Definitive Technology Dymension Loudspeaker Multi-Channel System Review

For the sub-woofers, the excellent MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X units with 15-inch drivers in a sealed cabinet will bring up the bass. Definitive Technology’s own DN15 was in short supply, so we are using MartinLogans in their absence. As an aside, look for the DN15, the MartinLogans, and several other subwoofers in a subwoofer round-up this winter.

The Dymension series of speakers check a lot of familiar Def Tech boxes. We have four bipolar speakers available, with three of them having subwoofers measuring 8, 10, and 12 inches as we climb the DM60-DM70-DM80 ladder. There is also a DM40 which does not have a built-in subwoofer. The center channel DM30 also sports an 8-inch subwoofer. All models with subwoofers have their bass augmented with dual passive radiators of the same diameter as the active driver. The 5-channel system has a retail price of just under $8500, which places them in the upper middle class for a home theater system. Adding the MartinLogan subwoofers brought the system home for $12,500. This brings us into the solid upper middle class, in terms of expected speaker performance.

Definitive Technology has built, in its 30-plus years of service to the audio community, a reputation for delivering high-value, well-made speakers that have stood the test of time. The Dymension series was introduced to try and take Def Tech to that next level of audio performance. That level is the point where serious audiophiles might take a look at the speakers based on their sound quality. There were a number of surprises in doing this review, and it was ultimately a lot more fun than I expected. Keep in mind, the last theater speakers I tested were the $50,000 per pair MartinLogan 40XW Statement speakers. They were driven by amps that can deliver well in excess of 4,000 watts on peak. Now we are going to drive these rather modest-looking speakers with a $2,499 Denon receiver. Let the games begin!

The entire Dymension family within the Definitive Technology line shares a common look along with (pun intended) constant technology in each product.

The star of the show is either the 5.25 (DM30 Center, DM70 Tower, and DM80 Tower) inch BDSS™ or 4.5 (DM60) inch BDSS™ midrange. The BDSS™ or Balanced Double Surround System™ is claimed to provide an exceptionally linear and accurate midrange at very high levels of output. The Linear Response Waveguide™ shown above is said to extend and smooth off-axis response and dispersion for a more enveloping music and cinema experience.

Adding to this devotion in the midrange is the built-in subwoofers in each speaker. The DM30 center and DM60 towers each get a powered 8-inch driver plus dual 8-inch passive radiators. The DM70 moves up to a 10-inch powered driver plus dual 10-inch passive radiators. All three subwoofer sections are driven by a 250-watt (peak) amp, and allow these modestly sized speakers to deliver bass to well below 40Hz. Definitive Technology refers to the implementation of these three drivers per speaker as their 3XR™ Architecture in which the three drivers work in tandem to deliver bass in a more linear fashion than was previously available in a relatively small enclosure. The subwoofers also employ sophisticated DSP processing to ensure a seamless transition to those all-important midrange drivers, making for that transparent midrange all speaker designers seek.

The Aluminum Oxide Dome tweeters are designed to match the high output abilities of the midrange units. They are also capable of wide dispersion across the bandwidth.

Definitive Technology is well known for its bipolar designs (I owned pairs of their BP3000 and BP2000 super towers over 20 years ago), and the Dymension series takes this concept to the next level with their switchable full bipolar/tweeter attenuated 6dB ability. This feature allows one to experiment with how much of the immersive sound one wants. In the full bipolar mode, the sound will be more dispersed, while the attenuated mode will put the front speakers a little more in focus. It can also compensate for the speakers’ proximity to walls.

The built-in subwoofers each come with their own intelligent volume controls, which allows one to fine-tune the bass level for the best possible blend with the remainder of the speakers’ frequency range.

The speakers themselves are understated, with a monolithic look. Each speaker is covered in black speaker cloth with a matte black top. The center gets the matte black treatment on the sides. The overall look is more elegant than the pictures might suggest. My wife was pleased with how the speakers tended to disappear into the décor. Set up could not be easier, as the feet are already installed, and from box to system takes about five minutes per speaker.

One of my favorite aspects of the Dymension system was the ease of setup. The previously mentioned MartinLogan subwoofers (they were used as the bass system for the $50,000 per pair on wall speakers from ML that I tested over the winter and were still in their places) were ready to go, and all I needed to do was unbox each speaker and put them into place. Once installed, I ran the Audyssey XT32 system from the Denon X4800H receiver and we were ready to go. The Denon is also in-house for a review, which is complete and awaiting bench tests.

The Audyssey XT-32 package was run for our four primary listening positions, and we were ready to audition. It was time to fire up some Blu-ray discs (which I find superior to streaming services in terms of audio/video quality) and hear what Definitive Technology has cooked up for us.

