Short answer: the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle for better sound quality, the Infinity Reference 253 for the lower price. The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle ranks #39 of 56 floorstanding speakers at $4999.98. The Infinity Reference 253 ranks #48 at $400, $4599.98 cheaper.
The case for the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: A large curved-baffle tower built for time alignment: a 1” dome tweeter flanked by two 5.25” midranges above two 8” mid-bass drivers, plus a matching pair of 8” drivers and dual ports on the back. The tradeoff: Not a fully linear speaker: a dip in the upper midrange followed closely by a peak (roughly 2-3kHz) gives vocals and other midrange content a shouty, forward quality that toe-out alone doesn’t resolve.
On the Infinity Reference 253 side: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Set against that: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange.
Buy the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Infinity Reference 253 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Infinity Reference 253. It ranks near the bottom of the 56 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle | Infinity Reference 253 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,999.98 | $400 used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #39 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #48 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 27Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, two 5.25" midranges, four 8" mid-bass drivers (2 front, 2 rear) | Dual 5.25" (130mm) CMMD™ woofers, 5.25" (130mm) flat-piston CMMD™ midrange, 1" (25mm) CMMD™ tweeter |
| Weight | 100.1 lbs / 45.4 kg (100 lb) each | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 88.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Dimensions | 49"H x 12"W x 18"D (1245.0 x 305.0 x 457.0 mm) | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 40kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossovers | 140Hz & 1.8kHz | - |
| Recommended Power | 20-300W | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: $4,999.98 SVS
Pros: A large curved-baffle tower built for time alignment: a 1” dome tweeter flanked by two 5.25” midranges above two 8” mid-bass drivers, plus a matching pair of 8” drivers and dual ports on the back. Impulse-response testing shows a single clean arrival rather than the staggered tweeter-then-woofer arrival typical of conventional flat-baffle designs, confirming genuinely effective time alignment. Excellent build quality throughout. Very wide, consistent horizontal radiation around ±70-80° gives a large, enveloping soundstage. Capable of very high output with very low harmonic distortion - the reviewer says this measured the lowest harmonic distortion of any speaker he has tested to date, at both 86dB and 96dB output, with distortion staying under 1% down to 40Hz.
Cons: Not a fully linear speaker: a dip in the upper midrange followed closely by a peak (roughly 2-3kHz) gives vocals and other midrange content a shouty, forward quality that toe-out alone doesn’t resolve, pointing to a genuine on-axis response issue rather than just room reflections. A wide, high-Q bass bump around 70-80Hz makes the speaker sound boomy unless pulled at least 3 feet from the rear wall or tamed with EQ (a -3dB cut with a Q of 1 around 70Hz worked well in testing). Minimum impedance dips to about 2.6 ohms around 80Hz, a genuinely demanding load - the reviewer could not drive these to satisfying output with budget-oriented amplifiers and receivers, and recommends a robust stereo amp or monoblocks instead. At around 100 lbs and roughly 4 feet tall with the tweeter about 32.5” off the ground, seating position matters: straying beyond about 10° of the tweeter axis loses real detail in the upper midrange, and the crossover region shows lobing that shifts from about 10° to 50° between 2-4kHz. Multitone distortion and dynamic compression both increase in that same upper-midrange/tweeter region at higher output, consistent with the on-axis dip-then-peak character.
Full SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 27Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossovers | 140Hz & 1.8kHz |
| Dimensions | 49"H x 12"W x 18"D (1245.0 x 305.0 x 457.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, two 5.25" midranges, four 8" mid-bass drivers (2 front, 2 rear) |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 40kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 20-300W |
| Sensitivity | 88.1dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 100.1 lbs / 45.4 kg (100 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs KEF Q11 Meta
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Dynaudio Emit 30
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Klipsch Forte IV
- SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle vs Polk T50
- See all 13 comparisons
Infinity Reference 253: $400 used, Discontinued
Pros: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Really amazing value for the performance.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange. Vertical directivity requires staying at or below the tweeter axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m is broadly elevated above the reviewer’s audibility threshold across much of the midrange. Minimum impedance dips to 4.2 ohms. Discontinued.
Full Infinity Reference 253 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25" (130mm) CMMD™ woofers, 5.25" (130mm) flat-piston CMMD™ midrange, 1" (25mm) CMMD™ tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Infinity Reference 253 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Sony SS-CS3
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Magnepan LRS+
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Polk T50
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Dynaudio Emit 30
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- See all 14 comparisons