take advantage of much of the trickle-down technology they
have previously developed.
Setup
I positioned the 7002s in the same location where my Revel
Salons normally reside, a position that has been deemed by
audio professional Bob Hodas as the best location in my room.
I found a positional preference with the 7002s towed considerably
towards my listening position. I played with having the speakers
positioned with the sub drivers facing both in at each other and
toward the other walls; I achieved a more balanced response with
them facing in. I set the volume of the 7002 subs at approximately
5 dB above the volume of the speakers and turned off the Linn
Sysmik subwoofer that I have been using to complement my
reference Revel loudspeakers. This volume setting was
approximately in the 1 o’clock position on the dial at the rear
of the 7002s. I then placed the spikes and began evaluation.
The Movies and Music
I started my critical listening with some Johnny Lang from
his 1997 release
Lie to Me
(A&M Records). In the title track,
the 7002s quickly established themselves as speakers that
could reproduce the impact of live rock. The bass and snare
drums had solid impact and the necessary energy to sound live.
Initially, I was concerned about this speaker’s ability to provide
tight bass with its powered on-board subs. Although I had
reviewed the impressive Definitive Technology BP3000s a couple
years back and was able to blend their bass very well, I am now
in a smaller room, one known for easily overloading if the subs
are not positioned precisely and at the proper level. Surprisingly,
it took little set-up and the bass sounded remarkably well blended
and tight darn near right out of the box.
Lang’s voice was also displayed very well and the 7002s
captured the soul and presence of his performance. In Track Two,
“Darker Side,” the distant piano had the necessary information
to position it nicely in the stage, and also made the piano strikes
sound both immediate and real. As the hammer strikes the strings,
the sound can either be dull and sluggish or almost startling upon
impact. The 7002s provided the latter and had the energy and
quickness to make this piano sound realistic and exciting.
Another indication of their top end quality, the cymbals in this
song had a harmonic ring and subsequent decay that were both
liquid and very detailed.
Something that quickly caught my attention, like many speakers
that I review in this price range and above, this has great bass,
and a very detailed upper spectrum—great individual attributes.
However, a speaker should be judged not by its individual
characteristics but rather by how it emotionally captures your
feelings. The Definitive Technology 7002s captured something
that few achieve in any price class, an emotional connection.
Definitive Technology’s Complete BP7002
Bipolar SuperTower Home Theater System
“At the heart of this floorstanding
loudspeaker is Definitive’s 12-inch
SuperCube subwoofer technology ...
This is ideal for the minimalist set-up
and a perfect chance to get well-
integrated low bass in your AV system”
“the 7002s quickly established themselves
as speakers that could reproduce the impact
of live rock ... with the necessary dynamic
range to make it sound as if I was in the
first few rows of an intimate outdoor
amphitheater”
“the bass sounded
remarkably well
blended and
tight darn near
right out of the
box ... the piano
strikes sound
both immediate
and real”
“The bipolar design emits information
that is in phase from both the front and
rear. This allows for a much more airy
and open sound”
“great bass, and a very detailed upper
spectrum ... able to rock [Jimi Hendrix’s]
Axis: Bold as Love
in your living room
in ways that make you think that you
are sitting in Electric Ladyland Studio”
