Short answer: the Polk Audio XT35. It ranks #14 of 98 center channel speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $279; the SVS Prime Center ranks #69, rated 3.4/5, and costs $449, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Polk Audio XT35 is the more accurate choice. A slim center only 106mm tall, built to sit under a TV, with a 1” Terylene dome tweeter between four 3” woofers. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.43 against 3.34 for the SVS Prime Center. The catch: Small woofers limit bass to 85Hz (-3dB) and about 59Hz (-10dB), so it really needs a subwoofer with a crossover around 100Hz.
The SVS Prime Center is the deeper-bass pick. A three-way center with a 3.5” midrange between the 1” aluminum tweeter and two 5.25” woofers, which avoids the side-to-side cancellation of two-way centers: Erin’s Audio Corner measured the widest horizontal coverage of any center here, about ±75 degrees. Its bass reaches about 71.8Hz before falling 3dB, against 85Hz for the Polk Audio XT35. The tradeoff: On-axis response is uneven (1.29dB average deviation), and the preference score is 3.34 without a subwoofer and 6.0 with one.
Buy the Polk Audio XT35. It is rated higher for sound quality than the SVS Prime Center and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio XT35 | SVS Prime Center | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 each | $449.00 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 98 in Center Channel Speakers | #69 of 98 in Center Channel Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 4x 3” bi-laminate paper woofers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 3.5” midrange, 2x 5.25” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 84Hz-26kHz (manufacturer specified) | 48Hz-25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4.2”H x 24.4”W x 5.6”D (106 x 620 x 141 mm) | 7.7”H x 18.6”W x 9.2”D (196 x 472 x 234 mm) |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 71.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 59.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | about 48.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.43 | 3.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | 6.00 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Polk Audio XT35 compares with other leading options:
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio XT30
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Aperion Audio Novus N5C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Audio XT35: $279.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: A slim center only 106mm tall, built to sit under a TV, with a 1” Terylene dome tweeter between four 3” woofers. Erin’s Audio Corner measured very low on-axis deviation (0.19, among the flattest of any center here) and a listening window within 2.2dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, for a preference score of 4.43 that reaches 7.34 with an ideal subwoofer. That is a remarkable result at $279. Measured bass extension of 85.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Small woofers limit bass to 85Hz (-3dB) and about 59Hz (-10dB), so it really needs a subwoofer with a crossover around 100Hz. Its predicted in-room response is less smooth (0.57) than the top centers here, so reflections color the sound more in a lively room.
Full Polk Audio XT35 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 59.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 4.2”H x 24.4”W x 5.6”D (106 x 620 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 4x 3” bi-laminate paper woofers |
| Frequency Response | 84Hz-26kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio XT30
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Aperion Audio Novus N5C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R300
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Paradigm Monitor SE 2000C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30
- See all 12 comparisons
SVS Prime Center: $449.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: A three-way center with a 3.5” midrange between the 1” aluminum tweeter and two 5.25” woofers, which avoids the side-to-side cancellation of two-way centers: Erin’s Audio Corner measured the widest horizontal coverage of any center here, about ±75 degrees. Bass reaches 71.8Hz (-3dB) and about 48Hz (-10dB). Measured bass extension of 71.8Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis response is uneven (1.29dB average deviation), and the preference score is 3.34 without a subwoofer and 6.0 with one. Sensitivity is a modest 86dB.
Full SVS Prime Center review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 48.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 7.7”H x 18.6”W x 9.2”D (196 x 472 x 234 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 3.5” midrange, 2x 5.25” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz-25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.00 |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- SVS Prime Center vs Q Acoustics 3090c
- SVS Prime Center vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63
- SVS Prime Center vs PSB Alpha C10
- SVS Prime Center vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UCR52
- SVS Prime Center vs Aperion Audio Novus N5C
- SVS Prime Center vs Arendal Sound 1961 Center
- SVS Prime Center vs Klipsch RP-504C II
- SVS Prime Center vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- See all 10 comparisons