Review: by Chris Martens
Definitive Mythos ST Home Theater Speakers
Flat-Panel
Friendly
“Pure Magic”
Power, Detail, and Refinement—Plus a Touch of Magic
andy Gross, president of Definitive
“breathtaking sound quality
puts many higher-priced
systems to shame”
S
finest loudspeakers. But what Mr. Gross likes
even better than audio exotica is building
cleverly-conceived real-world speakers that
deliver serious high-end sound at Everyman
prices. A perfect example would be Definitive’s
Mythos ST SuperTowers, which were
announced at CES 2007 and are hands down
the best-sounding speakers Definitive has ever
produced. Now, with the arrival of the Mythos
Ten center channel, Definitive is able to offer
listeners a complete Mythos ST surround
sound package — one whose breathtaking
sound quality puts many higher-priced
systems to shame.
Technology, is a devoted audiophile
who appreciates the sound of today’s
“cleverly-conceived real-world
speakers that deliver serious
high-end sound at Everyman prices”
FEATURES Definitive’s Mythos STs are tall,
slender floorstanders housed in solid
aluminum enclosures (available in silkysmooth satin silver or black finishes) that
attach to polished granite floor plates.
Despite their pencil-slim appearance the STs
are fullrange speakers with built-in powered
subwoofers. Internally, the STs are subdivided
into two sections. The top supports a two-way,
“the STs are fullrange speakers with
built-in powered subwoofers”
midrange-tweeter-midrange D’Appolito
array that handles all frequencies from the
mid-bass region on up, while the bottom
houses a 300-watt sub based on an unorthodox “racetrack-shaped” woofer flanked by
a pair of oblong passive radiators. The sub
delivers potent bass that extends down to
a claimed 14 Hz.
The matching Mythos Ten center channel
essentially takes the top section of the ST,
flips it on its side, and stretches the chassis
Ratings
(compared with $5.5k surround systems)
Transparency and Focus
Imaging and Soundstaging
Tonal Balance
Dynamics
Bass Extension
Bass Pitch Definition
Bass Dynamics
Value
Poor Good Excellent
t
t
just enough to fit in a pair of oblong passive
radiators similar to, but smaller than, those
in the ST. The Mythos Ten’s bass doesn’t go
as low as the floorstander’s does, but its
voicing is identical to the ST’s, meaning
you’ll enjoy seamless speaker-to-speaker
transitions when sound effects pan across
the front channels.
Completing the system is a pair of Mythos
Gem XL surround speakers, also based on
two-way, three-driver D’Appolito arrays. The
speakers are an earlier-generation design
so their drivers are not quite as sophisticated
as those used in the STs and the Ten. Even
so, the compact Gem XLs could easily
qualify as main speakers in most systems,
meaning they’re more than adequate as
surround speakers.
“power, detail, and refinement ...
sheer realism that is captivating”
MOVIE PERFORMANCE The Mythos ST
surround system draws together three
essential sonic qualities — power, detail,
and refinement — that add up to a fourth:
a touch of pure magic. Let me explain what
this means.
On movie soundtracks, the ST system
produces an articulate, neutrally voiced and
decidedly muscular sound that absolutely
takes command of most listening rooms.
In the initial chase seen from Terminator III:
Rise of the Machines, a deadly robotic
Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken) drives a
motorized crane, pursuing John Conor (Nick
Stahl) and his spouse-to-be (Claire Danes)
through crowded city streets. The ST system
reproduced the ensuing mayhem of the
crane ripping through phone poles, cars
and even buildings with terrific vigor and
dynamic impact. Y
rig never lost sight of two key qualities that
many systems lack: overarching clarity and
low-level detail.
et at the same time the ST
“deep, powerful and lightning-
fast bass”
At one point in the chase, for example, the
evil Terminator (Loken) attempts to dispose
of the good-guy Terminator (Schwarzenegger)
by dragging him through the cab of an
oncoming fire truck. Through many speaker
systems the resulting collision produces
nothing more than a generic loud noise,
but the ST system — thanks to its superb
detail and pitch definition — lets you hear
the unmistakably metallic “claaAAnk” of
the heavy-metal Schwarz-inator plowing
into the nose of the truck.
Similarly, in the final shootout scene
from Open Range, the ST system displays
raw power (delivering the ear-splitting
“craaccKK”of individual gunshots) as well
as impressive textural subtlety
the ratcheting “clicks” of Colt revolvers being
cocked, the sharp “whir” of shards of wood
sizzling through the air as shots go astray,
and the gentle moan of the prairie wind in
the background. The point is, the ST system
weaves together small, seemingly insignificant details to create a fabric of sheer
realism that is captivating.
