Quality of Def Tech BP7002s for Music?

[Ears to you]

Hi guys,

I am quite new to this great forum, and have learned a tremendous amount from reading the posts. I would welcome any and all feedback, if you would be so kind:

I am in the process of getting a pair of Def Tech 7002s, and they will be used for about 80% music (jazz, blues, R&B, funk, classical) and 20% HT. I now have B&W 601 S2s, B&W CC6 S2 center, Sound Dynamics THS3000 12" sub, and Def Tech Pro Monitor 1000s. When I asked my neighbor, who sells and installs very high end home audio or AV systems (and who helped me put together my present system) what I could do to upgrade to another reasonable level, he recommended the Def Tech 7006s, 7004s, or 7002s, depending on my budget. He said the 7002s can't be beaten for the huge bipolar soundstage, and he felt the sound was significantly more accurate (compared to live) than my B&Ws.

After checking around, I bought a single demo 7002 at Best Buy for $230, and another privately for $340 (waiting to pick it up from seller, so haven't heard them together yet). I also bought a new, boxed Def Tech 2300 for $95 at another Best Buy, so if and when the deal for the second 7002 materializes, I should be set (?), and haven't spent much more than I can resell the B&W gear for. My components are Denon 1911, Oppo 93, and modified AR turntable for vinyl. I know Def Tech 7002s are supposed to be super for movies, but how do you think they are for music? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[GlocksRock]

I have several sets of bipolar def techs and they all sound great to me, for music and especially HT. You got a steal on them too, I'd happily pick them up too if I found them for that cheap.

 

[ski2xblack]

The 7002's come in mirror image pairs. Seeing that you bought from two sources, I hope you don't end up with two left speakers!

They are a big step up from those 600 series B&W's, you should be pleased. They also require a bit more distance from the back wall to do their thing.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm sure the BP7002 differ a little from the BP7001 & BP7000 in the bass output, but I believe the tweeters and midrange will sound just as great. For music, I believe the BP7002 will have plenty of bass.

When I audition speakers, I audition only music - classical music (Mozart) and pop/rock (Eagles, Wallflowers, Smallville soundtrack, Deadzone soundtrack, 4400 soundtrack) - basically just my favorite music that I listen to at home on a regular basis so I know how they sound - weaknesses and strengths.

I've auditioned the B&W 800D/802D/803D, Revel M22 & Revel Salon2, Linkwitz Orion, RBH T3R/P, Dali Euphonia MS5, Krell Resolution One, Martin Logan Vantage, Paradigm Studio 100, and a few others.

In my opinion, only the Salon2 and Orion had the best resolution/detail above the rest.

As far as resolution & detail (picking up all musical instruments clearly), I think the Def Tech BP7001 & 7000 match those B&W, RBH, Dali, Krell, & Martin Logan every bit.

Where the Def Techs excelled above most of these speakers, except the RBH & Salon2, is in the bass.

In other words, I think the Def Tech speakers are very musical. They may not match the "ultimate speakers" overall, but the Def Techs are very balanced overall.

That is my opinion.

 

[Ears to you]

Thank you, GlocksRock, ski2xblack, and AcuDefTechGuy for taking the time to help me out.

Acu - if they can compete in the stratosphere of those ML, Krell, B&W 800 series, etc., I will have gotten a huge upgrade, and at a great price! Thank you for sharing your wide experience in comparing these, which is very impressive and puts them in great company.

Ski - the speakers are actually 2 lefts, but after speaking to Chet at Def Tech (who others have said is incredibly helpful and I now fully agree) for quite some time before I bought them, he said that there will be no problem at all, and that Def Tech has stopped designating the new version of the similar BP speaker lines as left and rights. He said that since that bass material is non-directional, it will not be an issue, despite all the reviews mentioning the various pros or cons of facing these speakers toward or away from each other. Do you guys agree?

Any advice about speaker cables, as I am on a tight budget? Runs from my Denon would be about 20' - 25' in my 15'x15'x8' living room. Would Monoprice 12 or 14 gauge speaker wire be sonically okay, or would I be strangling the capabilities of these speakers?

 

[itschris]

As a happy 7002's owner, I'd say they excel at music. I'm not a huge jazz guy, but we do listen to a lot of Diana Krall type stuff, and I would say that I don't feel I'm missing out on any detail. I think my speakers sing. I can listen for hours without feeling fatigued and I don't ever find myself nittpicking about bass or midrange or anything. I walk away feeling very content and happy with my setup.

I don't think you'll be dissappointed at all.

 

[Ears to you]

Hey itschris - any thoughts on speaker cables for the 7002s, and if I might ask, what have you found placement-wise?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Monoprice is fine for all your cable needs.

As far as Left/Right speakers goes, one time I used one of my BP7001 as a center, and it sounded awesome. So I agree that L/R doesn't matter.

 

[Ears to you]

Hi Acu - 12 or 14 gauge?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hi Acu - 12 or 14 gauge?

I use 12 gauge on my Def Techs, but I think 14 gauge is perfectly fine.

 

[GlocksRock]

I use 16 guage speaker wire and it works just as well, you only really need a heavier guage if you have runs of wire that are fairly long, like over 25 ft. But going bigger definitely doesn't hurt, but it isn't always going to be better, and if you get banana plugs then the heavier wire may make it more difficult to install.

 

[psbfan9]

Audiogon

Hopefully they won't be damaged like mine were.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1302486674&/Definitive-Technology-BP-7002-

 

[Ears to you]

Your's were damaged in shipping?

 

[psbfan9]

Your's were damaged in shipping?

Yes, a pair of surrounds I purchased from Vann's, NOT a pair of 7002's. Didn't mean to scare you...lol

 

[Ears to you]

Hi Psb,

No worries. The one 7002 I already have, I picked up at the store, and the other I am waiting on is at a local guy's home, to be picked up (hopefully) tomorrow. Sorry to hear about your's!

 

[itschris]

Hey itschris - any thoughts on speaker cables for the 7002s, and if I might ask, what have you found placement-wise?

I made my own cables from 4 strand Canare that I got at Blue Jeans Cable.
http://www.bluejeancable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

I bought shrinkwrap, speakerwire pants, and black mesh casing and just did them myself. It was pretty easy and gave me something to do.

My setup is not ideal as the one side opens up to the casual dining and kitchen area. The other side has a large granite fireplace so it's not accoustially ideal by any stretch. However... when I do sit and have a serious listening session or watch a movie I care about, I pull them about 2 feet from the walll, toe them a bit, and I'm good to go. It opens them up a bit, but I have to say they're not like a lot of higher end speakers that have to be placed just right. They're pretty forgiving I have to say.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I use bluejeanscables (BJC), heat shrink, and BJC locking banana plugs as well; I use 3 wires and braid them to look like Kimber Kable.

 

[GranteedEV]

I use 12 gauge on my Def Techs, but I think 14 gauge is perfectly fine.

I think we all use 12 gauge but think even 16 is perfectly fine

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think we all use 12 gauge but think even 16 is perfectly fine

Oh, yeah? Well I use 6 gauge but think 16 is perfectly fine.

 

[GlocksRock]

I think we all use 12 gauge but think even 16 is perfectly fine

The only 12 gauge I use only transmits one sound, and it isn't music, but it is very loud