Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Definitive Technology BP2006TL Speakers by shendry

Model:	BP2006TL
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1080
Description:	The smallest of the floor-standing BP/TL series
Manufacturer URL:	Definitive Technology
Manufacturer URL:	Definitive Technology

Review by shendry ( A ) on January 17, 2003 at 06:50:49
IP Address: 206.208.224.161

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Overview:
The BP2006TL is the smallest speaker in Definitive Technology’s BP/TL series. Its efficiency is rated at 92dB. The stated frequency range is 19Hz to 30KHz. Speaker design is bipolar: it has forward and rearward firing drivers. It has built-in side-firing active/powered subwoofer (in each speaker) to drive the low frequencies. Each subwoofer is powered by 250W mosfet amp, but the drivers act as a single unit seamlessly. It needs at least 40 hours of break-in period.
Comparative listening:
JM Lab Chorus 725 (my second choice), Paradigm Studio 60, and PSB Stratus Silver. Listening room: the living room of an apartment.
Efficiency:
The 92dB efficiency and active subs make this an appealing mate for flea-powered tube amps. The amp does not need to work hard to drive the low end, and instead it can focus on the midrange and above. (I have not seen this documented in the manual, but a friend told me that the cutoff for the subwoofer is 80Hz and below.)
Listening impression:
Vocal is velvety smooth. Norah Jones, Karen Allen (the Carpenters), Rebecca Pidgeon, and Amanda McBroom sound really good. Soundstage is both wide and deep beyond the speakers. You can hear if the singer/musician is close or a few feet from the microphone. It is laid back and relaxed, definitely not in-your-face type of speaker. As a result, I am drawn to enjoying the music, as opposed to scrutinizing the sound reproduction of the speakers.
Bass is deep and tight. Reaching down to 19Hz, you can both hear _and_ feel bass. Listen to solo piano or acapella recording, and you will understand what I mean. On drums or basses, the bass is ‘wow’. You hear sound details at the low end that you don’t hear from other speakers on recordings that I am familiar with. The subwoofer's setting is adjustable. I usually set mine about halfway, but it can vary from recording to recording.
Connecting the DVD player to the amp directly, bypassing the pre-amp, sound becomes brighter and gains more details. The speakers are capable of revealing your system.
Tech support:
Good. I emailed them a question in the morning, and I got response within the same day.
Conclusion:
Some people commented that DefTech speakers are good for home theater but not for music. I disagree. I use the DefTech mainly for music and it works fantastic with class A SET amp. For the price, it is an outstanding value. :-)

Product Weakness: You need power line near both speakers, so if you have noisy power, then you will need to clean those as well
Product Strengths: Very musical, natural sound, soundstage, velvety vocals, bass, details, reveals your other components in the system

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Decware SE84C (www.decware.com)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Optional
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Panasonic RP62
Speakers:	BP2006TL (92db)
Cables/Interconnects:	IC: Decware Reference; Speaker: braided cat 5e
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, classical (choral, orchestra and solo instrument), vocal, pop, blues
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	You need power line near both speakers, so if you have noisy power, then you will need to clean those as well
Product Strengths:	Very musical, natural sound, soundstage, velvety vocals, bass, details, reveals your other components in the system