Definitive Technology SuperCube I Brochure page 2

that anyone would ever use them on a
woofer of this magnitude.
Another unique feature on the Definitive
Technology SuperCube Reference, yet
common to most other Def Tech speakers,
is the way the grille cloth covers the entire
exterior of the enclosure. This "sock-style"
grille is clean and eliminates cumbersome
removable grilles that may be prone to rat-
tle. The top and bottom plates are MDF
wood and are offered in a piano gloss black
or cherry finish.
Installation/Setup/Ease of Use
Probably the most difficult aspect of adding
a SuperCube Reference to your home the-
ater system will be unpacking it. At 95
pounds, you'll think this small-frame won-
der is made of gold.
The compact build and complete feature
set of the SuperCube Reference make it an
easy choice for integration into high-
end installations or entry-level theaters,
though I believe there should be some dis-
cretion with regards to common-area living
(apartments, condos, etc.). More on that
note later.
"I pushed this woofer
harder than I've ever
tested."
I paired the SuperCube Reference up
with my Infinity Kappa speaker ensemble.
The large Kappas feature a 12-inch passive
woofer, 6.5-inch midrange and tweeter. But
my tastes require more definition in the
mid-bass region and I demand a rock-solid
foundation—bass.
My current reference system uses the
Velodyne HGS-18THX Ultra II as the LFE
and the Infinity Intermezzo 1.2s (12-inch)
as the subwoofer. The Intermezzo is out-
standing for mid-bass and the Velodyne
pours the foundation on the low frequen-
cies. (I've never owned a subwoofer that
could deliver both mechanics.)
"The compact build and
complete feature set of
the SuperCube Reference
make it an easy choice
for integration into high-
end installation or entry-
level theaters."
For the purpose of this review, I installed
the Def Tech SuperCube Reference by itself,
making the connection with 25-foot
Monster 400 interconnect. I placed the
woofer along the front 1/3 of the left wall,
roughly eight inches from the side wall. I
adjusted the gain to the halfway point, with
the phase set to zero and the crossover up
to 90Hz. I typically bring the sub up to over-
lap the bottom end of my main left/right
because I like the reinforcement on the low
end of the mid-bass.
Final Take
The Definitive Technology SuperCube
Reference boasts a frequency response of 11
to 200Hz. Quite frankly, at first I found this
measurement listed on their spec sheet to
be unbelievable. I went so far as to badger
the folks at Def Tech about their claim
before I embarked on this review and I lis-
tened... (This is the part where I eat crow.)
"the SuperCube Reference
literally rattled the
filament loose in every
light bulb in my home
and set my neighbors'
house alarm off."
Whereas we typically do not measure equip-
ment here at DVD ETC., I put the
SuperCube through the paces using a
USAC bass test disc with frequency sweeps
from 5 to 200Hz. My home has sub-floors
that can relate to loss or gain in SPL
(output) in any speaker. Away from the
corners, the SuperCube Reference generat-
ed an audible output (perhaps psychologi-
cal) beginning at 15 cycles (Hz) consistently.
Moving the unit into the corner produced
astounding results, with
output at 12Hz.
"This sub offers excellent
transition between bass
frequencies creating a
smooth and musical
demeanor."
I pushed this woofer harder than I've ever
tested. I cannot describe the performance to
be anything short of evil. My entire home
felt as though it was sliding off the founda-
tion. Repeating the 60Hz track at half gain
on the SuperCube Reference literally rattled
the filament loose in every light bulb in my
home and set my neighbors' house alarm
off. I spent the better part of an afternoon
replacing bulbs and apologizing to my
neighbors for the disturbance—where was
the SuperCube Reference when I was in col-
lege? The sheer destructive force of the
SuperCube Reference still has me chuckling
inside—my wife couldn't wait for this review
to end.
So brute force and destruction are cool,
but what about usability for the SuperCube
Reference? I put my toys away and began
pacing the sub with movie cuts as well as
DVD-Audio tracks.
I would describe the top end output
(between 60 to 90Hz) to be fluid and
smooth, but not snappy like my Intermezzo
1.2s. This took some getting used to
"Movies are a whole new
experience with the
SuperCube Reference."
and, after a week, I became accustomed
to the effortless transition the SuperCube
Reference made from 20 to 90Hz. This
sub offers excellent transition between
bass frequencies creating a smooth and
musical demeanor.
The bottom end of the SuperCube
Reference is absolutely rigid. I am amazed
that such strength on the low end can come
from such a tiny enclosure—stunning.
Movies are a whole new experience with
the SuperCube Reference. I find myself
cringing and jumping out of my seat, antic-
ipating the explosions and effects. Indeed,
people who resort to buying "rump shakers"
to install in their seats have obviously never
experienced home
SuperCube Reference subwoofer from
Definitive Technology.
"The bottom end of the
SuperCube Reference is
absolutely rigid."
This subwoofer is as perfect as they
come. However, it misses scoring a 100
because nothing is perfect. I struggled to
find something that I did not like about this
audible speaker. In the end it came down to the
power cord. The power cord of the
SuperCube is fixed (non-removable). I
would like to see it removable so that I can
install my fancy Richard Gray's Power
Company High Tension Wires on it. And
maybe Def Tech could add a cool blue LED
to the front to let me know it's on.
"astounding results, with
audible output at 12Hz."
If you want to add the ultimate horse-
power to your home theater system, pur-
chase a SuperCube Reference Subwoofer
and buckle up—finally a single woofer that
delivers the performance of two.
Definitive Technology SuperCube Reference
Finish: Piano Gloss Black, Golden Cherry
Type: 14-inch Active, dual 14-inch Radiators
Power: 1,800-watt Class D
Crossover: Variable 40–150Hz
Phase: 0 to 180 Variable
Frequency Response: 11–200Hz
Dimensions: 16.9" H x 16.7" W x 16.7" D
Definitive Technology
www.definitivetech.com
From DVD ETC.
theater with the
— Clint Walker
Weight: 95 lbs.
MSRP: $1,699
(410) 363-7148
November 2003 issue.