Definitive Technology speakers are very well-received among home theater enthusiasts and there are also a few audiophiles who use them as stereo speakers for their music playbacks. Their floor-standing speakers with built-in powered subwoofers were the ones that caught our attention the most. And now with the latest iteration where the 3D height modules are been implemented to some of their loudspeakers such as the BP9080X, making the Definitive Technology speakers still relevant to this day and providing exceptional sonic performance in a home theater system.
There is a wide range of loudspeakers to choose from, ranging from satellite speakers such as the ProCinema 6D 5.1 system to their bookshelf speakers like the D11, and not to forget their coveted floor-standers BP9080X, just to name a few. In order for the Definitive Technology speakers to sound their best, they will require matching receivers that can complement and drive them to their full potentials. To find such receivers, we will need to learn more about their overall sonic characteristics and strengths. With this overall knowledge in our hands, we can then list out the best receivers which we can go for and partner them with the Definitive Technology speakers.
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Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Definitive Technology Speakers
We’ve always liked how sleek and modern the Definitive Technology speakers look, especially some of the slimmer floor-standing speakers which could fit in nicely in most home theater rooms. Their stylish design also allows them to match aesthetically well with modern receivers. Generally, the Definitive Technology floor-standing speakers especially the ones with an active subwoofer been integrated into them have high speaker sensitivity and an average nominal impedance of 8 Ohms. They will still need high-powered receivers to drive them, for instance, the recommended amplifier power of Definitive Technology BP9080X starts from 50 Watts all the way to 300 Watts. This does give us an indication that the BP9080X will scale well with power.
More Details at Amazon – Definitive Technology BP-9080x Bipolar Tower Speaker
The Definitive Technology bookshelf speakers are mainly quite inefficient with low speaker sensitivity and will need powerful receivers to drive them as some of them have 4 Ohms impedance. The Definitive Technology D11 on the other hand will be the more efficient stand-mounter with 90dB speaker sensitivity and 8 Ohms nominal impedance, the recommended amplifier power starts from 20 Watts to 200 Watts. Their center channel speakers also share similar characteristics when we look at their specs but are slightly better off than the bookshelf speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Definitive Technology D11 Demand Series Bookshelf Speakers
The Definitive Technology tower speakers with built-in subwoofers are really powerful if you are using either BP9080X or BP9040X, you probably wouldn’t need an additional active subwoofer to supplement the bass as they can really deliver authoritative deep bass frequencies. The subterranean bass levels have weight and prominence as well. In a stereo system setup, the BP9080X and BP9040X tower speakers will be sufficient to handle almost all types of music. In a home theater setup, it is still recommended to integrate an active subwoofer as it will help supplement the bass of other smaller speakers or loudspeakers without built-in subs. The active subwoofer also helps to ease the load off and reduce the demand on your receiver.
The midbass performance of the Definitive Technology floor-standing speakers is typically punchy and has enough impact to satisfy most HT hobbyists. The smaller loudspeakers like the stand-mounters do have that emphasis on the midbass reproduction but are not as satisfactory when compared to the bigger floor-standers. The trebles are pretty emphasized as well, giving us a high level of clarity and energy when it comes to producing the higher frequencies. The Definitive Technology speakers are able to deliver plenty of details including the subtle ones with clean and clear sound quality. The midrange reproduction is detailed but does lack behind a little when compared to their highs and low frequencies.
The overall sound reproduction of the Definitive Technology speakers is quite neutral and bright sounding, but never reaches a level where it sounds cringe to our ears. They certainly excel in home theater performance more than music playbacks. If the Definitive Technology speakers have a fuller midrange and are slightly less lean sounding, they would be great for music. The dialogues or vocals produced by their center channel speakers are crystal clear and the Definitive Technology CS9080 has a powerful clean sound quality. We have all the necessary information and data we need to start listing out the best receivers which you can go for to match with the Definitive Technology speakers.
