Definitive Technology Mythos ST that good?

Pretty much every review on them is great. We have yet to get them in so I am unable to judge. I also think it's awesome that Sandy Gross and Paul DiComo actually showed up at the reviewers house to listen with him. Sure it kinda insures a good review, but I think it also shows these guys appreciate audio and really like to play. You just don't hear of that much anymore.

http://www.ultimateavmag.com/speaker...s/1107deftech/

Well, I just picked the ST's up over Xmas and can't disagree with anything I've read in any review. I upgraded from the BP7006s which is a pretty significant one (3-4x by price). I am still breaking them in but I must say I do like them. The sound is definitely different than Bi-Polars, but I like it. The horizontal soundstage is large, and the separation (is that imaging?) is fantastic. I am having a buddy come over tonight to help me place them and spike them, but as the reviewers stated, playing with the toe-in and placement can really affect the width of the stage. I took my ProSub800 out and just use the Mythos ST subs as they annihilate that little guy. Bass goes lower and is smooth and very fast. In the Spidey 3 Sandman creation scene and the transformers last battle (flip scene where the bass goes really low), I could feel the bass, yet nothing in the house shook which happened with the old sub and 7006's. I plan to get the center soon, and possibly the GEM XLs but for now, these 2 are fantastic especially for 2 channel. If you are in the Cleveland area and would like to demo them send me a PM.

I saw that too. Pretty bold statement. But nice to read when you own them.

Blah.

It is one of the same magazines/online that always give favorable "reviews" to products that are advertised heavily in that very same issue.

Hear them and then decide.

With what amps are you pushing the St's with ?


Djoel

None. Right now just the Onkyo 805 AVR with and of course the towers own amps. I'm auditioning amps now debating between parasound, Rotel, and Arcam 2 channel amps. Running a cambridge 840 cd for 2 channel CD.

Sorry for the assumption, can't go wrong with your choices though.


Djoel

Any ideas for amps I may look at? They are very efficient (93db), and have powered subs so they don't need much. Just looking to get more out of my music

I will go separates at some point, but the 805 is too valuable for my HT at this point and I don't want to spend another 4 or 5 grand to updrage. Looking for a nice price-value amp around 1K.

I demoed them locally, expecting to talk myself into picking them up, but was not that impressed, in part b/c, when I A/B'd them w/ the Boston E100's next to them, I found the Bostons to have a cleaner sound and better soundstage.

I ended up buying neither, of course, but they were certainly good speakers. Just not what I wanted.

If you love them and buy them, congratulations on finding the right speaker for you. That's what it's all about.

But to be fair, the BA's MSRP is a grand more, and was 1400 more until 2 weeks ago.

What did you end up getting if you don't mind me asking?

Meh, I really don't want to say on the forum, as it could be seen as somebody sticking his nose in to 'bash' a spkr, and then 'pimping' another spkr by a different manufacturer (though, as I said, the ST's are solid spkrs).

If you'd really like to know, pm me.

On that note I am the last guy to a ask about amps, like you said the ST's are incredible efficient...I am using a mind blowing 500 watts mono's

I would just add stereo amp to your existing set up...They are plenty of great choices around 1K, especially on the used market..

Happy listening

Djoel

I was reading the forums on avrev.com and one of the "moderators" was mentioning that he was trying out the Mythos ST speakers and made several posts on those forums. Then there was this incredible review of the Mythos ST that appeared on avrev.com just recently and it was the same guy who's one of the moderators. This seems a little awkward to me. He was also using a pair of Mythos ST's as surround speakers instead of the Gems. There was a comment about being about to get high end sound at a fraction of the cost. Excuse me? His review setup would cost almost $9000. To me, that's not a "fraction" of the cost of higher end speakers. (I'm sure there's a few high end speakers at that price range that can blow away the ST's). I guess he qualifies that by saying you can get "95%" of those $50,000 high end speakers.

I've heard the Mythos ST and Ten center speaker and agree they are very good and are speakers I'm considering, but in the category of $50,000 speakers? Hmmm.

I agree a 100% as I did the same A/B comparison with Deftechs. BAs were just too good though both were bang for buck speakers. I got the E100 and E70s and gave not looked back. I think over last 4-6 months I compared the Boston's E 100 with 8 different reference quality speakers ranging from $1000 less to approx. $10K more. Seriously guys....you need to check the E100s. They are just too smooth, deep mids, very syncd in sound stage which engulfs you in a non chaotic manner. I love their aesthetics as well...plus the interchangeable side panels. Just a perfect combo with my NAD 785 and Sunfire HS10 sub.
I will recommend the E's to anyone...in saying so must admit that none of the other speakers were dissappointing either. I think the competition among serious audio manufacturers has led to some very nice products in recent times and choosing what you want is trickier than what it used to be.....but fun as well!!!

