$2000 or less Floorstanders

[Davemcc]

Stormwulf:

I'm not set on anything. I am open to any and all suggestions. Music for me is classic rock and some contemporary thrown in. I appreciate the follow up.

Another pair to consider since you mention classic rock and contemporary music is the Era D14, or even the D10. When it comes to listening to music purely for pleasure, I actually prefer my Era D5 over my Dynaudio Focus 140. I've heard the D14 and liked them for all the same reasons as I like my D5. It's hard to describe, but the Era speakers have a wonderful tone that makes bass and guitar riffs just sing.

There's no question that the Dynaudio are a better speaker, more detailed and accurate (and much more expensive). But if you can find the opportunity to hear the Era, they are worth a listen at least.

http://www.signalpathint.com/index.php/Design-14-Series/

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You can get a pair of new Def Tech 7002 BP super towers for about $2,000 after normal discount! They have built in sub providing nice full range for both HT and music! And Marantz AVRs drive them really nice

I second that one, bro!

 

[DaveHo]

I owned DefTech BP 30's for number of years. I would steer clear of DefTech if you intend to do any music listening. I would put the Salk Song Towers & the Rocket 850's at the top of the list. AV123 offers totally free shipping if you decide you don't like them.

-Dave

 

[Joe Schmoe]

well please share, the OP is still looking...would some of those floorstanders be on stands and start with the letter A

Unlike you, I am smart enough to know that floorstanders do not sit on stands.
In a large room, the Infinity Primus 362s, Def Tech BP10Bs, or Polk Monitor 70s all offer stunning performance for $1000/pr or less, with the Infinities being under $500. In a smaller room, I would suggest the next model down from each of these.

 

[Midcow2]

I owned DefTech BP 30's for number of years. I would steer clear of DefTech if you intend to do any music listening. I would put the Salk Song Towers & the Rocket 850's at the top of the list. AV123 offers totally free shipping if you decide you don't like them.

-Dave

Don't Know about the Salk Sing Towers but the Rocket 850s are very good speakers. However, to be fair the 850s are a whole different level above the BP30s. Have you compared the 850s to the Def Tech 7002s ? The Def Tech 7002s are much different than the BP30s and sound very good when listening to music!

Bottom line the OP should audition the speakers and pick the ones that sound best to him!

 

[mazersteven]

Don't Know about the Salk Sing Towers but the Rocket 850s are very good speakers.

If I'm correct the Salk Songtowers were preferred over the 850's from people who have auditioned both side, by side.

 

[Spkr_Bldr]

This isn't a dig against Def Tech at all, but since the OP says 40% music there's no way I'd consider the 7002's. My experience with them and music was not enjoyable, but if you prefer DSP effects over accuracy and imaging, you might like them for music.

Song Towers are good speakers, they're a good combination of accuracy and musicality. But if you're a loud listening HT guy, they're not the best option.

I've heard Era D14's and they were very nice. They should also be able to crank out the peaks you need for HT ... there's actually a pair on Audiogon right now for $1450. I'd say that would be a good option.

Another good option would be the AV123 x-static. Good performance on music, and they move plenty of air for HT.

 

[itschris]

I don't want to start some kind of new "my speakers are better than yours" kinda thing, but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I just recently got my 7002's and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with their musical performance. Every since they first came on the scene and became popular with the home theater crowd, this has been a common and recurring statement. Ironically, much the same was said about Atlantic Technology when they came to relevance about the same time.

I've listened to a lot of speakers, granted, I can't say I've done so in a controlled environment where I could listen to them side by side to compare, but I think I've gotten a pretty good exposure over the years to know what I like... and in the end... with any comparable quality built speaker... we are talking about personal preference and little else. I defy anyone to explain to me what the "best" sounding speaker is and why... vs.. another. What you will find is a dissertation on opinion and preference.

I find the peformance of the 7002's quite extraordinary. I think the strong points are imaging and soundstage. Granted, like a lot of speakers, room setup and positioning is critical, but this should not be considered a fault, just a requirement. I have two positions for my speakers... everyday and critical listening and I can say with complete matter of factness that the difference is significant between just a move of a foot or so.