Best Receivers to match with Definitive Technology Speakers
The Marantz SR7015 will be one of the best AV receivers to match with the Definitive Technology loudspeakers. The sonic characteristics of the SR7015 help ease the brightness of the Definitive Technology speakers, adding warmth into the overall sound reproduction, making it sound fuller and pleasing. The Marantz SR7015 is one of the more musical-sounding AV receivers and if music listening experience is important to you, then you should really hear them out. It is a 9.2 channel 8K UHD AVR and uses Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules (HDAM), giving you a detailed sonic presentation with wider dynamics.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz SR7015 AV Receiver with Amazon Alexa and HEOS
The Denon AVR-X6700H is a very powerful 11.2 channel AV receiver that is probably the best receiver to partner with your Definitive Technology speakers. It is a talented all-rounder that performs well in both music and home theater environments. The neutral warmth sonic characteristics and full midrange sound reproduction complement the Definitive Technology loudspeakers really well. The Denon AVR-X6700H uses Audyssey MultEQ XT32 to calibrate and optimize the Definitive Technology speakers to sound amazing in any given home theater room. It is also capable of processing 8K UHD video signals, providing you with crisp and beautiful cinematic visuals.
More Info at Amazon – Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2 Channel AV Receiver
The STR-ZA5000ES is the flagship AV receiver of Sony, a worthy match to the Definitive Technology speakers. This 4K 9.2 channel Sony AVR has similar sonic characteristics, the treble is bright and the clarity level is astonishing, enabling you to hear details cleanly with crystal clear sound quality. The bass performance of the Sony STR-ZA5000ES is impactful and body-pounding, amazing for watching movies. The overall sound reproduction may be too bright for some listeners and we will suggest having an audition first. Sony STR-ZA5000ES is well-matched with the Definitive Technology speakers and will work well together to give you an exhilarating movie experience.
More Info at Amazon – Sony STRZA5000ES 9.2-Channel AV Receiver
For stereo receivers with 4K/60Hz UHD video processing capability, the Denon DRA-800H will be one of the best receivers to go for. It is a stereo receiver that has sufficient power to drive most of the Definitive Technology speakers, not to mention it has a modest price tag and you can connect up to 2 active subwoofers to further enhance the overall bass performance. The midrange reproduction of the Denon DRA-800H is quite rich and full which complements the Definitive Technology speakers, furthermore, the receiver does not sound overly bright when pushed to high volume. It is a suitable match and at this price point, is hard to nitpick.
More Info at Amazon – Denon DRA-800H Stereo Network Receiver
Going for AV separates may be a better choice as you can get enough power by adding external amps. Some Definitive Technology speakers are not easy to drive and will require high-powered amplifiers to sound their absolute best. Due to their overall sonic nature, we suggest going with Class A/B power amplifiers and you might want to check out Emotiva. They produce high-performance power amps at modest prices, they are well-recognized by audiophiles too. The Emotiva Audio XPA3 is a 3 channel power amplifier and can drive the front mains with ease. The rated power output of Emotiva Audio XPA3 is 275W RMS per channel into 8 ohms (all channels driven).
More Info at Amazon – Emotiva Audio XPA3
As mentioned, adding an active subwoofer into the mix helps to ease the demand of the receiver. If you get a powerful subwoofer such as the SVS PB-2000 Pro, it will also further enhance your home movie experience. It is a 12″ ported subwoofer with 1500+ Watts of peak power, enabling the powered sub to dig deep down to 16Hz and produce these bass frequencies with prominence. If you have a large home theater room, you might want to add another PB-2000 Pro active subwoofer so to cover more area and provide headroom to handle all sorts of extreme movie peaks. With such exemplary bass performance, the SVS PB-2000 Pro is still sanely priced.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-2000 Pro Ported Subwoofer (1500+ Watts Peak)
To Sum It Up
The Definitive Technology speakers are solid performers when it comes to home theater performance and the listed receivers are some of the best to match with them. We would highly recommend auditioning them first before making a decision. You should hear them out and see if you like their sound quality. If possible, you might want to listen to them in your own home theater room as this would give you a more accurate result. Feel free to use this list as a reference when looking for other receiver brands/models.
