Definitive Owners Thread - Page 510

Originally Posted by rocksarkar

My current setup...
bp7002 front l/r
clr2500 center
supercube1
bp2x
denon 3808ci
ps3 slim
samsung ln52b750

I was wondering if i need to buy a power amplifier. I am looking at Emotiva UPA-5 and what would be the advantage and disadvantage of having or not having...

advance thanks
rock.....

Originally Posted by ohjay

was kinda curious about this myself and was looking into a XPA-3 since I didn't think the surrounds needed to blast my doors off.. anyone out there with a set of BP7001SC's a CLR3000 and a power amp have any input? The surrounds are BPVX's but like I said I don't think i'd benefit from boosting the rears..

Originally Posted by rocksarkar

I was wondering if i need to buy a power amplifier. I am looking at Emotiva UPA-5 and what would be the advantage and disadvantage of having or not having...

Originally Posted by ohjay

was kinda curious about this myself and was looking into a XPA-3 since I didn't think the surrounds needed to blast my doors off.. anyone out there with a set of BP7001SC's a CLR3000 and a power amp have any input? The surrounds are BPVX's but like I said I don't think i'd benefit from boosting the rears..

Originally Posted by rocksarkar

good point i dont need to power surrounds and get xpa-3 ...now i need to wait and see if i really need to buy xpa-3 or denon 3808 is good enough for my setup. I highest volume i play on bluray movies are around -20

Originally Posted by ohjay

you're probly right in that i assumed more power would = rock arena for me. I guess I have to do more research on what benefits I'll receive.

Originally Posted by ohjay

was kinda curious about this myself and was looking into a XPA-3 since I didn't think the surrounds needed to blast my doors off.. anyone out there with a set of BP7001SC's a CLR3000 and a power amp have any input? The surrounds are BPVX's but like I said I don't think i'd benefit from boosting the rears..

Originally Posted by WOLVERNOLE

I sure would appreciate your advice on this scenario. BTW, have a Denon 3808 AVR. I recently had a couple of techs in the home theater to install a screen and front PJ, and they also went about "rehooking" speakers, my beloved (about) seven year old Def Tech BP-2004 towers. Well, when the guy plugged one of the 2004's into the wall socket, it gave out a loud "POW !" The fuse was smoked, and the red light indicator for the amp would not come on, and consequently also the powered sub was not operating. Subsequent fuses installed burned as well. The tech said "Looks like you have a bad amp." He had inadvertently had the "volume" knob cranked all the way up...Def Tech hotline does not feel that was a problem, and the AVR to the speaker was NOT on. The other "speakers" in that unit are still OK and sound fine...just not the sub.
OK, so I have a one-bad BP-2004 that is about seven years old. Should I
(a) repair, or (b) buy a similar-7004, or (c) sell the pair as is, and go up to...whatever. I kind of like those side-firing subs in the towers, but on the negative ledger, I don't like the reflective piano-black top, and I do question the rear-firing speakers and the potential it may leave for second-sound reflection (???)
Also, I wonder just what actual (real world) sound improvement there is between similar models BP-2004 and updated BP-7004 ?
Oh, if I buy up, are there any recommended retailers that offer a fairly generous discount over the "Magnolia/Best Buy" go-to option?
Advice, please ! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Sideofpotatos

I decided to try the multiple stereo receiver setup. So I ordered from amazon a Pyle Home PD1000A (2x200w stereo for $155) and an Onkyo TX-8555 (2x100 stereo for $250). So here was the setup...
.......
So now my system consists of one stereo controlling the fronts, one controlling the rears, and one controlling the center (I have 5.1 setup). And all the receivers receive input from the multi channel analog outs on the player.

Originally Posted by progprog

First, don't try to match a 7004 with a 2004. Your fronts need to match.....period. So that eliminates your "Option (B)." Repair is certainly an option if you like the 2004s and you can get a new amp at reasonable cost. Selling them as-is would seriously diminish their value, since one is busted (and these things are a PITA to ship).

But the more salient point may be that you don't necessarily like bipolars all that well. Maybe you should consider looking at something else rather that other DefTechs that will have the same qualities.

Originally Posted by badgerpilot

You may also want to consider the 450's. Here is a link to a new pair on ebay. Combine with the 8% Bing and you have a very sweet deal. I am tempted even though I don't need them I don't see how you can improve on the BPX's though unless you go to the BPVX IMO. I really like the BPX's for surround. Even mounted high, I get very good dispersion.

