Definitive Technology PowerMonitor 900 User manual

Creating a great-sounding home
theater is a surprisingly challeng-
ing feat. It requires careful audi-
tioning of speakers, preamplifiers
and amplifiers. Some consider the
electronics the most important
link in this audio chain, but I
would argue that the speakers
have the most difficult job in the
room — to create the proper
amount of bass, clear dialog and
effects and also reproduce music
properly in your theater environ-
ment. Definitive Technology,
maker of high-quality speaker
systems, is easily up to the chal-
lenge. As innovators of loud-
speaker design, and the first to
offer speakers with built-in pow-
ered subwoofers, there’s no ques-
tion that their new PowerMonitor
system deserves a listen.
he system that Definitive
Technology sent us is built
around a pair of PowerMonitor
900s, their top of the range
monitor speakers. When it
comes to speaker design and layout,
there really are two types of speakers
(with many, many iterations inside these
categories): tower loudspeakers and
monitor loudspeakers. You’ve all seen
towers — they are speakers that stand
on the floor, but don’t require stands.
Monitors are meant to sit on stands or fit
into bookcases or cabinets. The
PowerMonitor 900s were created to
either sit on stands or in a bookcase.
But something very special sets them
apart from conventional monitors. They
feature a built-in 250-watt powered 10-
inch woofer, a 1-inch pure aluminum
dome tweeter and a 6.5-inch cast-basket
upper bass/ midrange driver. As you can
probably tell, this speaker is designed to
rock. Whether you place it on stands or
in a cabinet, you can tailor the sub-
woofer’s output with the included dial on
the back of the speaker.
Coupled with the PowerMonitor
900s, Definitive Technology also sent us
their CLR 3000 center channel. This also
features a 150-watt powered subwoofer,
a 10-inch woofer and similar tweeter and
midrange drivers that will integrate it
seamlessly with the PowerMonitor 900s.
For the surround speakers in our
5.1 demo system, we used Definitive
Technology’s BPVX/P bipolar on-wall
speakers. Since it’s a bipolar design, it
spreads sound around the rear part of
“These speakers are some
of the most powerful and
accurate speakers I have
ever heard.”
“… an incredible speaker
system that will make
any home theater room
come alive … you feel
like you’re in the middle
of the action.”
T
Unique Features
▲ The complete Definitive Technology ensemble
is compact and effective. Expect a lively perform-
ance from this all-inclusive package.
DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY
POWERMONITOR 900 SYSTEM
”
“
The PowerMonitor 900s define musicality with a sense of space, richness and power
that I’ve never heard combined in a pair of speakers under $5,000 per pair.
As innovators of loudspeaker design, and the first to offer speakers with built-in powered subwoofers,
there’s no question that their new PowerMonitor system deserves a listen.

the room, giving a diffused type of sur-
round sound. Also featuring powered
bass drivers, it blends with the front
speakers quite well.
For some additional low end (like we
need any more), Definitive Technology
sent us their brand new SuperCube I
powered subwoofer. Featuring a long-
throw 10-inch front mounted woofer
mated to a 1,500-watt amplifier, it’s sure
to make my test theater convulse like a
person with a violent seizure.
Installation Issues/Setup
Setting up the system didn’t take long at
all. The PowerMonitor 900s went on
speaker stands I had on hand, and the
CLR 3000 center channel went atop my
TV. The BPVX/Ps went behind the lis-
tening position, on each side. Now, the
only thing to remember when setting up
these speakers is that they all need to be
plugged into the wall to get some juice.
This is important when planning a home
theater with these speakers in mind.
Also, since Definitive Technology is into
high quality, there are gold-plated heavy
duty binding posts on each speaker. A
nice touch, to be sure.
Final Take
Connected to my reference Sunfire gear,
I was astounded by what I heard. These
speakers are some of the most powerful
and accurate speakers I have ever heard
(and I’ve heard hundreds of speakers).
The PowerMonitor 900s define musicali-
ty with a sense of space, richness and
power that I’ve never heard combined in
a pair of speakers under $5,000 per pair.
You have to pinch yourself to remember
that these speakers are only $1,600 per
pair. It’s truly incredible. The bass is
smooth and refined, blending perfectly
with the midrange and highs when lis-
tening to music or watching a movie. On
the Superbit releases of Desperado and
Vertical Limit, the soundtracks were so
exciting and filled with punch, that it
makes you feel like you’re in the middle
of the action. In the bar scene shootouts
in Desperado, you hear the “thud”of the
gunshots and the metallic jingle of the
shells hitting the ground with equal
ferocity and vibrancy.
Blended with the CLR 3000 and the
BPVX/Ps, the PowerMonitor 900 system
is unmatched for power and precision.
Add in the SuperCube I subwoofer (see
sidebar), and the party’s over.
If you’re looking for an incredible
speaker system that will make any home
theater room come alive, look no further
than Definitive Technology’s newest
speaker system. It will rival even the
biggest and baddest tower loudspeaker
system, to be sure. — By Jeff Cherun
Definitive Technology
www.definitivetech.com •[phone]
Suggested Retail Price:
PowerMonitor 900: $799 each
CLR 3000: $999 each
BPVX/P: $749 each
SuperCube I Subwoofer: $1,199 each
SuperCube I
efinitive Technology is known for deep, rumbling bass. Their lastest SuperCube I sub-
woofer definitely extends the family’s legacy. Featuring a compact size and ferocious
power, this subwoofer will nest nicely in any home theater. Measuring in at only 14.25-inches on
two dimensions and 14.1-inches of depth, it is sure to fit in any enclosure or necessary area. With
its 1,500-watt amplifier and 10-inch front-mounted subwoofer, it’s a sure bet. The SuperCube I
also features dual side-mounted 10-inch infrasonic bass radiators, rounding out the
bass dispersion.
One of the most impressive features of this subwoofer has to be how musical it sounds.
On stereo music and multichannel movie sound, it offers the combination of punch and kick that
is required from a subwoofer, without ever sounding boomy or sloppy. And all of this in such
a small package. They say good things come in small packages —this time they’re right.
The back of the SuperCube I subwoofer allows fine tuning to best complement any home
theater environment.
“Blended with the CLR
3000 and the BPVX/Ps, the
PowerMonitor 900 system
is unmatched for power
and precision.”
“It will rival even the
biggest and baddest tower
loudspeaker system …”
“The bass is smooth and
refined, blending perfectly
with the midrange and
highs when listening
to music or watching
a movie.”
D
From DVD ETC.June/July 2002 issue.
“”
It’s truly incredible …You have to pinch yourself to remember
that these speakers are only $1,600 per pair.
“One of the most impressive features of
this subwoofer has to be how musical it sounds.”