Short answer: the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, if you are buying new. The SVS Ultra Bookshelf ranks higher than the Dynaudio Emit 20 (#98 vs #133 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, is rated 4.0/5 at $1,199 and is still sold new.
The SVS Ultra Bookshelf is the more accurate option. Bookshelf speakers with fairly neutral sound, wide dispersion and good dynamics, now discontinued but worth buying used. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.63 against 4.22 for the Dynaudio Emit 20. The tradeoff: Still has a boosted upper mid-range/mid-range area, though less severe than the Prime: the reviewer suspects a baffle-step or tweeter-level issue rather than a resonance, giving mixes a slightly forward, occasionally tinny character.
The Dynaudio Emit 20 is the deeper-bass option. Bookshelf speakers with unusually deep, low distortion bass for a two-way design and wide, consistent dispersion. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 69Hz for the SVS Ultra Bookshelf. The catch: A resonance around 600-800Hz gives snares and similar percussion a muffled, flat quality lacking impact: confirmed as originating in the woofer itself (isolated via measurements of the raw driver out of the cabinet), and attempts at constrained-layer damping didn’t resolve it.
Buy the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, the replacement for the discontinued SVS Ultra Bookshelf; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Emit 20.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Dynaudio Emit 20 reaches 33 Hz (10 dB down) against 48 Hz for the SVS Ultra Bookshelf, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the SVS Ultra Bookshelf scores 8.1 against 5.9 for the Dynaudio Emit 20 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the SVS Ultra Bookshelf is rated at 87.8 dB sensitivity against 83.5 dB for the Dynaudio Emit 20, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| SVS Ultra Bookshelf | Dynaudio Emit 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,200 per pair Discontinued | $1,049.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #98 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #133 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5” composite glass fiber cone woofer, 1” aluminum dome tweeter | 7.1” Magnesium Silicate Polymer woofer, 1.1” Cerotar soft dome with Hexis tweeter |
| Dimensions | 14.9”H x 8.5”W x 10”D | 14.6”H x 8.1”W x 12.3”D (370.0 x 205.0 x 312.0 mm) |
| Weight | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (5.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 69Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 32kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.63 | 4.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.10 | 5.92 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
Where the Ratings Come From
- SVS Ultra Bookshelf: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review.
- Dynaudio Emit 20: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for SVS Ultra Bookshelf: