I feel obligated to respond about these Def Techs: they truly will make you deaf over a periodof time. As an aural specialist, I must say that these speakers are good only for home theater specifications and should not be even auditioned for true sterophile usage. These speakers are just beefed up Cerwin Vegas and are overpriced. When listening to Goldeneye and Contact on my DVD system, the Def Techs were far from lucid--muddy and jumbled. I found myself wondering if the speakers were functioning properly. It seems that the engineers went too far in the bass department, skimping on clean mid-range. I had to return them and cusomer service was hard to work with. I'm back to my Legacy towers and will never stray again.

Since this seems to have turned into a pissing contest, I'll be simple and quick: I love mine and have had no problems or headaches.

I have no home theater application. I keep a simple, uncomplicated system--Rotel 970 Integrated, Meridian Cd player (which I bought used from a friend), Audioquest Topaz and Type 6 RCA interconnect and speaker cable respectively, and BP-2002's (which are spiked). I listen to a variety of music--from jazz and rock to classical and fusion. I am and have been satisfied with the 2002's for a number of reasons. They are versatile--some speakers sound good for only classical music; some rock hard but are too harsh for more dynamic music; some have crystal clear highs but lack in the midbass and bottom end. The 2002's in my estimation reproduce all of these forms more than satisfactorily, with more good points than bad. Sure, the bass is heavy--we're talking about a powered sub here, so by definition the bass is heavy--but overpowering and muddy? Placement seems to be the problem here; and, as Mr. Hicks has already stated, the gain dial and room placement in particular are critical to the performnce of this, as well as any other speaker. Life's a bitch, you say? No, imaging is a bitch, and with any speaker minute adjustment may be necessary in order to properly image in your listening area--but my experience with all hifi loudspeakers has proved thusly problematic, and the 2002's are no more so than any other. Are they the best sounding speaker I have ever heard? Obviously, no. But I cannot (and my wife would kill me if I did) afford to purchase a set of Eggleston Works The Andra, which I have heard and blew me away--but for $12,000, they had better. And bipolar design of course has its detractors--some find it overly sweet and excessively, sometimes artificially ambient. I do not, and I have listened to these speakers for hundreds upon hundreds of hours. On Saturdays and Sundays, I kick back in my leather recliner, light up a La Gloria Cubana Robusto, pour a glass of Laphroig single malt straight up, and relax to the sounds of Christopher Parkening and his amazing classical guitar, or possibly some Tribal Tech, and bask in the sound--for the 2002's are the only pair of speakers that I will own until I hear something that knocks my socks off as much as they, for anywhere even near their relatively low price. They are versatile, consistent, pleasing, easy to listen to for hours at a time, and overall a bargain in price versus performance. Hats off to Definitive Technology for their wonderful product.

Honest in their presentation to the source component. Clean sound, excellent sound stage if setup right.

The bass can be a bit slow (bp3000tl), of slightly weaker (bp2002tl), but could be fixed by adjusting the volume in the back.

I must say that I’m amaze at the diversity of opinions here in audioreview regarding the Definitive Technology line of products. People here have been commenting about the pros and cons of the def tech dating all the way back to 1996 and the debate is still going on. One poster complaints about the ringing in the ears and headaches from listening to these speakers and others came along and shot him down, call him names etc., etc.

Well, I have owned and operated in all the def tech line up from 2004 to the 2000tl and finally the 3000tl. I’ve been trading them up over the years. I refrained myself from posting my comments until I’m really sure I know what I’m talking about. The following is my current gears:

Sony cdp XA7ES
Sony DVD S7700
Denon AVR 5700
Def Tech bp3000tl main and bp2004tl rear, with c/l/r 3000 centre.
Kimber 8TC speaker bi-wire; MIT interconnects between components and MIT interconnects for line level inputs.

What do I think of the Def Tech? Well, I will give you this much: my friends and I used to have headaches when we watched DVDs with big explosions; and when we listened to cds that have low frequency responds, not so much in classical music, but more so with very heavy handed bass notes and drum kicks. I’ve always bi-wired the high and mid sections of the def tech and with all the jumpers removed; as a result, I’m completely left alone to find the best means to power the bass (ie, via the pre-amp). I used to use cheap monster cables to power the sub via the RCA low level in. And I believe that using cheap cables is the reason why some of you got the headaches (this is more so with the 3000tl than the 2000 but nevertheless a big problem). These cables have very poor shielding despite the manufacturers’ claim to the contrary, and I think because of this, some of the magnetic signal inadvertently fly out to the open. Now, as the volume level increased, these magnetic fields also increase and could causes headache for some people. I have since replaced these cheap monster cables with MIT interconnects and my headache is gone.

I think the def tech, although not the best speakers by any means, is very honest in their presentation of the source components, these source components include cables as well. If anyone of the source components is not up to par, I guarantee you’ll hear it. Most of you will agree that my cd player, Sony cdp XA7ES is a very good cd player (The retail price used to be $3000 US). But I used to hate listening to my cds because they didn’t sound as good as my old vinyl records despite having the Sony cdp XA7ES, the Denon AVR5700 and the top of the line bp3000tl, and the audiophile Kimber 8TC speaker wire. Until one day I realized the culprit was my Monster cd interconnect (Monsters Interconnect 400 mkII). I ditch the monsters IC and replaced it with MIT MI-300 Plus s2, and vow, I got sound stage and depth. Now with the combinations of MIT and Kimber Cable, it’s live performance every evening. Also, you need to play around with the placement of the speaker etc in order to achieve the best sound as others have suggested.

By the way, as you move up the line in the def tech line up, the bass gets better; however, the high and the mids are about the same given that the def tech uses similar drivers in their line up. If you ignore the bass issue, the best def tech speaker for music is the bp2004tl, they have the most linear frequency curve as compared to their bigger cousins. But like I said before, if you use high quality interconnects and speaker wires, this is a minor issue.

Happy listening.

Similar Products Used:

All the def tech line ups, B&W 804.

overall frequency range. Tri-wireable powerful soundstage

Can tip over easily

Theese speakers are not for everyone. If you have a tube amp and want to hear the air around the string instruments, forget it. However, with the PROPER SETUP in the right room, their musical reproduction is very good. If improperly placed, especially to close to rear walls, they sound dull. Take the time to set them up right, you wont be sorry. They have put new life into some of my favorite music. If they are too bassey, the subs have a volume control. Turn them down. Pop in a movie, and turn them back up. When the depth charges in u-571 go off your jaw will drop. my point is, with proper setup they do h.t. and music with uncaney accuresy. Add A 2005 center channel and some bpvx surrounds. Hold on to your chair and enjoy the ride. (I drive mine with a Yamaha rx-v1,good combination.)

Similar Products Used:

polk ohm bose paradigm

Bass effects in home theater are fantastic!

None

The BP2002 speakers are matched with a C/L/R 2002 (center)
and a pair of BP2X's surrounds. The $500 I paid for this system may be hard to believe, but true. I have had these
speakers for three months now and I am quite impressed with the sound quality. My mini home theater sound is nothing less than fantastic with the BP2002's producing
great subsonic levels and actually causing my floor to shake (take the scene from PVT Ryan with the Tiger tank
rumbling through the French town). Awesome! Music reproduction from the BP's is good but a little "bright".
All-in-all these are truly great speakers, if you are fortunate to find a pair, GET'UM!

System consisting:
Def Tech BP2002 and etc.
Yamaha RX-800
Sony NS400D
Denon DCD-425

Similar Products Used:

RSL, AR, Bose

Excellent and powerful bass, Bi-polar arrangement

Not quite for playing classical music

Bi-polar arrangement is excellent for all round sound effects, especially for movies. In fact, for the five years that I had the speaker and frequent audio equipment stores looking for new ones nothing of the same caliber and price quite measure up to the BPs as movie speakers. There are better ones to be sure, but this brand surely shines on price/performance index.
However it is my opinion that these speakers (I have the BP2002, but I have listened to similar other models in the shops) are only mediocre for music esp. classical music. Good for heavy metal and rap though. The clarity of sound reproduction and bass power makes that a simple fact.

Similar Products Used:

I've never seen anything bi-polar before or since.

All this silly talk about ringing. I have owned 2002's for over a year now, play them at taxing SPL's with Krell amplification and preamp, Wadia CD player, and have never, NEVER gotten a "headache" or heard a ringing in my ears. Perhaps those who get this symptom should either upgrade your electronics (quality tube amps, maybe), your source, or maybe see a doctor to check your hearing. Your hearing may be fried. Oh, and I love the DT's.

well i read all the reviews posted here before me and it seems that there are very little middle way opinions it is either five stars ( speakers ) or just one. I dont know how can peoples think that radically different. Well here is my opinion i like BP 2002 a lot, i am very impressed about the bass it is so tight and well controlled, i think that they do have littlebit bright highs but i like them that way, i just want to say you guys who read these reviews dont mind what we say go and listen your self, after all you are getting the speakers for your self not for anybody of us. Thank you.

I have owned 2002's for two months now, and continue to be impressed by the nuances of music that constantly are revealed to me even in music that I have heretofore felt familiar and comfortable with. I run a simple Classe Pre/Power combo with the 2002's, and (embarrassed grin) a Kenwood Cd-player (hey, I had to put the money where I felt it needed it, Ok?!?). Anyway, I have nothing but praise for Definitive Technology's smaller version of the BP-2000. Tight, well-controlled bass, good midrange if a tad neutral, and lush, crisp highs make for a well-balanced speaker that makes for hours upon hours of listening pleasure. The 2002's make me listen to music; make me want to. Also a great deal for the money in an age where rotten Klipsch products can command two- to three- thousand dollars and where most people think Bose is THE way to go. Both thumbs enthusiastically up!