Ashar:

I checked out BA's website and I think the E100's look awesome. I love the fact they're so tall and slender. Did these speakers just come out or have they been around for a while?

Also, I read somewhere that you could also use the E100 as a center speaker as well. I think your configuration of a pair of E100's and the LCR 70's for center and surrounds looks great too.

Does the rear tweeter on the E100's really add that much to the sound? Are these speakers heavily discounted? I've never owned BA or heard them before but there is a good review on hometheatermag.com on the E70's and E60's in a home theater configuration and it gives them a really good review.

I listened to the Mythos ST at CES paired to Pass Labs amps and the sound was outstanding.

It was indeed odd to see the amps of that price point matched to the DefTechs (amp cost 3 - 4 x more than the speakers).

The sound non the less was very impressive.

bump.. I'm definitely in the market for these bad boys..

You might want to check out the latest edition of Stereophile mag.
They review the STs little brother, the new STS, and the reviewer was very impressed saying...
"Just might be the best Loudspeaker I've heard for $3000/pair"
I'd love to hear what he had to say after listening to the big brothers

dc

Was passing by BB and was blown away by these sound coming out of these. It almost seemed holographic. The soundstage was much wider than the speakers. I kept thinking, "No way!" For 2-channel, does anyone know how these compare to the NHT Xds which are on closeout?

I think you got the idea of what this forum is about all wrong. If you have a speaker you like I'm betting there are quite a few people here who would like to know what you bought instead and why.

How about some cool pic's of your Mythos system?

I had the Mythos One's mated with an SVS Ultra (as they're not going to give you anywhere near the low-end most are looking for) and they were marvelous- they pretty much went about 95% of where the ST's go above 50hz.

That said, I've also heard the ST's 3 times now, and I'm convinced they're are so damn good that if they didn't say "Definitive" on the front, "philes" everywhere would be picking them up.

Truly some of the finest loudspeakers I've ever heard.
It's a shame that our great hobby is inundated with a rather sizeable number of "elites" who listen more with their eyes than their ears.

James

Actually it's not a shame. If someone is willing to turn a cheek to a speaker just because of the name on the front , well thats there loss. I keep an pen mind. I will listen to any brand it doesn't matter. I would own any brand as long as it meets my needs.

On the other note there are some brands I don't like simply due to looks. Magnapan speakers are really good sounding emotional connecting speakers but I can't get over the way they look. Not to mention they are hard to drive and extremely placement sensitive. So For me they are out. I do however like Martin Logan which some could say are ugly but I like everything about them.

The St and STS are among the very best sounding double speakers I have ever heard and installed. Double duty is the key word here. I have heard better at both but not in one system. Not at this price.

I heard the Mythos ST and STS speakers at Magnolia, I was fairly impressed I wouldn't hesitate to say they are a great speaker, I ended up buying Sonus Faber because I fell in love with the sound and Magnolia is closing out the Domus line at insane prices. I would say that with the exception of the Sonus Faber's I liked the Mythos ST as much or more than any other speaker in the mid range room at Magnolia, And it was a lot cheaper than some of the stuff I compared it to. The bass extension on the Mythos ST is really impressive it made the hair on the back of my arms stand on end the same way my ML Descent did the first time I heard it. I went with the Sonus Faber because I liked the midrange on the better, it sounded richer and more full, I suspect it's a bit overly warm, but I liked the way the Sonus Fabers sounded anyways.

I've heard the STS's several times and they are just flat out GREAT speakers. They just sound awesome for HT and music.

What's up everyone?

I have read every single review on the ST and STS. I will go to say I agree with every single one of them with a few of my own points.

1st off I am a Audio Video Installer and I work for a Definitive Technology Dealer. I have Installed both of them in different rooms with different gear etc etc etc. I gotta admit I didn't like Def Tech until I started installing them. I never listened to the Mythos line before just the BP series and there "theater in a box" system. I felt that Def Tech did a really nice job at theater but I didn't care for music reproduction.

