Definitive Technology BP2000 Special Test Report

S
ince its inception, Definitive
Technology has specialized in
bipolar loudspeaker designs.
Bipolar speakers typically have duplicate
groups of drivers, facing to the front and
rear and driven in phase. That configura-
tion gives nearly omnidirectional
response in the horizontal plane, with just
a slight reduction in output to the sides at
middle and high frequencies.
Bipolar speakers, when placed a few
feet from the wall behind them, tend to
add a quality of spaciousness to the
sound, creating a somewhat more realis-
tic soundstage than conventional speaker
designs. In addition, the multiple drivers
can handle more power than a standard
configuration for a given distortion level
(or, conversely, will generate less distor-
tion for a given sound pressure level).
Another potential benefit of the bipolar
configuration is a narrower cabinet width,
since low frequencies can be handled very
effectively by two modestly sized woofers
instead of a single larger one. That enables
the designer to use a smaller panel width
for a given level of bass performance,
minimizing the enclosure "footprint."
But in the case of Definitive
Technology's latest bipolar speaker, the
BP 2000, the most distinctive (albeit virtu-
ally invisible) feature is a built-in powered
subwoofer. The result is a reasonably
compact speaker system with truly prodi-
gious bass extension and output capability.
"Frankly, if circumstances allowed, I would
choose these speakers for myself."
D
EFINITIVE
BP2000 L
Julian Hirsch, Hirsch-Houck Laboratories
S
PECIAL
Stereo Review
That is not to say that the BP 2000 is
exactly a small speaker—each one mea-
sures 50 inches high, 9 inches wide, and
16 7/8 inches deep and
weighs an impressive
120 pounds—yet it can
be used effectively in
almost any size room
without visually domi-
nating the decor.
Styled like most pre-
vious
Technology bipolar
speakers, the BP 2000
is a slender column cov-
ered with a black elastic
"sock" over its full
height on the front,
sides, and about two-
thirds of the rear panel.
The top is a piano-fin-
ish, black-lacquered
wooden plate that is
easily removed for
pulling down the cloth
sock and exposing the
drivers. The speaker's
base is a similarly fin-
ished wooden plate.
The system is also
available with cherry
endcaps. For a tighter
contact with the floor,
optional spikes are
available.
T
ECHNOLOGY
OUDSPEAKER
T R
EST EPORT
Definitive
Latest BP2000TL speaker
is even better
Although the BP 2000 is relatively tall
and deep, side placement of the subwoofer
driver enables the cabinet to remain as
narrow as those of most other Definitive
Technology speakers, and it occu-
pies only about a square foot of
floor space. If the speakers are
BP 2000 Loudspeaker