SVS once again turned the audiophile and home theater worlds upside down in 2024 with the introduction of the Ultra Evolution line of speakers, which includes the Pinnacle ($5,000 per pair), Titan ($4,000 per pair), Tower ($3,000 per pair) and Ultra Bookshelf ($1,200 per pair). Many in the industry saw this as a big step forward for an already established and well-respected brand, as it represented their first foray into ultra-premium territory. This new lineup features some cutting-edge technology, such as a totally reworked diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter, time-aligned cabinet geometry, and an upgraded fiber composite woofer.
I had the pleasure of reviewing the SVS Ultra Bookshelf Speakers in 2024 (see my review here), and came away pretty impressed. These midsized bookshelf speakers played excitingly clean, loud, and full, while handling both audiophile music and home theater selections with ease. SVS recently sent Future Audiophile a pair of their smaller (and nearly identical) siblings, the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers (buy at Crutchfield), for a comparison review, and I didn’t hesitate to call first dibs.
The SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers share the same distinctive angled design as their larger counterparts, with cabinet, woofer, and port size being the only significant differences. The two-way SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers feature a 5.25-inch mid-woofer, SVS’ proprietary one-inch diamond-coated tweeter and, despite their diminutive name, stand proudly at around 12 inches tall, seven inches wide, and nine inches deep. As I set them up for listening, I couldn’t help but ask – did SVS intend for these to be complementary home theater surround sound speakers for the Ultra line, or are they good enough to function as main front and left speakers in a traditional HiFi setup? Let’s look a little more closely at these unique speakers and answer these questions and more in the review ahead.
What Makes the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers So Special?
- The SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers feature all the advanced technology from their most expensive speakers in the Ultra Evolution lineup, but at a fraction of the cost. These include the aforementioned one-inch diamond-coated tweeter, which sounds markedly more balanced and refined than previous iterations. The time-aligned cabinet design is also a unique feature that allows sound waves from the tweeter and driver to reach the listener concurrently, allowing sound reproduction that is more natural and truer to the recording. These are major improvements over traditional speaker design and components – so to be able to experience these for around $900 is a no-brainer.
- Despite their name, the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers are not tiny or compact, and certainly don’t sound that way at all. When they were first announced, I thought the Nanos might be ultra-compact speakers, more along the lines of the SVS Prime Satellite, but SVS decided that a little bigger was a lot better. They might only look truly miniature compared to SVS’ beastly Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Towers, and can certainly sonically hold their own as primary bookshelf speakers. As surround sound speakers in a home theater configuration, however, the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf speakers would be bordering on excessive for rear or height channels (but awesome nonetheless).
- The SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf speakers come in three finishes: Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, and the more traditional Black Oak Veneer. All finishes are well done and look high-class, allowing them to seamlessly blend in with the décor and style of any listening space. SVS also includes a magnetically attachable cloth grille for those who prefer a more inconspicuous look.
- With a stated low-end frequency range of 44Hz, bass extension is extremely impressive for a speaker of this size. Leave it to SVS, which makes some of the best subwoofers on the planet, to figure out a way to design a compact bookshelf speaker that hits deep even at high volumes. The 5.25-inch woofer was incredibly impressive, thumping along with even the most demanding tracks I could throw at it. To no one’s surprise, the 6.5-inch woofer of the Ultra Evolution Bookshelf Speaker outperformed the Nano in the low to low-mid frequencies, but by a relatively small margin, which is noteworthy given their difference in size.
- The SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers carry SVS’ industry-leading Customer Bill of Rights. This includes a very generous five-year unconditional warranty, 45-day in-home trial, and 60-day guaranteed price protection. They also have a unique one-year trade-up policy that allows you to exchange your product for a more expensive one and receive full credit towards that purchase – so, if after a few months you decide you want something bigger than the Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers, SVS has you covered.
Why Should You Care About the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers?
Entry-level bookshelf speakers have come a long, long way over the past 15-20 years, and are often considered to be the gateway into the audiophile hobby. Brands like Pioneer, Polk, ELAC, KEF, and SVS have lowered the cost of admission for aspiring audiophiles by producing bookshelf speakers that would put more expensive ones from the past to shame, and at a significant, inflation-adjusted discount. SVS has done something remarkable here by producing a slightly smaller version of a loudspeaker that might be just outside the comfort zone price-wise for some but, allowing almost anyone in the hobby to experience their latest technological advancements and engineering. There’s really no reason to overspend in this category, when options like the Ultra Nano Bookshelf Speakers exist. For under $900, you get trickle-down tech that exists in speakers five times the price – something rarely seen in any industry, especially in this day and age. Simply put – they are a smart buy for anyone wanting to experience high-fidelity sound but not willing to drain their bank account.
Some Things That You Might Not Like About the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers
- The sharp-edged cabinet design and industrial look might be too modern for some tastes. SVS speakers have always been visually bold, and that’s by design. I love how they look, but audiophiles who prefer rounded edges, wood grain finishes, or a more traditional or retro style might be tempted to look elsewhere. Their build quality and performance speak for themselves, however – so if you have an open mind and aren’t married to a specific aesthetic, these are still worth considering.