I think these speakers sing. I spent a few hours this weekend listening from everything from Norah Jones to Metallica. Having heard Norah Jones live, I was thrilled to hear the unique and wonderful texture of her voice replicted with aplomb. From nuance to sheer thunder of the orchestra playing with Metallica, I didn't once feel let down in any way by these speakers. After about 4-5 hours of non-stop listening, I did not feel fatigued at all like I have with many other setups nor did I feel musical quality left anything to be desired in any real way. I'm not saying Def Techs are the end all be all of the speaker world... hardly, but they do provide an awful lot of performance for the money they cost and for if they cost a lot more. The are not my dream speaker. The 800 series B&W's are, but ironically, I've been told those speakers "suck" by any number of people... even here. So I say again, it's all subjective. Some folks love Klipsch and others roll their eyes at those big horns and feel they have no place in any "true" audiophile room. Def Techs are one of those speakers that on any given day you will read or hear heaps of praise or acute disdain for... mostly by folks who shouldn't be commenting either way.


I would suggest to the OP to listen to as many speakers as you can. Best Buy Magnolia stores carry Def Techs and at least in the store by me, they have a pretty nice room setup where you can actually a/b several models against a few other of the better model speaker names.

This isn't a dig against Def Tech at all, but since the OP says 40% music there's no way I'd consider the 7002's. My experience with them and music was not enjoyable, but if you prefer DSP effects over accuracy and imaging, you might like them for music.

Song Towers are good speakers, they're a good combination of accuracy and musicality. But if you're a loud listening HT guy, they're not the best option.

I've heard Era D14's and they were very nice. They should also be able to crank out the peaks you need for HT ... there's actually a pair on Audiogon right now for $1450. I'd say that would be a good option.

Another good option would be the AV123 x-static. Good performance on music, and they move plenty of air for HT.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

My Def Techs (BP8Bs and 10Bs) also sound extremely good with music. Soundstage/imaging is one of their many strong suits.

 

[Midcow2]

Chris great review on 7002s and i tend to agree!

I don't want to start some kind of new "my speakers are better than yours" kinda thing, but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I just recently got my 7002's and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with their musical performance. Every since they first came on the scene and became popular with the home theater crowd, this has been a common and recurring statement. Ironically, much the same was said about Atlantic Technology when they came to relevance about the same time.

I've listened to a lot of speakers, granted, I can't say I've done so in a controlled environment where I could listen to them side by side to compare, but I think I've gotten a pretty good exposure over the years to know what I like... and in the end... with any comparable quality built speaker... we are talking about personal preference and little else. I defy anyone to explain to me what the "best" sounding speaker is and why... vs.. another. What you will find is a dissertation on opinion and preference.

I find the peformance of the 7002's quite extraordinary. I think the strong points are imaging and soundstage. Granted, like a lot of speakers, room setup and positioning is critical, but this should not be considered a fault, just a requirement. I have two positions for my speakers... everyday and critical listening and I can say with complete matter of factness that the difference is significant between just a move of a foot or so.

I think these speakers sing. I spent a few hours this weekend listening from everything from Norah Jones to Metallica. Having heard Norah Jones live, I was thrilled to hear the unique and wonderful texture of her voice replicted with aplomb. From nuance to sheer thunder of the orchestra playing with Metallica, I didn't once feel let down in any way by these speakers. After about 4-5 hours of non-stop listening, I did not feel fatigued at all like I have with many other setups nor did I feel musical quality left anything to be desired in any real way. I'm not saying Def Techs are the end all be all of the speaker world... hardly, but they do provide an awful lot of performance for the money they cost and for if they cost a lot more. The are not my dream speaker. The 800 series B&W's are, but ironically, I've been told those speakers "suck" by any number of people... even here. So I say again, it's all subjective. Some folks love Klipsch and others roll their eyes at those big horns and feel they have no place in any "true" audiophile room. Def Techs are one of those speakers that on any given day you will read or hear heaps of praise or acute disdain for... mostly by folks who shouldn't be commenting either way.


I would suggest to the OP to listen to as many speakers as you can. Best Buy Magnolia stores carry Def Techs and at least in the store by me, they have a pretty nice room setup where you can actually a/b several models against a few other of the better model speaker names.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for your review and confirmation that the 7002s sound good musically. I like the imaging and sound on my 7002s. I find myself going back and listening to older music more and more and seem to enjoy it more than I remember it originally. However, to be honest my primary focus is still on HT video : Satellite and DVDs.

Later

MidCow2

P.S.- I going to pick up some Redfish fresh off the boat and smoke it this weekend

 

[DaveHo]

... The Def Tech 7002s are much different than the BP30s and sound very good when listening to music!

Not really. Both bipolar. Main diff is the built in "subwoofer". I'll admit I haven't seriously listened to any of the DefTech line since I bought my BP-30's, but at the time the models with the "subwoofer" didn't float my boat. Boomy, mono-tone bass that hardly extended anywhere near what I would call subwoofer frequencies.

