Short answer: the Dynaudio Special Forty for better sound quality, the SVS Prime Bookshelf for the lower price. The Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #61 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $3600. The SVS Prime Bookshelf ranks #63 at $699, $2901 cheaper.
The case for the Dynaudio Special Forty: Smooth, “buttery” overall tonal character consistent with Dynaudio’s house sound. The tradeoff: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
What the SVS Prime Bookshelf gets right: Reasonable sensitivity for the price at about 87dB, and the 6.5” woofer sits in its own dedicated sealed sub-compartment inside the cabinet for cleaner midrange/bass separation. The catch: A scooped mid-range paired with a boosted upper mid-range creates an audibly uneven tonal balance, and there’s an additional dip in the treble around 4-5kHz that reads as slightly tinny relative to the recessed mid-range.
Buy the Dynaudio Special Forty if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the SVS Prime Bookshelf if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Special Forty | SVS Prime Bookshelf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 | $699.00 |
| Ranked | #61 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #63 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 7.7"W x 12.1"D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | - |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 87dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.9" MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1" Esotar soft dome tweeter | 6.5" polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs / 8.1 kg each | 15.5 lbs (15.5 lbs / 7.03 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Dynaudio Special Forty: $3600 Safeandsoundhq
Pros: Smooth, “buttery” overall tonal character consistent with Dynaudio’s house sound. Surprisingly precise, focused imaging despite wide horizontal radiation (about ±70°) - atypical, since wide-radiating speakers usually sacrifice some image precision in reflective rooms. Strong output capability: reached 100-101dB average at 3.5 meters with no audible distortion or woofer distress, and compression testing at 102dB shows the cabinet holding up mechanically well at extreme output. Bass reaches a genuine 50Hz (potentially 40Hz) in most rooms from a rear-ported design. Distortion stays below 1% at 86dB and doesn’t cross 3% THD until about 50Hz even at 96dB. Extra weight and impact on snares and percussion around 700-800Hz that the reviewer found appealing on many tracks.
Cons: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ. Multiple enclosure resonances appear between 500Hz-1kHz across on-axis, listening window, early-reflections, and sound-power measurements, corroborated by independent third-party CSD data showing similar 500-800Hz cabinet resonances. A dip around 1.2kHz traces to a cone-edge-to-surround compliance mismatch in the driver itself (confirmed by testing the bare driver’s impedance) - a known artifact common to many similarly-sized drivers across several manufacturers, contributing to elevated second-order distortion in that region. A somewhat laid-back, recessed 1-2kHz character (sometimes described as a “BBC dip”) gives an overall subdued quality that isn’t overtly problematic but shapes the tonal balance. Impedance drops below 3 ohms in the 100-200Hz region, requiring a genuinely 4-ohm-stable amplifier rather than an AVR. Rear port means it can’t be placed directly against a wall.
Full Dynaudio Special Forty review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 7.7"W x 12.1"D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.9" MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1" Esotar soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs / 8.1 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs Infinity IL10
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs Polk Monitor XT20
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs Behringer B2030P
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs JBL Studio 630
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SVS Prime Bookshelf: $699.00 Amazon
Pros: Reasonable sensitivity for the price at about 87dB, and the 6.5” woofer sits in its own dedicated sealed sub-compartment inside the cabinet for cleaner midrange/bass separation. Overall response stays within about ±3dB from 80Hz-16kHz, which the reviewer calls reasonable for the price point. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation. Toeing the speakers 30 degrees off-axis smooths the in-room response noticeably if the on-axis tonal balance isn’t to your taste.
Cons: A scooped mid-range paired with a boosted upper mid-range creates an audibly uneven tonal balance, and there’s an additional dip in the treble around 4-5kHz that reads as slightly tinny relative to the recessed mid-range. Measured minimum impedance dips below 4 ohms (EPDR even lower), so an 8-ohm-only amplifier or AVR may struggle - a 4-ohm-stable amp or separate amplification is recommended. Bass extension is modest (F3 72Hz, F10 49Hz measured) - SVS clearly designed this to be paired with one of their subwoofers rather than to stand fully alone. Compared directly against its pricier sibling, the SVS Ultra Bookshelf, in the same review, the reviewer found the Ultra noticeably more tonally neutral.
Full SVS Prime Bookshelf review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs (15.5 lbs / 7.03 kg) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs KEF Q3 Meta
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Polk Monitor XT20
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Focal Aria 906
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Infinity IL10
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Revel Performa M22
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Polk R200
- See all 18 comparisons