Almost Famous

There are 35 songs from a variety of bands during the movie, and one of the most enjoyable intros is Amazing Journey from The Who’s “Tommy” soundtrack. Our young William listens to it after his older sister (played by Zooey Deschanel) tells him to listen to Tommy, as it will change his life. The Def Techs bring all the emotion of this guitar work to life. This is a movie that demands great speakers, and the Dymension series is off to a stellar beginning. Later, when William gets to tour with Stillwater (at age 15 with much advice rendered to him by a nervous mother played by Frances McDormand), the fictional band Stillwater plays a great tune called “Fever Dog.” The feel of being in a real arena with strong riffs from guitars, the snap of a snare drum, and the in-your-chest punch from the kick drum make for a ROCK-ON experience.

The bus scene in which Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” is played starts off with just Elton on the radio, then, one at a time, all the band members, band-aids (the girls who are NOT groupies – if you want to know why, check out the movie. It’s a blast) and even William himself starts singing. It’s a great, musical scene, delivered with a lot of volume and happiness. The Def Techs soared on this unusual rendition of Tiny Dancer.

Music is prevalent throughout the movie and adds to each scene. There is also a tremendously powerful scene on the band’s plane (now they have made the big time). A massive thunderstorm hits, and it appears we are going to lose the band ala Buddy Holly. The thunderclaps are jump scare real, and the Def Techs never even flinched. I had to remind myself that this powerful performance was being underwritten by a $2,500 all-in-one receiver.

Thor

Early in the movie, we are treated to an invasion of beings from another planet called the Frost Giants. This took place thousands of years in our past when Thor was but a child. The armies of Asgard come to Earth’s aid and drive the Frost Giants from our planet. It’s a spectacular scene, with rolling bass and sonic spectaculars, and the Def Tech system handled it with ease.

We then move to Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) introduction in a Grand Hall after a great battle. There is an abundance of ambient air to the scene, and the bipolar front and rear speakers brought the feeling of being in this grand hall. The level of detail that the Dymension series can deliver is tremendous. The dialogue between Odin and Thor is rendered with all the anger and emotion attended, and when Thor tosses over the huge table after being scolded by his dad, Odin, this 5.2 channel system rippled through the room with authority.

Thor talks his most trusted friends into taking the fight to the home of the Frost Giants. It’s a menacing scene with deep bass foot stomps (the Frost Giants are, after all, Giants), fantastic dialogue (when the king of the Frost Giants tells Thor to ‘run home, little princess’, his deep bass voice is delightfully evil.) which the DM30 reproduces with perfect pitch. When Thor throws his hammer through a dozen of the Giants, each blow has a high-pitched ‘ting’ as metal would with an accompanying bass hit that is deep and percussive. Once again, this $12,500 system delivers the goods with nary a hint of being stressed.

This is all in the first 20 minutes. This is all before he gets sent to Earth!

We finally get Thor to Earth (Dad/Odin banished him), and Jane (Natalie Portman) is in the desert, researching the anomalies that brought him there. These are outdoor scenes, meaning dialogue will no longer have an ambiance, and the DM30 has no problem with this, either. Female voices are crystal clear, and the Dymension system did a tremendous job bringing us into their world. Thor has been stripped of most of his powers, and he must prove worth to get back his hammer (Mjolnir), the source of his power.

After Thor loses his power, his evil stepbrother assumes the throne of Asgard, and sends one of Asgard’s guards, a rather large and very powerful giant robot, to destroy Earth to the point of submission. Thor’s only chance to get his power back is to prove he is worthy, which means sacrifice. When he offers himself up as a mere mortal, Mjolnir recognizes Thor is, indeed, worthy. When his hammer returns to him, it’s an emotional scene of great power. The Dymension 5 proved themselves equal to the task of delivering the movie’s most powerful scenes.

The recording quality is a solid ‘A’, with kick drums hitting hard, dynamics galore and Robert Plant’s aging voice holding up rather well. He can’t hit some of the high notes, but as he was 59 when this concert was recorded, he still was amazing. Jimmy Page really steals the show with guitar work that shows he hasn’t lost a thing in 40 years of performing.

The concert starts with ‘Good Times Bad Times,’ and suddenly it’s 1973 and bell bottoms are cool. Page’s guitar work in the bridge is inspiring and authoritative. We then move onto ‘Ramble On,’ with Page’s guitar wallowing in the deliberate distortion used in the ’70s. It’s gritty and compelling, and the Dymension’s are more than capable, they are fantastic!