The First experience I had with the Mythos was the ST in our theater room. I sat down and listened to a movie then a song. I was impressed and thought "these are the best sounding Def Tech's I ever heard . But the placement in our theater room is more suited for movies then music. I had to move the speakers and toe them correctly to a front row chair to get a good image and soundstage. Then the magic happened. WOW these are impressive.

Out in the field I did a job with all hard wood floors. The guy got Denon gear and the STS ,9 center and BPVX rears. Ok I was not a fan of using those rears but for the room , it was the right choice. No external sub. The room was about 18 feet wide and about 20 feet deep. 9 foot ceilings. There was some plush furniture and a area rug to help with the acoustics of the room. After I tuned the room and setup the system, I didn't expect much as I felt the room as going to make the system sound bright and echo like. Not the case , in fact It actually turned out very enjoyable and the subs just shook the damn house. I didn't think a 5 x 10 woofer could lay down such serious bass. WOW. But I didn't get to spend a lot of time listening as I had other things to do.

The job that really blown me away was ........ actually there was 2 but this one is the one that got me to sell my system and go after the Mythos line. A basement open floor plan room lifestyle space with a 106 screen and projector, Mythos STS and 9 center with UIW RCS III in ceiling speakers. Again not my first choice for rears ( I like direct radiating I'm more a music guy) but once again excellent choice for the room and for the customers needs. On a side note, Def Tech got to get on few things , Mythos external sub and Mythos in wall in ceiling speakers. Ok I'm done. So The receiver was a SC-05 and a Elite 05 blu ray player. HD cable and thats it. Ipod in the front for music. Nice. Ok Tuned the room and system but this time we had a very plush rug and a very acurate speaker placement. Basically was perfect for the sitting area(something that doesn't happen all the time in retro fits). Guys and girls my jaw hit the floor. My other guy was hanging the projector and asked where did I put the external sub? I said "dude thats all the STS" . he said "dude no effin way do they hit like that and that clear". I said " dude there is no other sub in the system, we didn't bring one out and they don't have one. Ok so now both of us are just in amazement on the sound we where getting out of the STS."MY GOD" I said about 20 times. I can't believe what I'm hearing. I didn't want to finish the job , I just wanted to sit there and play for the rest of the day. I wanted to order Dinner for all of us , clock out and stay there for the evening.

I also had my Ipod with me which I record in Apple Lossless. I put in some Al Di Meola and his guitar was ringing in the room. I was shocking on the realism I was getting. Another side note the Pioneer ELite ICE amps are amazingly Dynamic with Mythos speakers. It will actually scare you at times the Dynamic range. You think you just Installed some serious separates with crazy head room amps.

So to sum up my story I owned Rotel Separates and Dynaudio speakers. I dreamed of owning this package for years when I worked for a dealer who sold this level and behond gear. I fell in love back then and then purchased my dream system. I sold my dream system and now I purchased a full Mythos package consisting of the Mythos ST fronts , 10 center and I went with the 10' for rears as I'm a multichannel SACD and DVD AUDIO owner. I enjoy high quality music reproduction as well as a good movie. I always felt there is really no way to get the best of both worlds with my budget. I always felt I could build a killer 2 channel / Multichannel music system and give up some for theater. My last system was 100% for music but only 70% of the theater experience. It didn't lack in detail , it lacked in Dynamic range even with my Killer Rotel RMB1095 which was a monster of an amp. The speakers where an average of 86db at 4 ohms. So dynamic range was difficult to achieve at low levels, high levels where fine.

So I'm excited to get the Mythos series in my home and get down to business. My wife thinks I have a problem , maybe I do, I have owned a total of 5 completely different theater systems since the early 90's. In the last 9 years I have gone through 4 of them.

When people talk about how good the Mythos series is , they are speaking the truth. Properly setup , properly mated with the gear and the room, you will have one of the very best double duty systems out there. I have heard just about everything made in the last 35 years and dollar to dollar you will have a hard time putting together a system that can double duty as well as the Mythos do. You can however build a system better at one or the other(music or theater) but not to do both. If you can I want to hear it.

So how about some pic's of your Mythos system? I will post some of mine once I get it all set up and tuned.

mantis

Good writeup Mantis, thanks. You hit the nail on the head, speaker placement is so important. Are you still running the rotel 1095? I have a mcintosh for my mains and am thinking about the 1095 for my center/sides/rears. I am a music guy too and have a full bipolar setup. Imo like the mythos, when PROPERLY SETUP, they can work some magic.