. You can hear
“the Definitives will treat you to
rare sonic delights you may
never have experienced before”
MUSIC PERFORMANCE But as superb as
the Mythos ST system is in a home-theater
context, it is really at its best with music —
and the higher the resolution the better.
In fact, the biggest “problem” you might
encounter is finding electronics, source
components, and recordings good enough
to tap its full potential.
Let’s start with the basics. The ST system is
sensitive and easy to drive, in part because
its powered subwoofers shoulder the lion's
share of the bass workload. Further, the ST
system offers smooth, neutral tonal balance;
delicate and extended highs; deep, powerful,
and lightening-fast bass response; and the
ability to resolve very fine levels of sonic
detail. And therein lies the genius, but also
the only potential drawback, of this system.
“one of the rare few systems that
sounds great on movies,
but even better with music”
The good news is that the ST system can
clarify subtle textural and dynamic details
that other speaker systems (even quite good
ones) are apt to miss. For instance, it shows
how soft outdoor sounds — the sound of
birds and insects chirping or of a gentle
passing breeze — contribute tremendously
to the pastoral ambience and overall vibe
of “The Park” from Feist’s The Reminder
[Cherrytree /Interscope]. But the not-alwaysgood news is that the Definitives can also
reveal sonic shortcomings in associated
equipment and recordings. For example,
the recording quality on Feist’s vocals varies
considerably from track to track, ranging
from dreamy smoothness on “How My Heart
Behaves” to an almost hard-edged sound on
the closing chorus of “The Park” (the result of
overly close microphone placement). These
changes are easily heard. It’s not that the ST
are finicky, but rather that they are
honest; for better or worse, they report
whatever they “hear.”
“
the ST system helps instruments,
s
vocals, and even the recording space
come to life in a brilliant way
When recordings are spot-on, as with
Sara Hickman’s glowing sweet vocals on
“In the Fields” from Shortstop [Elektra],
the Definitives will treat you to rare sonic
”
delights you may never have experienced
before. On good material, the ST system helps
instruments, vocals, and even the recording
space come to life in a brilliant way. And
because the Mythos STs and Ten center
channel use the best tweeters Definitive has
ever produced, treble textures and details
sound at once clean, yet also smooth (a significant step forward from tweeters Definitive has
used in the past). Similarly, bass textures and
transients are handled with a wonderful combination of speed, clarity and punch — qualities that rarely travel together in most speakers. With the STs, you’ll never have to wonder
if bass lines are being played on an acoustic
bass, electric bass, or bass synthesizer —
you’ll just know.
“incredible value ... can put you in the
performance ballpark of speaker
systems that can carry five-figure
price tags, but for about half the cost”
BOTTOM LINE Definitive’s Mythos ST system
is one of the rare few that sounds great
on movies, but even better with music.
Exceptionally revealing, the ST package
will show you how your system components
and favorite movies or music really sound.
Don’t be surprised to hear rich new layers
of detail. In simple terms, the Mythos ST
system can put you in the performance
ballpark of speaker systems that carry
five-figure price tags, but for about half
the cost. TPV
The Last Word
• Refined and remarkably detailed
sound
• Deep, powerful, lightning-fast bass
• Very easy to drive
• Incredible value
• Shortcomings in recordings and other
system components are exposed
• You’ll need top-flight gear (and
recordings) to hear this system at its best
Specifications:
Mythos ST Home Theater Speakers
Mythos ST
• Driver complement 1" aluminum-dome
tweeter, two 5.25" mid-bass drivers, one
6" x 10" oval woofer
passive radiators
• Frequency response: 14 Hz – 30 kHz
• Built-in subwoofer amp: 300 watts
• Sensitivity: 93 dB
• Impedance: 4 – 8 ohms
• Dimensions 6.75" x 51.5" x 9.5"
• Weight: 70 lb.
• Price: $3598/pair
Mythos Ten
• Driver complement: Same tweeter and
mid-bass drivers as ST, but with two 5" x 8"
passive radiators
• Frequency r
• Sensitivity: 92 dB
• Impedance: 4 – 8 ohms
• Dimensions: 34.5" x 6" x 4.375"
• Weight: 16.7 lb.
• Price: $899
Mythos Gem XL
• Driver complement: 1" aluminum-dome
tweeter, two 4.5” mid-bass drivers
• Fr
equency response: 50 Hz – 30 kHz
• Sensitivity: 89 dB
• Impedance: 4 – 8 ohms
• Dimensions: 4.5" x 12.625" x 5.5"
• Weight: 7.25 lb.
• Price: $698/pair
esponse: 31 Hz – 30 kHz
, two 6" x 10"
11433 Cronridge Dr. • Owings Mills, MD 21117 • (410)363-7148
Visit us at www.definitivetech.com
The Perfect Vision Winter 2008 issue.
Total System Price: $5195
Manufacturer Info
410-363-7148
definitivetech.com
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