Definitive Technologies Floorstanding Speakers

[Yamahog12]

Can anyone tell me if the Definitive Technologies BP series of speakers are worth driving over an hour to check out? I don't want to use a separate subwoofer and these have a powered subwoofer built into the speakers. BP-8060ST | Definitive Technology® It sounds a little gimmicky but I thought I'd ask if anyone knows anything about them. I am interested in music listening and not so much the TV audio thing. Thanks.

[Mr Peabody]

The Def Tech are decent. What will you be driving them with? You might want to also look at Golden Ear, Sandy Gross who used to work for Def Tech and Polk prior to that, he designed the Golden Ear, if they come close to the hype and reviews, might be the thing for you. I heard the GE in a system I wasn't really familiar with but the sound was really good. They do put out the bass, I assumed that could be adjusted to the user's liking. Golden Ear uses built in amps for the bass as well on most models.

[Yamahog12]

My amp is an old Yamaha AX-570 stereo with 100 wpc. I just cleaned it up and I keep kicking around the idea of upgrading my speakers. Yesterday I discovered that one of them isn't working right so now's the time to finally do it. I will look up the Golder Ears you mentioned. I'm not "audiophile enough" so that there's no limit to what I will spend. But I'm willing to fork over up to $2K for a really nice pair of speakers. I just can't go higher than that because I have way too many hobbies besides listening to music. Thank you.

[Mr Peabody]

You have a good budget, what speakers were you using? The amplified speakers are good with some of the vintage amps or lower powered amps to give a larger sound and fuller bottom end. With your budget you might also take a look at the JBL Studio series, they are not amplified but are not bass shy and I would think a good match with your amp.

Maybe more than a hassle driving a distance but some online retailers will allow you 30 days to return product if not happy.

[Yamahog12]

My old speakers are Infinity SM-100s. I bought them about 23 years ago and at the time they were a major step up from the Lafayettes (Radio Shack, I think) I had. I think I'd rather drive a distance instead of having to possibly box up and ship something back. My room is 21x21 so it isn't huge but not tiny, either. Most of the stuff I listen to these days is acoustical and I want to hear crisp clear vocals. But if something calls for some tight bass, I want it to sound good, of course. I probably just described 95% of everyone who is speaker shopping!

[Yamahog12]

The Golder Ear Triton 3's are just within my budget and are interesting. I would be unable to position the speakers more than a couple feet from a wall (behind them). Would that make the bass too "boomy" in your estimation? They would probably stand only about 7 feet apart. If I go wider, it would have to go to about 15 feet apart. Everything I read about the Tritons is great. And my problem is that there are so many options out there, and I'm prone to research stuff until I can't make a decision. Then other stuff comes up (like riding my motorcycle, etc.) and I end up not getting anything. Then a year later I'm starting over again! Anyway, are you able to opine on the speaker placement I mentioned? Thanks.

[blackraven]

I can't speak about your specific model of BP's but my brother bought a pair of BP towers in the early to mid 1990's and they sound OK. Treble is rolled off a little. I can't speak about their newer models.


If you are interested, the NHT classic 4 speaker uses the same kind of set up and they are very nice speakers that I auditioned a couple of times.

Read the Sensible sound review in the first link below-

Reviews | High End Audio | Home Theater Speakers

NHT Classic 4 Tower Speakers - Audiophile Audition

Here are a few other speakers to consider that I am familiar with but there are many options in your price range-

SongTower Images

The Salks above are a great speaker that is custom built to order. They are a lot of bang for the buck speaker. Read about them on the AC forum-
Salk Signature Sound

World Premier! Salk Signature Sound SongTower QWT Loudspeaker An out of the park home run! Review By Nels Ferre

The PSB Imagine T speakers-

PSB B-Stock Sale

The PSB's have a very smooth sound with a very nice midrange with good tone and timber. Treble is not harsh or glaring.

Wharfedale Diamond 10.7's- Music direct sells wharfedales at big discounts.

WHARFEDALE at Music Direct

Other options are to go with a Magnepan MG12 for around $1100 and a nice sealed sub. Or even a pair of 1.7's ($2100) or a used pair of the 1.6's. If you like crisp vocals, then Magnepans are the way to go. Your 21x21 room is more than enough to handle a pair of Maggies. My room is 17x17x9. Think outside the box. These speakers have a live sound to the music, very revealing. They hold their own with speakers costing $1K-3K more.

MG 12 - Magnepan, Inc.

[Mr Peabody]

Definitely review the manual for hook up and check with Golden, bass should not be a problem based on what I heard. Speakers, especially quality ones, do require a break in, usually lengthy. Are the bass drivers moving? When checking for movement or "air" be sure you are looking at the active drivers opposed to the passive radiator. No insult, but in case, a passive radiator is like the speaker cone with no magnet or other structure behind it, the air from the active, or powered, drivers cause the radiator to move, but they movement usually isn't nearly as much as with the active driver.

Also, be sure the music you are listening to actually has bass content, better speakers reproduce bass more accurately which will give more detail which in some cases can seem like less bass due to less distortion and smearing. In other words you should better hear the kick drum separated from the bass guitar or synth rhyths etc.

I suspect though your situation has a resolution, I've seen no one complain about shy bass on the Golden Ear, except until now . Good luck and keep us posted. I can certainly empathize when a purchase don't meet your expectations.

[Yamahog12]

Are the bass drivers moving? When checking for movement or "air" be sure you are looking at the active drivers opposed to the passive radiator. No insult, but in case, a passive radiator is like the speaker cone with no magnet or other structure behind it, the air from the active, or powered, drivers cause the radiator to move, but they movement usually isn't nearly as much as with the active driver.

Also, be sure the music you are listening to actually has bass content, better speakers reproduce bass more accurately which will give more detail which in some cases can seem like less bass due to less distortion and smearing. In other words you should better hear the kick drum separated from the bass guitar or synth rhyths etc.

Don't be concerned about spelling out facts many would assume to be common knowledge. I admit I am no audiophile (maybe a wannabe, though). Maybe I was paying attention to the wrong part of the speaker. I don't mean to say they don't sound good. I just thought I'd be more "bowled over" with the bass. And I admit that I just don't have the time to drive all over auditioning speakers so I did pretty much take a shot. I wish I had thought more about how the power cords would look lying on our new carpet, and so does my wife!
I'm sure these will be fine. There's a local dealer who sells Paradigm speakers and I now wonder if I would have been just as satisfied had I spent half as much and went that way (and not had these damn cords lying around). I genuinely appreciate your input.

[Yamahog12]

Follow Up- I bought the Golden Ear Triton-3 speakers. They're nice, but so far I'm not sure I made the right choice. The powered subwoofers do not have the impact I expected, and I think I could have been as happy with a standard speaker costing less. The power requirement meant I had to spend a weekend figuring a way to add 2 outlets, on a different circuit, to my living room. The power cords are also quite unsightly and it would be nice if they could have been made to retract the excess into the base of the speaker.

It is possible the limitations of my amp don't allow me to enjoy the full benefits of the Triton-3s. Not sure. In any event, they do sound nice, and maybe, after a break-in period and playing with speaker placement, they will get better. I actually wonder sometimes if the subwoofer is working, as I feel no air movement coming from the bottom portion where the woofers are. I think I will call the company and ask them about this. Oh well. If I get buyer's remorse too badly, I'll put them up for sale I guess.