The great Bob Dylan once opined that "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," and the winds in our industry are blowing hard in the direction of a wire-free future. If you need evidence of that, look no further than SVS's newly announced Prime Wireless line, a range that at its introduction comprises a stereo wireless speaker system with just about every form of connectivity you can think of aside from five-way binding posts, along with a new Wireless SoundBase, a wireless music streamer that gives you all of that connectivity (and more), along with allowing you to bring your own existing speakers to the equation.
Full details on the Prime Wireless Speaker System straight from SVS:
SVS, manufacturer of high-performance speakers, subwoofers and audio accessories, proudly announces the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System as part of the new Prime Wireless family of products from the American audio brand.
The SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System delivers crisp, accurate and full-range sound with stunning dynamic impact and true stereo imaging. The active-passive stereo speaker array is a major enhancement over the unconvincing virtual stereo output from ordinary wireless smart speakers. Cost-no-object acoustic design is married with smartphone, tablet and voice control via Amazon Alexa; WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, direct access to the most popular music streaming services, a wide range of inputs and outputs, high-resolution multi-room streaming, custom presets and more. From reference sound quality to the intelligent control interface, Prime Wireless is a seismic leap forward for smart wireless speakers.
Pristine sonic fidelity is achieved through a combination of true stereo separation, a powerful 200-watt (50 watts x 4) internal Class-D amplifier and a sophisticated 192KHz/24-bit DAC. A digital crossover within the DSP allowed SVS engineers to precisely control the signal power distributed to each individual tweeter and low frequency driver resulting in a much broader soundstage with deeper, more powerful bass than one would expect from such a compact speaker system.
Control of the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker system is seamless and flexible. Users can access music and adjust volume and other settings from their favorite seat or while moving around the house using the WiFi connected app. Voice control of music is possible through Amazon Alexa devices so users have a "hands-free" option for controlling volume, multi-room playback, streaming sources and more. Dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth with aptX and AAC enable high-resolution wireless streaming from multiple iOS, Android and Windows devices without interruption.
Unique to the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System are six front panel presets that provide instant access to a user's favorite Spotify or Pandora playlists, Internet Radio stations and other streaming music services without needing a phone or tablet, since they stream directly from a home's WiFi network. Users simply program the presets and then push the left front dial to toggle between their favorite audio content with a single tap.
Through the DTS Play-Fi platform, the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System gives users direct access to music and entertainment streaming sources, including: Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Tidal, Internet Radio and many more. All can be streamed directly from a home's WiFi network with no mobile device connection required. The DTS Play-Fi app also lets users access streaming services, radio guides or a home media server from any smartphone or tablet and distribute it across the home to as many as 32 different products in 16 zones. For the most discerning audiophiles, the platform features "Critical Listening Mode" for streaming lossless high-resolution (24bit/192kHz) file playback.
Abundant connectivity options in the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System unlock endless versatility. Optical and line level inputs can be connected to computers, TVs, gaming consoles, CD players, AV receivers, mobile devices and more to provide a bolder sounding option than soundbars and a more affordable alternative to AV receiver/speaker systems. It can even serve as wireless rear surround speakers connected to a DTS Play-Fi enabled soundbar. Plus, unlike closed-network wireless audio systems, Prime Wireless integrates with hundreds of other DTS Play-Fi wireless audio products from many different brands.
For deeper bass and a more thrilling audio experience, a subwoofer output provides easy connection to a subwoofer from SVS
"It's no secret that the smart speaker category is dominated by a belief that no one cares about great sound and the only thing that matters is connectivity and user interfaces," said SVS President and CEO, Gary Yacoubian. "We're taking uncompromised, reference quality sound and marrying it with an intelligent user interface, future-facing connectivity and all the amazing things people love about wireless audio. SVS Prime Wireless delivers a truly immersive listening experience with the convenience and simplicity of smart wireless speakers so audio fans can have the best of both worlds."
True stereo separation is vastly underrated as a factor in sound quality. Compact "all-in-one" speakers do music an injustice because the pseudo-stereo approach lacks the ability to render pinpoint imaging where instruments, voices and sound effects are heard emanating from a specific location in space. With its powerful DAC, precisely tuned digital crossover and true stereo separation from the active-passive speaker array, the Prime Wireless Speaker System presents an accurate and convincing stereo image with crisp dynamics, neutral voicing, a broad soundstage and powerful dynamics.
The SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System is many things. It can be a wireless hifi stereo system, play on a desktop with a computer or tablet, connect to a TV for more immersive home theater sound, or be used as part of a multi-room, whole-home audio system. Users can also leverage multiple connections at once and use the Prime Wireless Speaker System as the primary source of audio playback in a smart wireless audio zone.
The SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System features a high-end Piano Gloss Black finish. MSRP is $599.99, pre-orders are available here. Estimated shipping week of October 22.
Details on the new Prime Wireless SoundBase:
Prime Wireless SoundBase transforms speakers with high-res wireless audio streaming, future-facing connectivity and smart speaker control, while driving them to their full potential with effortless power from a 300 watt amplifier and high-end DAC. Conventional speakers connect directly to the Prime Wireless SoundBase via standard five-way binding posts and receive a massive 150 watts per channel; more than enough power to drive any full-range tower, bookshelf or other speakers to sound their best. A 192KHz/24-bit DAC ensures a pristine high-resolution signal path and sound quality that is always pure, natural, transparent and faithful to the source material, no matter what's streaming or connected.
In its other role, the Prime Wireless SoundBase unlocks high-res wireless audio streaming, multi-room music playback and more in existing AV systems by connecting directly to an AV receiver or two-channel stereo system via line level output. It can be used to create a separate stereo zone or transform home theater systems by adding advanced connectivity, intuitive WiFi app or voice control, and wireless access to all streaming content. Most importantly, it delivers reference quality sound without compromises.
A dual-band WiFi connection provides uninterrupted playback and direct access to the most popular wireless streaming services via the DTS Play-Fi app, including: Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, Amazon Music, Tidal, NPR, Internet Radio and many more. Bluetooth with aptX and AAC also allows high-resolution wireless audio streaming from any smartphone, tablet or mobile device.
Control of the SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase is simple and smart. Users can access music and adjust playback settings from their favorite seat or while moving around the house using the WiFi connected app. Voice control of music is possible through Amazon Alexa devices so there's always a "hands-free" option for controlling volume, multi-room playback, streaming sources and more.
Unique to the SVS Prime Wireless family are six front panel presets that provide instant access to a user's favorite Spotify or Pandora playlists, Internet Radio stations and other streaming music services without needing a phone or tablet, since they stream directly from a home's WiFi network. Users simply program the presets and then push the left front dial to toggle between their favorite audio content with a single tap.
With the DTS Play-Fi app, Prime Wireless SoundBase users can access streaming services, radio guides, multiple playback devices or a home media server from any mobile device and distribute it throughout their home to as many as 32 different products in 16 zones. Multiple Prime Wireless SoundBase units can also be connected together as the foundation of a whole-home wireless audio system.
Connectivity options abound in the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System, giving it endless versatility. Optical and line level inputs can be connected to TVs, gaming consoles, CD players, AV Receivers, computers, mobile devices and more to provide a bolder and more immersive sounding option than soundbars and a more affordable alternative to AV receiver/speaker set-ups. Plus, unlike closed-network wireless audio systems, Prime Wireless SoundBase integrates with hundreds of other DTS Play-Fi wireless audio products from all different brands.
For deeper bass and a more thrilling audio experience, a subwoofer output provides easy connection to a subwoofer from SVS or any other brand. A USB port allows convenient charging of mobile devices or the addition of an SVS SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter to make subwoofer connectivity fully wireless.
"The Prime Wireless SoundBase is transformational on many levels and there's really no audio component available that delivers the combination of massive, effortless power, intuitive control options, pristine sound quality and future-facing connectivity," said SVS President and CEO, Gary Yacoubian. "It literally brings any pair of speakers, AV Receiver or two-channel audio system into the future of great sound by converting it to a smart wireless audio zone and a hub of connectivity for all devices and every way we enjoy music. More importantly, it exemplifies the Prime Wireless mission of bringing audiophile sound quality to the wireless audio space for the first time."
MSRP of SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase is $499.99, pre-orders available now at www.svsound.com. Estimated shipping week of October 22.
Additional Resources
• Visit the SVS website for more information.
•SVS PB-4000 Subwoofer Reviewed at HomeTheaterReview.com.
•SVS SB16-Ultra Subwoofer Reviewed at HomeTheaterReview.com.
