Definitive Technology Mythos Four, Good? Bad? Pretty...

[Seth=L]

I might have an opportunity to pick up a pair of these in good shape for a reasonable price (round $200-250 for the pair) and possibly may get the Mythos Seven center to match (around $100-150). This is possible because of the benefit of my work.

I currently have a pair of Boston VR-M50 bookshelf speakers as well as my trusty old Infinity IL10 bookshelf speakers. I'm using a Paradigm PS-1000 subwoofer with a Marantz NR-1504 in a 2.1 setup.

I've heard the Mythos series speakers in the past (maybe the SuperTowers, they were powered) and I was impressed with them then in a limited listening window. I'm not sure how the passive models such as the Mythos Four would compare to the SuperTowers or what I have now. I'd like to get more dynamics out of my music and movies and not sacrifice accuracy.

I know I've done this time and time again. I used to just impulse buy anything if it was a good deal and I knew I could flip it a month or two later, and honestly that's usually what I did even if I really liked what I had (cue sad violin music for Vandersteen 2Ce towers). Now I'm more or less at the point of "If I know I'm not going to keep it, I'm not going to buy it."

 

[slipperybidness]

Did you see the S&V review?
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-mythos-four-speaker-system#OxhTWzXscsXj3Lo6.97

Measurements look fairly decent, esp at that price. But, the bass doesn't dig very deep! Especially if you compare it to other towers.....kind of defeats the point of a tower.
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-mythos-four-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures#QCXRc5vmqY1aYZR6.97

 

[Seth=L]

Did you see the S&V review?
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-mythos-four-speaker-system#OxhTWzXscsXj3Lo6.97

Measurements look fairly decent, esp at that price. But, the bass doesn't dig very deep! Especially if you compare it to other towers.....kind of defeats the point of a tower.
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-mythos-four-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures#QCXRc5vmqY1aYZR6.97

Anything in their lab measurements that would indicate their dynamic capabilities? Im guessing there's not a measurement for that.

 

[slipperybidness]

Anything in their lab measurements that would indicate their dynamic capabilities? Im guessing there's not a measurement for that.

I don't think I'm the right person to give you a knowledgeable answer on that one.

 

[Seth=L]

I don't think I'm the right person to give you a knowledgeable answer on that one.

No need to get your face all LOL

I have about a week or so to decide. Might have an opportunity to listen to them in a poor acoustic environment before I buy them.

 

[BlwnAway]

No need to get your face all LOL

I have about a week or so to decide. Might have an opportunity to listen to them in a poor acoustic environment before I buy them.

If you liked the Sevens, you'll probably like these, they are going to have a very similar sound but with just a little more depth because of the larger drivers, (I have the One's in a 2.2 system and really like them)
but they will require a decent sub, I wouldn't expect to see good accuracy under 45-50hz at louder volumes. (A decent 8" or 10" sub should give you a nice blend for music).
But honestly considering they had an original MSRP of $1600 pr, at the price you stated earlier, I don't see how you could go wrong unless you ended up despising their sound, which I doubt because of your comment about the Sevens.

 

[Seth=L]

If you liked the Sevens, you'll probably like these, they are going to have a very similar sound but with just a little more depth because of the larger drivers, (I have the One's in a 2.2 system and really like them)
but they will require a decent sub, I wouldn't expect to see good accuracy under 45-50hz at louder volumes. (A decent 8" or 10" sub should give you a nice blend for music).
But honestly considering they had an original MSRP of $1600 pr, at the price you stated earlier, I don't see how you could go wrong unless you ended up despising their sound, which I doubt because of your comment about the Sevens.

I have not heard the Seven, I've heard the SuperTowers. Thank you though. I won't be able to do it will next week or so, but I'm certainly mulling it over.

 

[Seth=L]

Well, I did it. I'm a little less than conflicted about them. Too bad. They have much more energy in the higher frequencies than my Infinity IL10s without being harsh. I can't shake the feeling that they are missing more than just low bass though. As far as the bass goes I tried crossing them over at 80hz and 100hz and neither setting oliviates the mid bass suck out. The Mythos do not boost bass via crossover on these so that could be part of it, but then I put on my Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones to get an approximation of what I should be hearing. The senns mirrored closer to the IL10s than the Mythos in pretty much all regards.

Oddly I saw many praise the Mythos for their midrange, I felt like something was missing there as well.

I guess there's just no way around it, I like a warmer sounding speaker. I got listener fatigue just sampling pieces of music with the Mythos.

I've gone past diminishing returns, I'll just wait until I can afford something that is vastly superior without question.

 

[Seth=L]

I'll be returning the Mythos Fours. I'm throwing in the towel for any more mid-range audio purchases. When I get a house and a speaker fund I will get something, but I'm done nickel and diming my way through audio.

I don't understand how a near 15 year old pair of bookshelf speakers are more satisfying to me than a majority of speakers under $2k that I've heard or had.

 

[BlwnAway]

Sorry to hear that you didn't like them, but yes, audio can be that way. I think a lot of people are the same way, I know I am.
If your not one of those people who had changed gear often over the years, your brain just gravitates to a familiar sound pattern or quality. It's just the way people are.
I know my affinity to the vintage DefTech's is pretty unwavering, right or wrong, the only difference with me is that I've learned to embrace it..... lol

 

[markw]

A few years ago, Rick and I were in a store and the pushy salesman pushed us into auditioning a pair of Def Tech Mythos something or other. He persisted in insisting they were great for music and played them without a subwoofer.

Big mistake. they struck me a shrill and lacking substance. Maybe a sub would have cured that but I'm not sure.

Rick and I looked at each other and politely left the demo.

now, if used in conjunction with a well matched sub on more theatrical material (read: movies) instead of alone with music, perhaps our opinion would have been different.

 

[Seth=L]

A few years ago, Rick and I were in a store and the pushy salesman pushed us into auditioning a pair of Def Tech Mythos something or other. He persisted in insisting they were great for music and played them without a subwoofer.

Big mistake. they struck me a shrill and lacking substance. Maybe a sub would have cured that but I'm not sure.

Rick and I looked at each other and politely left the demo.

now, if used in conjunction with a well matched sub on more theatrical material (read: movies) instead of alone with music, perhaps our opinion would have been different.

I watched Matrix Revolutions with them and that was fine. It was the music that bothered me. It just feel like it was missing some things.