that that sound from each driver reaches the listener's ears at the same time, a concept that's crucial for achieving accurate sound reproduction and a coherent soundstage. We'll have more details on this front when we talk to SVS post-CES.
Here's a quick rundown of each model with what we currently know:
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: The Pinnacle now resides as SVS's flagship audio speaker. As noted, it stands out with its Acoustically Centered Time Alignment Architecture. Speaker-wise, it features a 1" diamond-coated tweeter with an Organic Cell Lattice Diffuser and dual 5.25" glass fiber composite midrange drivers. It also carries a quad array of 8” woofers positioned in what SVS calls a Force Balanced Opposed Array (two fire forward, two fire toward the rear).
Ultra Evolution Titan: This 3-way tower speaker promises clarity and dynamics thanks to its 1" diamond-coated tweeter, dual 4.5" midrange drivers, and quad array of opposed 6.5” woofers. The Titan is a blend of sophisticated design and technology, ideal for delivering deep and forceful bass.
Ultra Evolution Tower: The smallest of the three floorstanding models is the Evolution Tower. It carries a 1" diamond-coated tweeter and dual 4.5" midrange drivers. Its low-end section is bolstered by quad 5.25” woofers which are – you guessed it – positioned in an opposed array.
Ultra Evolution Bookshelf: As a compact yet powerful speaker, it features a 1" tweeter and a 6.5” woofer. Its design focuses on delivering a pinpoint accurate soundstage, drawing from an Acoustically Centered Time Alignment Architecture meant to hone phase coherency.
Ultra Evolution Center: The sole center channel of the series is a beast. It carries a 1" tweeter, a 4.5" glass fiber composite midrange driver, and dual 6.55” woofers. Its Woofer–Tweeter/Midrange–Woofer layout is reminiscent of SVS's Ultra Center, which delivered exceptional off-axis performance during our review. That bodes well for this sharp looking speaker.
Ultra Evolution Nano: A compact bookshelf speaker with what SVS bills as "impressive capabilities." It includes a 1" tweeter and a 5.25” woofer, designed for detailed and refined sound with punchy bass coming from a small package.
Ultra Elevation: Specifically for Dolby Atmos height effects and surround sound, it features a 1" tweeter and a 5.25” woofer. The speaker offers versatile mounting options, including an SVS Multi-Angle Wall and Ceiling Bracket. That means you can easily hang the speaker on a wall, wall/ceiling corner, or ceiling, with nearly any orientation imagineable.
SVS has yet to release details on pricing – we'll have more on that soon – but we do know that Ultra Evolution speakers are scheduled to begin shipping near the end of Q1 2024. In other words, you won't need to wait long for this series to land in your home. Each model can be ordered in Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, and Black Oak Veneer Finish. We'll have more information as soon as it becomes availalble.
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