SVS Ultra Evolution Titan and Center Channel Speaker Review

It's been roughly 12 years since SVS introduced its last rendition of the Ultra speaker line. During this time, many enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the company's next innovation. Earlier this year at CES, SVS unveiled the new Ultra Evolution line, which includes three tower speakers (Evolution Pinnacle, Evolution Titan, and Evolution Tower), an Ultra Evolution Center channel, an Ultra Evolution Bookshelf speaker, an Ultra Evolution Nano, and an Ultra Elevation speaker. These completely redesigned speakers mark a significant departure from the previous versions.

Inside the Ultra Evolution speakers, SVS has incorporated new components and engineering techniques aimed at improving the audio experience. With these updates, there is built-up curiosity about whether the Ultra Evolution line meets the high expectations set by its predecessors and if it was worth the wait. In this review, we'll focus on the Ultra Evolution Titan speaker and the Ultra Evolution Center channel speaker to see how they perform.

Specifications

What's new with the recently released Evolution line? Essentially, everything has been updated from top to bottom. The Ultra Evolution Titan is a three-way tower speaker featuring a new curved baffle design. It employs a WMTMW layout, which stands for Woofer-Midrange-Tweeter-Midrange-Woofer. This driver arrangement focuses the sound output more narrowly on the vertical axis between the midrange drivers. The curved front baffle aligns the sonic emanation point of all drivers on a vertical plane, ensuring sound from each driver reaches your ears simultaneously.

This design includes midrange drivers and woofers positioned above and below the tweeter and allows for seamless crossover blending, creating an idealized “point source” where sound flows from a single point in front of the speaker to optimize dispersion characteristics.

The Ultra Evolution Titan boasts six drivers. Yes, six drivers. The two 4.5-inch midrange drivers feature composite glass-fiber cones and are mounted in an aluminum basket. The four 6.5-inch glass fiber woofers are arranged in a force-balanced array with dual opposing drivers on the top and bottom of the cabinet. The bass drivers also utilize a cast aluminum basket. According to SVS, the positioning of these drivers aims to deliver evenly dispersed sound with the rear speakers helping to reduce cabinet resonance.

In the middle of the speaker, there's a new 1-inch Diamond Coated Aluminum Dome Tweeter. This tweeter goes through a process called Vapor Deposition, where a layer of diamond carbon is applied to the aluminum dome. This coating improves the rigidity and acoustic properties of the tweeter which allows for better low-frequency extension and smoother integration with the midrange. The tweeter dome is protected by what SVS calls an "organic cell lattice diffuser," designed to safeguard the tweeter while still maintaining sound quality.

The SVS Ultra Evolution Titan speakers have a frequency response of 27Hz to 40kHz (+/-3 dB) with a sensitivity of 88dB and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. This means the speakers are relatively easy to drive, though I would recommend using an external amplifier for optimal performance or if you like to listen at a loud volume. At the rear, the speaker features two pairs of gold-plated five-way binding posts, allowing for bi-amping if preferred.

Design

The design of these speakers is undeniably sleek. The curved aesthetic, while reminiscent of some other models on the market, takes things up a notch. Both the Ultra Evolution Titans and the Ultra Evolution Center are available in three finishes: Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, and Black Oak Veneer. The enclosures feature 1-inch thick front and back baffles, with ¾-inch side panels and bracing. The midrange drivers and tweeter are housed in a separate sealed compartment within the enclosure. Users have the option of spiked feet or rubber cones, and the speakers come with a magnetic cloth grille that matches the speaker's shape.

Setup

In my 20-foot by 14-foot home theater, I set up the speakers 26 inches from the wall, placing them at an equal distance from each other and the listening position. The speakers were toed in to face the listening position, which was about 11 feet away. I started my testing without any equalization and then switched between the two for a complete experience.

The processing was handled by a Trinnov Altitude16 and a Denon 3800H, with amplification from a Trinnov Amplitude16 and the onboard amps of the Denon 3800. For two-channel listening, I also used a Cambridge Audio CXA81. No subwoofers were used during my testing.