- Audiophiles who have ample space might prefer to just spend a little extra cash for the larger Ultra Bookshelf version of these speakers. In my opinion, the Ultra Nano Bookshelf speakers strike a near-perfect balance between compact size and big sound. However, for just 25 percent more, the larger Ultra Bookshelf Speakers do sound fuller, and compete with speakers in a totally different class, such as the Sonus faber Lumina or maybe even Quad Revela 1. SVS’ choice to produce a slightly smaller bookshelf speaker – rather than a true satellite or ultra-compact version – is an interesting one, but it makes sense from a customer base perspective. I appreciate that audiophiles can get a taste of SVS’ impressive new technology for under $900. Either way, you’re getting a great set of speakers that should cost far more than they do.
Listening to the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers …
It’s the dead of winter in Chicago, and the post-holiday hangover – paired with the creeping onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – is hitting hard. Around this time each year, I make a half-hearted attempt to replenish my depleted vitamin D reserves through sunnier musical selections. Lately, that’s meant spinning tracks like “Feel So High” by Beach Fossils from their 2023 album Bunny. On lesser speakers, this is a simple track – breezy bassline, reverbed vocals – ideal for the rare sunny winter car ride where you can pretend the frigid air outside isn’t actively trying to kill you. But through the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers, that California-colored soundscape transforms into something far more immersive. The track expands dramatically, revealing lush, multi-layered musical texture with excellent stereo imaging and a warm, mellow tone that makes winter feel just a little less bleak.
SVS’ diamond-coated tweeter got me there by producing crisp, detailed high-end frequencies without ever veering into harshness, even at higher volumes. I was able to pick out the layered harmonies at various points in the track, and I especially enjoyed the sweeping, reverbed nature of the mix at higher volumes when paired with my Marantz receiver as well as my Monoprice Monolith M2100X amplifier (check out my review). The song opened up even more when I positioned the speakers about eight feet apart with a slight toe-in, about two feet from the wall. Bass improved, and came through with clarity and definition, anchoring the track confidently. And while adding an eight-inch subwoofer to the mix did enhance the low end, it wasn’t completely necessary. These speakers held their own, delivering a surprisingly full-bodied listening experience of this sunny, mellow track.
I was so impressed with the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano’s ability to produce quality bass that I decided to test its mettle on a dance track. Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” off the album Future Nostalgia contains a signature punchy, funky bass line that many loudspeakers try but fail to capture competently. This was not the case with the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers. From the jump, the Nanos produced lively bass that dipped confidently into the low 50 Hz range, allowing the featured bass line to shine. I loved how they were able to keep up with the energetic demands of the song as well, never fatiguing to the point of unpleasantness. Now, I’m not saying these small speakers can defy the laws of physics, but given their size, this level of fun and function is rarely achieved with a modest 5.25-inch woofer and 1.6-inch port. It’s giving tiny subwoofer vibes.
Will the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers Hold Their Value?
I frequently notice SVS products selling for somewhat close to their original retail prices on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace which is basically unheard of in audio circles. For example, I recently saw an 11-year-old mint condition SVS Ultra Center Channel Speaker and stand sell for just $100 less than its 2013 retail price. That’s impressive long-term value and a great return on investment. As SVS continues to gain brand recognition and build its loyal following, I expect its staying power to only increase in the years ahead.
What is the Competition for the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers?
The Paradigm Premier 100Bs (buy at Crutchfield) are a $800 pair of smaller bookshelf speakers with a similar premium look and feel. They feature Paradigm’s one-inch X-PAL pure aluminum dome tweeter and a 5.5-inch carbon-infused polypropylene mid/woofer with high-excursion Active Ridge Technology (ART) surround, both adorned with Paradigm’s proprietary PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) spiral patterned lens, which looks unique and quite high-end. Despite the woofer’s larger relative size, however, they don’t go nearly as deep as the SVS Ultra Evolution Nanos, with a stated frequency response range of only 68-25,000 Hz – almost a 20 Hz difference.
KEF’s Q150 bookshelf speakers (buy at Crutchfield) are a similar-sized speaker that proves simplicity and excellence can work in tandem. This relatively no-frills pair of $599 per-pair bookshelf speakers are renowned for their imaging ability, thanks in part to KEF’s time-tested Uni-Q concentric design, which places the one-inch aluminum dome tweeter in the center of a 5.25-inch aluminum woofer. This increases the audiological “sweet spot” by producing full-range sound from one point versus two or more. While they won’t go as deep as the SVS Nanos, these entry-level KEF speakers are an excellent building block for first-time audiophiles (I owned a pair after college), but they are also good enough to function as a long-term stereo pair for most listeners.
At about half the price of the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers at $350 per pair, the rear-ported, two-way ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53-BK (buy at Crutchfield) are nearly identical in size, and sound great despite their modest price tag. They feature a one-inch aluminum dome tweeter, a five-and-one-quarter-inch third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, and an impressive frequency response of 48-38,000 Hz. ELAC’s Debut line is considered one of the best values in the audiophile world and would be an excellent choice for a beginner audiophile, or one who is looking to build a secondary setup in a bedroom or den.
Final Thoughts on the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers …
The Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune to achieve a well-rounded listening experience. Yes, the larger Ultra Evolution Bookshelf Speakers offer a bit more low-end presence and a slightly fuller sound, but that is to be expected given their larger cabinet, woofer, and slightly higher price point. The Nanos still deliver dazzling detail, thanks to SVS’ proprietary tweeter, excellent stereo imaging, and some surprisingly strong bass for such a modestly-sized speaker.
Whether you’re diving into your first serious HiFi setup or looking for high-performing speakers that won’t completely take over your space, the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano Bookshelf Speakers are an easy recommendation. SVS has once again raised the bar for what’s possible at this price point, and these speakers are sure to find a home with anyone who values great sound without breaking the bank.
