Definitive Technology BP2X Test Report page 2

Faced with the naval cannon fire of Master and
Commander, the Definitive Tech system rose to
the challenge and left no doubt as to its power.
and concrete walls (behind wood paneling).
The bowels of the HMS Surprise sway and bob as
the movie opens. The surround effects completely
enveloped me with the creaking and groaning of the
wooden timbers, the gurgling and rumbling of the sea,
and the various clangs as objects sliding around strike
each other and the ship. This virtual tour ends with
BP7002
TWEETER
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SUBWOOFER
ENCLOSURE
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the loud clanging of the ship's bell. The sound of metal
striking metal was as immediate as if the bell was in
my room.
Even with the video off, the Definitive Tech system
left no doubt about the nature of the action and envi-
ronment. Being prone to seasickness, I actually felt a
bit queasy. It's a rare speaker system that pulls off this
kind of illusion so convincingly. The sound was so
completely enveloping that I felt like I was in a large
movie theater rather than in a small home theater where
sound can seem confined to the speakers.
When the officer of the watch sights the enemy and
the drummer beats to quarters, it almost ejected me
from my seat. As the crew makes preparations for the
fight, the sound of cutlery in the galley as it's swept into
storage seemed as real as upstairs in my kitchen.
Silverware didn't clank or click – it clattered.
The first 18-pounders crashing into the Surprise's
deck was a testament to the power of the BP7002
system. As the wood splintered and flew and the
cannonade broadsides dramatically raised the volume,
the speakers reproduced the carnage without a hint
of strain.
No system would pass muster if it failed to
convincingly reproduce voices. The Definitive Tech
passed admirably. Voices sounded smooth, natural,
and believable, although during Master and
Commander I sometimes wished the center speaker
gave them more of an edge to compete better with the
distracting effects.
"
I knew the system
had mastered music ...
accurately reproducing
any music I fed it and
bringing movies to life"
fast facts
C/L/R 2500
MUSIC PERFORMANCE.
ning the battle of standing up to an action movie, the
BP7002 system faced a more musical challenge, start-
ing with two-channel stereo. (Though I should note that
the violin and cello music in the movie – the two main
characters play these instruments for relaxation – also
sounded natural and authentic.) From Ron Carter's first
bass notes in McCoy Tyner's New York Reunion, I
knew the system had mastered music, too.
The bass sounded big without being bloated,
the strings taut but not thin. The high hat sparkled but
never sounded metallic under Al Forster's brushes.
I'm no piano expert, but I could tell that Tyner was
playing a more defined, tighter, somewhat cooler
keyboard than an ordinary Steinway. The CD's liner
notes revealed that it was a Hamburg Steinway. The
piano came from the left side in a deep and wide stereo
image that placed the quartet in just the right positions
in the soundstage.
For music in surround sound, I spun the DVD-Audio
release of Neil Young's classic Harvest. While the
weird mix puts the listener in the center of the action
and makes Neil's vocals sound a little off to the side,
the BP7002 system brought this 30-plus-year-old
recording to life. The acoustic guitar was crisp, Neil's
voice was full and natural in all its nasal glory, and
BP2X
the kick drum in "Heart of Gold" sounded like it was in
my room.
THE BOTTOM LINE.
Technology BP7002 system played at realistic volumes
with plenty of reserves, accurately reproducing any
music I fed it and bringing movies to life. Other than
taking up some real estate (especially the large center
speaker) and requiring a trio of wall outlets to power
the built-in subwoofers, it's hard to fault. If you want
speakers that handle surround sound and stereo equally
well, put this system at the top of your short list. And
while its sound would make any TV seem bigger,
it's especially well suited for use with a big-screen
projection system or plasma display.
11433 Cronridge Dr. • Owings Mills, MD 21117 • (410)363-7148
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