Originally Posted by progprog

You're driving your system with three different receivers? Why didn't you just get amps?

Originally Posted by Sideofpotatos

Yes, they are only stereo (2 channel) receivers and not 7.1 channel receivers, you might call them stereo amplifiers The main reason I got these instead of amps is that my onkyo "605" receiver does not have multi channel analog outputs. I searched high and low for "line output converters" for home audio so I could turn my speaker level outs into line outputs but nobody I've talked to in the HT world seems to have heard of such a thing except for car audio. So I could not find a way to get the "signal" from my receiver to an amp. I suppose I should have asked this before but does anybody know how to do this? (get a signal from my particular receiver to an amp)

Originally Posted by progprog

Sure, that makes sense. If your older receiver simply doesn't have the MCh pre-outs, it can't accommodate external amps.

But....and I'm not trying to judge or belittle your choices here.....since you had to buy new gear to be able to drive all the channels anyway, why not get one new receiver actually designed for your current setup, which is a home theater? Even a lower-end one would give you much better/easier system control, the full-range of audio decoding for all your current and future sources, some handy bells & whistles that can be very helpful in optimizing HT performance, and finally, those pre-outs that would allow you to add external amplification (while retaining central system control) any time you want.

Originally Posted by WOLVERNOLE

I sure would appreciate your advice on this scenario. BTW, have a Denon 3808 AVR. I recently had a couple of techs in the home theater to install a screen and front PJ, and they also went about "rehooking" speakers, my beloved (about) seven year old Def Tech BP-2004 towers. Well, when the guy plugged one of the 2004's into the wall socket, it gave out a loud "POW !" The fuse was smoked, and the red light indicator for the amp would not come on, and consequently also the powered sub was not operating. Subsequent fuses installed burned as well. The tech said "Looks like you have a bad amp." He had inadvertently had the "volume" knob cranked all the way up...Def Tech hotline does not feel that was a problem, and the AVR to the speaker was NOT on. The other "speakers" in that unit are still OK and sound fine...just not the sub.
OK, so I have a one-bad BP-2004 that is over eight years old. Should I
(a) repair, or (b) buy a similar-7004, or (c) sell the pair as is, and go up to...whatever. I kind of like those side-firing subs in the towers, but on the negative ledger, I don't like the reflective piano-black top, and I do question the rear-firing speakers and the potential it may leave for second-sound reflection (???)
Also, I wonder just what actual (real world) sound improvement there is between similar models BP-2004 and updated BP-7004 ?
Oh, if I buy up, are there any recommended retailers that offer a fairly generous discount over the "Magnolia/Best Buy" go-to option?
Advice, please ! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Felton007

From Def Tech's site:
"Bipolar Surrounds are the Easiest to Use
Definitive's bipolar surrounds are designed for easy and unobtrusive placement in your room. Easy-to-use mounting plates are included for wall mounting. Positioning is non-critical; unlike dipolar surrounds, which are limited by their specific sidewall placement requirements, Definitive's bipolars may be located on the sides or rear of the room (or both as in 6.1 and 7.1 channel installations) or on the ceiling. They may be mounted on the rear wall (with their front drivers shooting towards each other and their rear drivers shooting toward the side walls) with excellent results."

Does that mean if I use a set of say BP30's for my rear surrounds, I should face the drivers toward the side walls and each other, not towards the front and rear?

Originally Posted by otk

i would think even with the RCA input that it would go through the crossover to keep the mids and highs out of the sub

i calibrate my clr-3000 with avia which sends high frequencies pink noise to the center and then low frequency pink noise to the center (for adjusting built in subs)

using just speaker wire and all brass jumpers left in place, my level ends up around 11 o'clock

with avia you can do this with each channel which is pretty cool

Originally Posted by headedforhighend

The statement, "my beloved... Def Techs" seems to indicate that there is something about the life-like sound stage of the bipolar design you like.
Good deals can be had with a phone call to authorized dealers as Dave41200 has suggested. Great deals can be had also, but they could have more risk... http://cgi.ebay.com/Definitive-Techn...item27adb3a66b

Originally Posted by Felton007

You will find you get a slightly different effect depending on which orientation you use. In fact in the case of a BP tower you can face them in either directionthis is more a matter of preference as to which sounds best to your earsJ
Best Regards,
*
Adam Abramson
Definitive Technology
Customer Service Tech

