Short answer: the Infinity IL10. It ranks #59 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $160; the SVS Prime Bookshelf ranks #63 and costs $699, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Infinity IL10 gets right: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. The catch: Resonances at 600 and 5khz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions.
What the SVS Prime Bookshelf offers: 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. Watch for: 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 Infinity IL10. It ranks higher for sound quality than the SVS Prime Bookshelf and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Infinity IL10 | SVS Prime Bookshelf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $160 used, Discontinued | $699.00 |
| Ranked | #59 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #63 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 87dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" (165mm) woofer | 6.5" polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg | 15.5 lbs (15.5 lbs / 7.03 kg) each |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 15.6"H x 8.5"W x 11.5"D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Infinity IL10: $160 used, Discontinued
Pros: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. Predicted in-room response is good aside from a bit of excess energy here and there. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m stays low and controlled outside two narrow resonance-driven peaks.
Cons: Resonances at 600 and 5khz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions. Discontinued.
Full Infinity IL10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.6"H x 8.5"W x 11.5"D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" (165mm) woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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
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