-Dave

 

[itschris]

Again, I have to respectfully disagree. Granted the bass in not in line with a couple of large HSU's, but to say the bass is boomy and does not extend just isn't the case. Having lived with two Sunfire subs in my old system several years back, I got pretty spoiled having strong accurate bass. Now I would not say the 7002's put out the same level of performance as those, but I will say they can put a serious shake to the house during movies. After watching Cloverfield, I noticed a couple of my wife's figurines laying on their side in the cabinet that's near the setup. The great thing I love about the subs is that they blend very naturally for music as well where as a lot of subs sound like the thump that you'd typically hear coming from a lowered 1989 Nissan Sentra with neon UFO lights underneath and a 2 year old primer job from the body kit that never got painted.

I'm extremely please with the bass performance of these speakers. The only thing I find lacking is my room and that is the one downside of built-in subs, you don't have the flexibility in positioning. That is absolutely true and can be an issue for some. But my family room (some of you may remember the pictures) couldn't be worse for accoustics unless you specifically tried to make it that way. I have an 55x80 glass curio cabinet about 5 feet away on the side wall, a granite fireplace, 18' peaked ceilings with the opposite side wide open to the kitchen where there bunch more granite. Despite that, I still have fairly good bass response from those Def Techs.

I know a lot of folks are just not crazy about the Def Tech model. The sames goes for Carver/Sunfire. For whatever reason, they just draw a lot of strong reaction from both sides. It's all good though.

 

[fox]

I've been running Paradigm Studio 100's for a few years now. Last I heard they were priced at $2,500 MSRP a pair, less though when I bought mine. At that time, I bought them for under $2,000 (my price), although that was then, not now either. There are so many good choices out there that if at all possible, one should listen to a number of speakers with music you know well and let your ears make the decision. Visit the audio stores in your area, spend some listening and then make your choice. It likely won't be ideal because you may have to go to a few stores and you will have to go by memory as to how the last one sounded compared to the one now. A side by side listening session may not be an option, but if it is, all the better. Take your time and enjoy the experience. Hopefully you will end up with something that will make your music that much more pleasureable. Good luck..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Not really. Both bipolar. Main diff is the built in "subwoofer". I'll admit I haven't seriously listened to any of the DefTech line since I bought my BP-30's, but at the time the models with the "subwoofer" didn't float my boat. Boomy, mono-tone bass that hardly extended anywhere near what I would call subwoofer frequencies.

-Dave

Most of these stand alone subwoofers don't even go below 30 Hz. So you must be talking about HSU, Velodyne, Epik, SVS?

I can tell you that the BP7001SC and 7000SC will produce some serious bass. They will literally rattle your walls, even in the adjacent rooms.

I think the 7002s will also rattle your walls.

I think the 7004 & 7006 may not reach as deep or loud as the higher models, but they will better most towers that don't have the built-in subwoofers.

The Revel Salon towers can produce a SPL of 106dB @ 35 Hz. But even this $22,000 pair of speakers cannot match a $1,500 Epik, SVS, or HSU subwoofer when it comes to producing low & loud quality bass.

 

[mazersteven]

Definitive's 7000 series---built in subs.

One mans Overkill, is another mans Headroom. And vise versa.

 

[Spkr_Bldr]

Well I certainly don't want to start a debate about Def Tech's, just giving my opinion to the OP. Take it for what you think it's worth, but in my opinion the 7002's and BP10's aren't just poor at music, they're some of the worst I've ever heard. They're some of the least detailed speakers I've ever encountered, and the signal just seems smeared in all axes, including time.

But then again I've heard them in big HT setups, and they performed well.

Just for the record, I personally put 2-channel performance as my singular criteria when selecting (or building) speakers. I'm only saying that to help establish where I'm coming from in my opinion of Def Techs.

 

[mazersteven]

I think the 7004 & 7006 may not reach as deep or loud as the higher models, but they will better most towers that don't have the built-in subwoofers.

This is a totally personal opinion. And your entitled to your opinion. But to claim such a statement as "better most towers".

Whatever

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hey, I think DT's are a tad better than BOSE

This is a totally personal opinion. And your entitled to your opinion. But to claim such a statement as "better most towers".

Whatever

 

[Joe Schmoe]

P.S.- I going to pick up some Redfish fresh off the boat and smoke it this weekend

Where will you get big enough rolling papers?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

It is time to put an end to the ridiculous urban legend that Def Techs are "not good for music". Anyone who thinks that has obviously either not heard them at all or not heard them set up properly. In fact, they are at least as good for music as any comparably priced towers, whatever the brand.