SVS SoundBase Pro Wireless Review: A $700 Streaming Amplifier With HDMI ARC

Introduction

SVS has built its reputation on subwoofers and speakers, so a streaming integrated amplifier is an interesting move for the brand. The SoundBase Pro Wireless is the second generation of that idea: a compact, console-friendly unit designed to sit beneath a television, drive a pair of speakers, and bridge the gap between a simple two-channel setup and a full home theater.

Physically, the new model shares the same chassis as the original. From a couple of feet away, you would be hard pressed to tell them apart, and that is fine, because the meaningful changes sit inside and on the back panel. This is not a repackaged product with a fresh badge. The upgrades include a redesigned remote, an HDMI ARC input, and newer streaming hardware.

At $700, it undercuts several well-known streaming amplifiers while adding features that some of them charge considerably more for. Here is what that money buys, where the unit excels, and what to weigh before committing.

Who This Product Is For

The SoundBase Pro Wireless is aimed at listeners who want genuinely good sound from their television without assembling a full surround system. It sits on a media console, connects to the TV, and drives two speakers. Think of it as a soundbar replacement for people who would rather use real bookshelf or floorstanding speakers.

It also suits anyone who wants one box to handle several sources. There are two analog inputs on the back, so a turntable can feed in through an external phono preamp, or connect directly if the turntable has one built in. A subwoofer output and a line output are present too, which means the unit can grow with a system rather than cap it.

If you already own a separate power amplifier and only need a preamp and streamer, the line output lets you use it that way. It is a flexible piece of hardware for the price, and that flexibility is a large part of the appeal.

Amplifier Sound Quality and Power

The headline figure is 300 watts per channel into 4 ohms, though SVS does not publish distortion numbers alongside it, so it is best read as an indication of headroom rather than a laboratory specification.

Sound quality is where this unit makes its strongest case. The presentation is organic and realistic, closer in character to a well-executed Class A/B design than to the lean, edgy sound some Class D amplifiers are known for. There is no digital harshness sitting on top of the music, which makes long listening sessions easy.

The second generation moves slightly away from the warmth of the original without tipping into thinness. The result is a neutral amplifier that partners well with a wide range of speakers. It has driven demanding bookshelf models comfortably, and the even-handed signature means it is unlikely to fight whatever speakers you already own.

HDMI ARC and Wired Connectivity

The addition of HDMI ARC is one of the biggest practical changes. It lets the unit take audio straight from a television over a single cable, and the connection proves reliable. In practice, a streaming box connected to the TV passed audio through ARC without handshake trouble, and the amplifier picked up the signal every time.

The rest of the rear panel covers the essentials. Speaker binding posts sit alongside a pair of RCA line inputs, a 3.5 mm line input, an optical input for the internal DAC, and Ethernet in and out for a wired network connection. The DAC handles files up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

There is also a subwoofer output, a line output, an IR input, a service USB port, and dedicated buttons for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing. Rounding it out is a standard IEC power socket, which makes cable swapping simple.

Streaming Features and the App Experience

Wireless streaming is handled by Play-Fi, and this generation ships with a new chipset that supports the platform’s recent updates. The improvement is noticeable. Gapless playback now works properly, which matters for live albums and continuous mixes where a break between tracks breaks the flow. When a track finishes on a playlist, the next one begins with little to no delay.

The interface has improved as well, with cleaner artwork and better playback screens. It is still not the most polished streaming platform on the market, and switching tracks manually can introduce a pause. BluOS remains the more refined option, and the platform is not as seamless as some dedicated streamers.

That said, the gap has narrowed considerably, and the app is no longer something to avoid. It is a genuine contender now rather than an afterthought. Setup is straightforward: install the app, power the unit on, join the network it broadcasts, and pass your Wi-Fi credentials across. Once running, it switches between sources automatically, so you can move from television audio to a stream without digging through menus.

For listeners outside the Play-Fi ecosystem, AirPlay support covers Apple devices, and Chromecast covers everything else. Both make it easy to send audio from a phone or tablet without opening the manufacturer app at all.

Remote Control and Everyday Usability

The remote is the other headline change, and it is a meaningful one for a product that lives on a console. It is a substantial, weighty handset rather than a credit-card style remote, and it runs on ordinary batteries that are easy to replace.

Controls cover input selection, volume, play and pause, display brightness, and presets. It is simple, it works, and the blue logo on the front is a small touch that suits the hardware.

Day to day, the unit behaves the way a living-room component should. It wakes with the television over ARC, switches sources without fuss, and stays out of the way. For households that want one small box to handle television audio, two-channel listening, and streaming, that simplicity is the whole point.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are real omissions to weigh. There are no tone controls, so you cannot nudge bass or treble to suit a room. There is no high-pass filter either, which some listeners use when blending a subwoofer with small speakers.

Distortion specifications are not published alongside the 300 watts per channel rating, so the power figure should be treated as a general indication rather than a guaranteed measurement.

The streaming app, while much improved, still carries some quirks and a slight delay when you change tracks manually. If app polish is your top priority, a platform with a more mature control interface may suit you better.

Finally, the rear panel is well equipped but not exhaustive. There is no video input beyond ARC and no phono stage built in, so a turntable will need its own preamp.

Buying Advice

At $700, the SoundBase Pro Wireless is a compelling package. Comparable streaming amplifiers with HDMI ARC often cost several hundred dollars more, and some of them do not include a streamer at all. On sound quality, this unit holds its own against more expensive Class D designs, and its neutral character makes it easy to pair with speakers you already own.

If your goal is to bridge two-channel audio and home theater with one compact box under the television, this is one of the strongest options at the price. If you want tone controls, a high-pass filter, or the most polished streaming software available, you will pay more elsewhere.

For anyone shopping for a streaming amplifier in this range, the SoundBase Pro Wireless deserves a serious look.

Conclusion

The second-generation SoundBase Pro Wireless is not a cosmetic refresh. The HDMI ARC input, the redesigned remote, and the updated streaming hardware all address real shortcomings of the original, and the amplifier itself sounds natural and effortless.

It earns a strong recommendation for listeners who want quality television sound and two-channel streaming from a single component without spending four figures. The caveats are worth knowing, but at this price they are easy to accept.