Performance

So, how does the new speaker shape impact its sound? I started with music, using "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac which is one of my go-to tracks for testing. The bass from the kick drum in the first few seconds of the song sounded impressive, with good texture and clarity, never becoming muddy. Given the number of woofers in this speaker, it's no surprise that the bass is a strong point, and it certainly delivers. In fact, you often hear people talk about how certain speakers don’t really need a subwoofer for music, and that couldn’t be more true here. However, this doesn't mean the speaker is bass-heavy; it remains well-balanced with the rest of the speaker.

To test the midrange of the speaker, I listened to Paul Simon's "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes," and the speakers delivered an open, airy sound. The vocals were clear and detailed, with a natural presence. The brass section, in particular, had a rich tone, showcasing the speaker's ability to handle midrange frequencies with precision. This speaker leans towards a neutral sound overall, but there's a sense of weight and depth in the midrange that adds a pleasant fullness to the music.

Switching to movies, I selected some of the loudest and most action-packed demos available, including Mad Max: Fury Road, Pacific Rim, Oblivion, Top Gun, The Dark Knight, and Tron: Legacy.

During Mad Max: Fury Road, the expansive soundstage of the Ultra Evolution Titan and Ultra Evolution Center speakers became immediately apparent, particularly during the high-speed chase scenes through the desert. The dynamics of these speakers stood out with the roar of engines, screech of tires, and blast of explosions enveloping the room. One particular scene is the War Rig chase, where the speakers expertly handle sounds coming from multiple directions.

The tweeter performed well in delivering high frequencies, capturing details like weapons hitting the cars and the high-pitched wail of the electric guitar. The highs are clear and precise without ever becoming harsh, contributing to an experience that's both detailed and expansive.

Even at my regular listening volume, which typically hovers around 80-85dB with peaks at 95-100dB, these speakers maintain excellent clarity without any harshness. When I cautiously ramped up the volume to levels nearing 110dB, the sound remained crisp and articulate, demonstrating the speakers' ability to handle high volumes without distortion.

Dialogue clarity is impressive, largely due to the Ultra Evolution Center channel. For example, in Tron: Legacy, some characters' vocals have a synthetic and slightly aquatic sound, through a bit of ring modulation, bit crushing, and pitch shifting used in the movie's mastering. Despite these effects, I never had a hard time understanding the characters. The clarity was maintained even when the dialogue competed with Daft Punk's powerful background score. During quieter scenes or intense dialogue exchanges, every word came across as intelligible and distinct.

Conclusion

The 12-year wait for the next generation of SVS’s Ultra line has proven to be well worth it. The Ultra Evolution Titan, which retails for $3,999 per pair, and the Ultra Evolution Center, priced at $799, are more expensive than their predecessors, but the performance justifies the price. These speakers deliver impressive clarity, dynamic range, and an expansive soundstage that makes them a standout choice. You can run these speakers on most amplifiers or receivers and still achieve a great listening experience. They handle both music and movies exceptionally well, making them versatile additions to any home theater setup.

FAQ

What is the best placement location for the Ultra Evolution Titan?

SVS recommends placing the front speakers 30 degrees to the left and right of the listening position, creating a 60-degree total window. Toeing in the speakers 5-10 degrees can improve imaging, but experimenting with placement relative to room boundaries will yield the best results.

Do I need an external amplifier to power the SVS Ultra Evolution loudspeakers?

The SVS Ultra loudspeakers have good sensitivity and work well with any quality A/V receiver. However, in large listening environments or at high playback levels, an external amplifier can help avoid clipping and maintain optimal system dynamics.

How does the SVS 45-day in-home audition work?

SVS offers a 45-day, hassle-free in-home trial with every purchase. If you decide to return your product within this period, SVS will provide pre-paid return shipping labels and arrange for pickup, making the process easy and convenient at no cost to the end user.