Plant’s voice remains the same (didn’t they do a song about remaining the same?), yet it has matured. Could he deliver Stairway to Heaven like it was 1971? No. Does it matter? Not one bit. Without even trying, after cranking this concert to high levels, my family dropped everything and came in for the show.

By the time we got to Black Dog, cocktails were pouring, and I cranked the volume even more. It was at this time that the Dymensions took another step up in the respect level: My son asked me a question. He was speaking rather loudly, and I could not hear him. The Dymension 5 was so loud, yet so clean it was close to that ‘you are there’ feeling, sans bouncers and weed. The open bar was a plus, too.

‘Stairway to Heaven’ is what one expects (a good thing), but then we get to ‘The Song Remains the Same-Misty Mountain Hop-Kashmir,’ and it is sonic bliss. The band has gotten better and more confident with each song (ever think Led Zeppelin would be nervous before a show?) and by now they have cut LOOSE! Everyone in the house is jamming, and the sheer joy on the faces of all involved is nothing short of wonderful.

It hit me during Kashmir that this is a review. I was having so much fun that I forgot to even think about notes for the review text. On the other hand, a great speaker system is supposed to do this, so I wasn’t going to complain.

The encore of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Rock and Roll’ capped off a perfect evening of rock n roll. To the folks at Definitive Technology, thanks for the memories!

Honorable Mention: The Dymension DM70’s plays music in 2.0

Jazz at the Pawnshop is a staple in terms of reviewing speakers. Its ability to test the clarity, depth, and elusive reproduction of the music as placed on the disc by the sound engineers and the musician team is extraordinary. The performance opens with the “Introduction,” as the musicians enter and are seated. The drummer hits some rims, chairs are shuffling, and the audience settles in for the treat we call jazz.

The first full music track is “Limehouse Blues.” Bass, piano, drums, alto sax, clarinet, and vibes make for a wonderful evening of libations and music. Those who are familiar with this revered reference disc already know that while the disc lists off a series of songs, it’s really a continued performance from one track to the next.

Let’s start with the Bass (as in the instrument, not the subwoofer track in a movie). Acoustic bass is something few affordable speakers do well. When one is experiencing live jazz, the bass is never overwhelming. It adds rhythm to the music and connects the other musicians. A speaker has to be fast on its feet while presenting each note without bloat. This is not a simple task, and the Dymension DM70s did it with ease.

The alto sax and clarinet work from the DM70s is outstanding. It is seductive while playing the lower notes yet has that live feeling of ‘bite’ when hitting the high notes. The DM70s also did a credible job of cementing the alto sax in the mid-stage position for width and in front of the percussion, which is exactly where it should be. The clarinet is just to the right of the sax, and never wavers. Every note is lightning-quick, and distortion-free.

Lightning-quick also describes how the penultimate Def Techs handle percussion. As with the bass, the drums are not done powerfully as one experiences with rock and roll. It’s more in keeping with the bass and requires agility from ALL the drivers. The Def Techs are more than capable here, with ultra-fast taps on the skins being heard as individual pops.

The piano is slightly left of center and is the surprising star of the show, in terms of what made the audience’s appreciation soar. Bengt Hallberg manages to deliver a coherent piano without it being in one’s face. There isn’t anything spectacular about the keyboard performance. Instead, it works with every other instrument to make this evening of fine jazz one which requires a speaker with a lot of finesse and power. Once again, there was no disappointment.

Finally, the vibes get their share of the glory. While it is a midrange/tweeter instrument, there is this instant when each note it hit (in a similar manner to acoustic guitar, but much more subtle) one gets this percussion that requires bass delicacy. The Def Techs got this right and added to it a natural reproduction of each key.

Can these speakers do music right is the question. The answer is a resounding YES!

This rather affordable 5.2 channel system managed a response curve of +/-3.5dB from 200 to 20,000Hz with a nice, shallow house curve below 200Hz to well below 20Hz. This is an exceptional response curve in a very challenging room and gives us a “picture” of the neutral sound quality I was hearing throughout the review.

The Definitive Technology Dymension Speaker System delivers understated style and tremendous performance for home theater or music and does so at a reasonable price.

Definitive Technology set out to reclaim its title as one of the audio industry’s value leaders in loudspeaker products. They have hit their target with the Dymension series of loudspeakers. If you are looking for a speaker system that can grow with you over time while not breaking the bank, give the Definitive Technology Dymension loudspeaker series a serious look. I was happy with the results, and think you will be as well.

Definitive Technology has delivered a very fine loudspeaker family with the Dymension series of loudspeakers. They have speakers that will work from modest size rooms to large home theaters. These same speakers also double as fine music performers. The Dymension series of speakers pack a lot of value into each product and are DEF-initely worth an audition.