Power Towers? (1 Viewer)

[Scott_N]

I'm selling my Paradigm Studio 100's, Studio CC and PS1000 sub to help pay for a new amp i'm going to buy for my 2-channel system and when I redo my home theater I thought about getting power towers like the Def Tech BP2006TL with a Def Tech C/L/R 2002 center for a smaller but still nice home theater. Does anybody here use power towers without a separate sub and do they produce enough bass for home theater without needing a separate sub?

 

[Matt Odegard]

IMO I don't think the BP2006 will have enough umph for HT. Music maybe a different story, but I don't think they go low enough for a good HT without needing a seperate sub. I auditioned them a while back and wasn't pleased. Plus I have read threads were owners had taken the woofer out and found it to be a rather cheap woofer. But, thats what I've read. Haven't seen it personally.

Personally. I never liked power tower's but thats just me. I always thought a seperate sub was best.

May I ask why your ditching the 100's for the Def Tech's?

 

[Scott_N]

My main interest is my 2-channel system so i'm selling the Paradigm's to help pay for a Cary Audio V12i tube amp. I won't rebuild my HT until a couple months from now.

 

[Matt Odegard]

well, when I auditioned them I was looking at primarily HT. So don't think that their bad because of me, I was looking for something different. Actually, I have Studio 40's, 20's, CC, ADP's in my HT. That was why I was curious as to why you would get rid of the 100's.

There are plenty of people here who own Def Tech's and love them.

 

[Marco Flores]

I have that set up you describe with the BP2s in the back. I find that the bass will definitely get you by, it may not be the same as having a dedicated good sub but it does the job quite well.

Some have turned off the powered sub portion and have gone dedicated and have had great results. I personally find the set up great for music and HT. I have a smaller room so that may have something to do with it (13x13). My HT does not suffer at all.

 

[Scott_N]

Marco

Do you use the LFE input on your fronts?

 

[Andrew Pezzo]

I have the BP2006TL's and CLR2300 with no seperate sub. One reason I got the Def Techs was I dont have the space for a stand alone sub. My old setup had a stand alone sub and I think the Def Techs blow it away, there is a lot more and more natural sounding bass.

 

[John H]

Some have turned off the powered sub portion and have gone dedicated and have had great results.

Why would one want to shut off the speakers internal amplifier driving the woofers when adding an outboard subwoofer/s? If you are highpassing the speaker at 60-80Hz isn't it best to leave a properly balanced internal woofer on to better handle the slope of the filter?

John

 

[Brett DiMichele]

FWIW and this is just my personal opinion. I specificaly
wanted NON Powered full range Towers. Why would I want to
go that route? Flexibility!

With a non internaly powered tower you can use any combo
of external amplification you so choose. In my case I can
switch between my 110 watt x 2 channel power amp running
my Mids/Highs or I can use my 20 Watt Class A Tube Amps
for the Mids/Highs and my subs (dual bass reflex 10") get
500 watts from a Carver Sunfire plate amp that was meant
for a stand alone powered sub. I could use any amp on the
sub side of my towers also but the Carver just generates
loads of power (I have to run the gain less than 1/4 of the
way up from zero )

 

[Parker Clack]

Scott:

I have the Def Tech BP 20s, CLR 1000 and BPX for the surrounds. I then have an SV Sub for my subwoofer. That set up works great for movies as well as music.

I would get the DT 30s, CLR 2000 or 3000 and he BPX surrounds with a separate sub like the SV Sub for your HT.

I picked my Def Tech up from Independence Audio on 23rd street. They have great prices on them and have about all of them in store to audition.

Parker

 

[Evan M.]

I have a set of Boston Acoustic vr965 powered towers (they are powered by an internal 80 watt amp) I was very sceptical about these speakers because I had a sub so I figured I would get the vr950's. After hearing them next to each other for music it was no contest, the 965's sounded MUCH better. The mids were so much more promiment. I still thought though that I was going to waste the amps in them. when I got them home i was still skeptical so I went back to the store and auditioned the 950's again, still very weak comparitively. I DO NOT use the lfe inputs on the speakers in my ht aplication and by doing this it DOES NOT turn the amps in the speakers off. The amps still work and puts out more bass and mids which in turn takes some stress off of my receiver. I send the lfe to my Boston pv800 sub and I set the mains to large. I know this has been debated a million times on whether to set the mains to large but in my case large sounds way better than small.
So in short, do not be afraid to get powered towers. They sound great if used in the right application. I would still always recommend a separate sub though. Music has never sounded better and HT sounds very full and explosive now. If you ahve any more questions let me know.

 

[Andrew Pezzo]

One thing to keep in mind is if space is very limited power towers can eliminate the need for a seperate sub.

 

[StevieP]

Scott,

I second the Def Tech BP30s.
They have tight bass, and great midrange!(much better mids then the smaller powered towers)
I have 2 subs: A 15" for LFE, and A 10" for the rears (wired in line)
This works great, however I see a SVS in my future!

Steve.

 

[Brian Bunge]

One thing to keep in mind is if space is very limited power towers can eliminate the need for a seperate sub.

I totally disagree with this statement. If you said they somewhat reduce the need for a separate sub then I'd agree.

Now if you're talking an inexpensive (cheap) 8" or 10" sub then you might be right.

 

[Matt Odegard]

One thing to keep in mind is if space is very limited power towers can eliminate the need for a seperate sub.

If you don't have enough space you may not get them to sound well either. Power towers need to be setup in the correct position to sound right, just like any other speaker. You can't just throw them in a corner and say thats it. They need space.

 

[Scott_N]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I audtioned the BP2600TL's and they plenty of bass for my needs.

Parker

I know all about Independence Audio. That's where I bought my Paradigms and other HT components. They are good people. If you ever want a high end 2-channel system try Primus Audio Pleasure downtown on 9th.

 

[Parker Clack]

Scott:

I've been to Primus too. Nice place. Real high end though.

Did you audition the BP 30's when you listened to the 2600TL's?

Parker

 

[Holger]

@ scott,

i own the def-techs BP2000TL and i could not be happier. i will definitely NEVER EVER go back to a separate subwoofer again. you may ask why...

well, i have never encountered a better bass response, with lots of precision, inner detail and accuracy. i got to admit, that a dedicated sub may delivers still more bass output and *boom* but after 13 years in home theater experience this is not important to me anymore.

i rather want a system which is able to play equally great on music as on movies. and that's exactly what the def-tech's do.



regards, holger

 

[Brett DiMichele]

Holger,

Most mass market subs (even from the top names) won't
compare to something DIY. And a DIY stand alone sub can be
as musical as you want. The only limiting factors are money
and skill!

 

[Andrew Pezzo]

It seems a few people disagree with my previous statement about space limitations and doing away with a seperate sub. I for one do not like to have the entire length of a wall crowded with A/V stuff. When I got the Deft Techs my living really opened up since I had one less box to place. It was only one box but it made a big defference. And I think they sound a lot better than when I had a pair of Energy C-7's in the front. The Def Techs give me more flexibility in placement.

I think some people are so stuck on having a seperate sub they arent taking into consideration other factors that many people have to deal with in setting up a home theater. Granted if I had a much bigger space (and budget) I would most likely get a sub but for right now it would not anything extra to my enjoyment, which is the main purpose.