Definitive Technology Speakers

[sirvodka]

Hi all,

Does anybody have experiences/opinions on the Definitive Technology line of speakers for HT?

What are you all using for surround sound speakers and why?

Thanks,

Steve

[kevinw]

www.pinnaclespeakers.com

Next on my shopping list

[57U]

DefTech speakers are good for HT service. A timbre-matched set of 6 or 7 will be just fine for HT.

If you are a critical listener of music, especially 2 channel stereo, then you may wish to go for something more accurate.

Speakers are very personnal, so I don't want to say much more than that.

As for the surrounds, it's important that all speakers are closely timbre-matched so that sounds travelling from one speaker to another, as is often the case in DD5.1 soundtracks, doesn't change timbre (sound different).

[sirvodka]

57,

Ok. A stupid question. What is "timbre-matched"?

Steve

[57U]

I tried to explain it a little in the last paragraph. As sound "moves" from one speaker to another like it does when a car is moving from left to right, it will go from your LF to C to RF speakers. IF they are not timbre matched, you'll hear a change in pitch. Same if a sound comes from "behind" to the "front". If your rear speakers (surrounds) sound a lot different from the "fronts", then the sound will be "weird" instead of "proper". (sorry, couldn't think of better words right now, but I think you get the point.)

[sirvodka]

Thanks 57,

You did explain it just fine, but how do you determine if the speakers you plan to buy are or are not timbre-matched? Just by listening to them or can you tell by looking at the specs? Are you generally safe in buying the same brand for your front, center, and surround speakers therefore avoiding the sound problem? Sorry about all the questions but the light bulb hasn't gone on quite yet.

Steve

[57U]

All the same brand helps. All the identical speaker (4-5) helps even more.

Different brands or size speakers cannot help but sound different, but if the front 3 are matched, then the surrounds are not quite as important if they are similar. If you're buying them all at the same time, it only makes sense to go with the same brand.

The sub doesn't matter as far as timbre goes because timbre relates to high frequencies.

Some people (like me) had two good "main" speakers from the "stereo" days. If they are good and you don't want to use them elsewhere in the house or sell them, there's nothing wrong with moving them to the rear and using them for surrounds.

Just to make matters worse, you'll also need to decide between dipoles and monopoles for the surrounds. You can do your own search in magazines or on the web for that question, but most people prefer dipoles for movies and monopoles for music.

[sirvodka]

Thanks for the info 57. I appreciate it.

Steve