Definitive Technology Bipolar SuperTower BP7002, Bipolar SuperTower BP7004, Bipolar SuperTower BP7006 Brochure

By Bryan Southard
July 2004

Introduction

As much as you love speakers and all the lust-worthy toys that
go along with them, one thing you are glad you don’t do for a living
is running a start-up speaker company. With names like Infinity,
Bose and Boston Acoustics gracing the interiors of some of the
finer automobiles and taking out many big-dollar ads in magazines
and newspapers, the task of competing in the loudspeaker market
has become nearly impossible—actually, it has been that way for
more than 20 years. I say “nearly” impossible because one man,
Sandy Gross, has been at the head of launching two speaker
companies—Polk and Definitive Technology – that have not only
made it but prospered. Definitive Technology, Gross’ current
company, makes some of the sleekest, most powerful speakers
designed for home theater systems. Have they sold their souls to
the Devil to be able to rock Axis: Bold as Love in your living room
in ways that make you think that you are sitting in Electric
Ladyland Studio listening to archived master tape?

The speakers that I have been going gaga to review are the
Definitive Technology 7002 Bipolar Super Towers, which are
floor-standing speakers that employ Definitive’s world-class
SuperCube subwoofer technology, retail for $2,200 per pair
and are available with black cloth finish and your choice of
either piano black or golden cherry end-caps. The 7002s
measure seven-and-one-quarter inches wide, 16 inches deep,
46-and-one-quarter inches in height, with a stated frequency
response of a remarkably low 15Hz to 30kHz….

At the heart of this floorstanding loudspeaker is Definitive’s
12-inch SuperCube subwoofer technology, along with their
internal 300-watt digital amplifier. This allows the 7002 to dive
down to an earth-rumbling 15Hz. The 7002s have a bipolar
design with matching dual five-and-one-quarter inch cast basket
mid-bass drivers on the upper front and rear of the speaker, along

with an aluminum dome tweeter on both sides of the speaker.
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 when implemented correctly. Keep in mind that any bipolar
design means that careful placement is necessary to assure best
performance. Along with a grand new crossover network designed
to seamlessly blend the extreme low frequency with the upper
range drivers, this speaker is positioned in Definitive’s line to

Definitive Technology 7002 Bipolar SuperTowers

“a really special speaker ... the 7002s
did a remarkable job ... Definitive has
hit the nail on the head”

“top end quality ... The Definitive
Technology 7002s captured something
that few achieve in any price class, an
emotional connection”

audio video
REVOLUTION

Definitive Technology’ s BP7002, BP7004, BP7006

Bipolar SuperTower Loudspeakers

“Definitive Technology, Sandy Gross’
current company, makes some of the
sleekest, most powerful speakers designed
for home theater systems”

E

QUIPMENT

R

EVIEWS

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 well­integrated 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”