SVS 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos Speaker System: T.H.E. Show 2023

SVS has done a remarkable job over the past 5 years solidifying its position as one of the leading manufacturers of subwoofers and affordable loudspeakers; four members of the eCoustics team own at least one of their award-winning subwoofers and we have noticed while scrolling through Instagram that quite a few audiophiles utilize their most expensive models for both music and home theater systems.

The brand understands how to market and they offer excellent customer service as well. That’s how things need to be done.

There were not a lot of home theater systems at T.H.E. Show 2023, but the SVS room was used to demonstrate a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos system; the setup included a pair of SVS Prime Pinnacle Towers ($899 each), Ultra Center Speaker ($799), along with two of their SB-2000 Subwoofers ($1,699 for the pair).

The remaining channels included a pair of Prime Elevation height speakers that were mounted at the junction of wall and ceiling ($249 each) and a pair of Prime Satellite surround speakers ($175 each).

The system was powered by a Denon X8500HA AVR ($4,999 USD).

SVS chose to go with the Prime Pinnacle Towers over the flagship Ultra because of the dimensions of the hotel room; the Ultra require more space between the side and front walls to really perform at their best.

Also on-hand were the Prime Wireless Pro speakers ($899/pair) that I previously reviewed as well as the Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase Streaming Amplifier ($699).

The Pinnacle Towers utilize three 6.5-inch woofers, one 5.25-inch midrange driver, and a single 1-inch dome tweeter. The loudspeaker is capable of playing down to almost 30Hz and one could really feel it.

The two SB-2000 subwoofers were crossed over at about 80Hz and gave the low end a combination of impact and excellent definition with both music and movie content.

The Ultra Center uses a similar driver configuration as the Pinnacle; you lose one of the three woofers and the midrange driver is 4-inches. The same 1-inch tweeter is used.

Even without the two subwoofers, the 3.0 configuration would be full-range for most people.

The Prime Elevation and Prime Satellites don’t offer a lot of information below 65Hz but that’s not their primary function. The 4 loudspeakers created more than enough impact, but also kept the tonal balance of the entire system intact.

Not everyone loves the idea of cutting holes in their ceiling for Dolby Atmos systems and this might be one of the easiest ways to do it and achieve a very high level of immersion.

Watching Top Gun: Maverick was an absolute blast; the SVS subwoofers added a very solid foundation and did not overwhelm the space which surprised me considering the construction of a hotel room.

The entire cost of the system including the Denon AVR was less than two sets of interconnects in the Gryphon Audio Designs room at T.H.E. Show, so this might have been the best affordable system last weekend.

The immersive nature of the score and action was extremely riveting; albeit somewhat too loud.

I do wish they’d done a bit more of a music demo with the Prime Pinnacle Towers as they are also a very capable speaker when used in a 2-channel environment, but show attendees came for the explosions and intense bass impact.

We may request a pair of the Prime Pinnacle Towers for a Q4 review. Stay tuned to see if that happens.

Tip: For help selecting a SVS subwoofer, you may want to check out our ultimate guide to choosing a SVS subwoofer.

For more information: svsound.com

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