Originally Posted by Sideofpotatos

I can hardly believe you just posed the above question... I have those exact same speakers (I even just upgraded the rears to BPVX's) and was toying with sending more wpc to increase sound output. I learned from experience that putting the receiver in bi-amp mode for the fronts is a bad choice. My receiver is an Onkyo "605" which is rated at 90 wpc, with all channels driven the sound seems choked. Just flipping bi-amp mode off yielded a remarkable improvement in sound quality and output. With some advice from my friend on www.avtruths.com I decided to try the multiple stereo receiver setup. So I ordered from amazon a Pyle Home PD1000A (2x200w stereo for $155) and an Onkyo TX-8555 (2x100 stereo for $250). So here was the setup... Using my samsung blu ray "3600" set to PCM as the source for all testing and I used the L and R rca preouts (not the front L and R outs the full signal L and R) plugged into the receiver being tested. I then connected my two "7001" towers as these have the capability to produce a full bandwidth reproduction. We ran a Corrine Bailey Ray cd, Norah Jones Live dvd, and the motorcycle scene from wolvorine origins blu ray. Then of course switched receivers and did the same thing. Let me first say that we (my friend was assisting) were completely blown away at what we heard from both stereos!! The amount of sound we heard from just those 2 towers was far more sound than my entire system has ever produced at one time, no exaggeration. Then on top of that the sound quality was thru the roof, I literally did not even know that my speakers could do what we were hearing. I definitely learned the power of using multiple power sources in stereo mode.

Onto what we found. Sound production for movie effects, voice reproduction, and instrumental reproduction was basically identical and top notch for both receivers. I did not expect this. We could not get the speakers to clip on either receiver even when turned up to the point that we had to cover our ears because of the spl's, still clean and sharp. There is no reason I would ever need to go beyond this i.e. 200wpc is obviously excessive when it comes from a clean power source, but now I know from experience. The only negative I had with the Onkyo compared to the Pyle was the price. I did have a couple of negatives with the Pyle, when listening at high levels there is a subtle hiss/static background noise that we noticed. Also, the Pyle has 2 fans and when there is not a lot of noise like in a dialogue instance they can be distracting, I can only imagine much noise fans for 3 of these receivers would make. The final negative for the Pyle was that there were no less than 40 bright blue lights on the front face and a lighted graphic equalizer that bounced up and down according to the sound thru put. I decided that the clean quietness of the Onkyo was worth and extra $95 per unit so I shipped back the Pyle and ordered 2 more onk's.

So now my system consists of one stereo controlling the fronts, one controlling the rears, and one controlling the center (I have 5.1 setup). And all the receivers receive input from the multi channel analog outs on the player. I will never run my speakers with a single multichannel receiver again. Having just put this together I would highly recommend matching output to the rears, well, all speakers for that matter. It's the reason I upgraded the rears from the bp2x because the sounds coming from those locations were not near the same level as what was happening across the front stage and therefore I couldn't really distinguish anything from them.

Sorry if I got a little wordy, in case you can't tell I'm a little excited about the new setup!

Originally Posted by ohjay

really appreciate the response.. I'm using a onk 805 to run all 5 right now and I can tell when I crank it up the AVR is stressed and I kow the towers have a tonne left in them.. but i'm not sure I want to go the 3 receiver route.. however I may have to look closer at a power amp..

Originally Posted by thecountofzero

Help with positioning of front and center speakers needed.

Please help me figure out what the appropriate height is for my front right and left speakers (SM350s). The center is a CLR2002. The center will sit on a shelf a
few inches above the top of the TV.

I have included a sketch of the dimensions of the room and layout of the wall. The distance from the wall the TV is on straight across the room where the main couch will be is 15' 1".

Please help me figure out the value of X in the diagram below.


Thanks,
Mike

Originally Posted by thecountofzero

Thanks progprog...

Should I put the SM350s and CLR2002 on shelves or can anyone recommend some
sort of mounting bracket or whatnot that will allow me to angle the speakers?

Originally Posted by ohjay

really appreciate the response.. I'm using a onk 805 to run all 5 right now and I can tell when I crank it up the AVR is stressed and I kow the towers have a tonne left in them.. but i'm not sure I want to go the 3 receiver route.. however I may have to look closer at a power amp..