By Bryan Southard
July 2002
Introduction
The Definitive Technology BP3000TL loudspeaker is a
floor-standing tower with an earth-shaking frequency
response of 15 Hz to 30 kHz, thanks to support from a
built-in powered subwoofer. The BP3000
TL is the largest in
Definitive Technology’s line, measuring 55 inches tall, nine
inches wide, 19 inches deep and a stout 155 lbs. per
speaker. They are available in piano-gloss black and sell
for $4,500 per pair.
The BP3000
TL has a bipolar design with two front-firing
six-and-a-half-inch cast-basket bass/midrange drivers, and
a front-firing one-inch aluminum dome tweeter. The rear of
the speaker features an array of drivers identical to the
front, the essence of the bipolar design. The BP3000
TL has
an integrated 18-inch subwoofer powered with an internal
1000-watt MOSFET power amplifier. The cabinets are
constructed and braced with MDF. This ultra-rigid high-
density Medite material is used for the front baffle in an
effort to minimize cabinet resonance that can color music
reproduction. The BP3000
TL is covered in fabric, with
optional finish on the top plate. The review models were
black and had very respectable fit and finish.
There are a couple of design philosophies that separate
the BP3000
TLs from most other high-performance
loudspeakers. The bipolar design is not unique, but it is
rarely implemented in higher-priced performance speakers
(Mirage is another good example of a high-end bipolar
application). Many manufacturers employ a rear-firing
tweeter to improve overall spaciousness and ambience, but
there has long been a taboo associated with both bipolar and
dipole designs. Perhaps the biggest fear is the loss of
accuracy associated with cancellation from reflected
information. It is important to understand the difference in
the two designs. Dipole is a design that employs an out-of-
phase response from the rear of the speakers, opposite to
that of the front. The theory is that the two signals will
intersect and cancel one another, providing a narrow
radiation pattern. The philosophy of the bipolar design is
quite different. It provides a rear response that is in phase
with the information coming from the front of the speakers,
thus delivering a greater dispersion and overall sense of
spaciousness when executed correc
tly. Many purists argue
that the only accurate information from a speaker is the
information radiating direc
tly from the loudspeaker and any
Definitive Technology BP3000TL Loudspeakers
Definitive Technology’s BP3000TL Loudspeaker
“Make no mistake, the Def Tech
BP3000TL will rock you like a hurricane,
but you may be surprised at how well this
flagship speaker performs more touchy-
feely musical feats, especially when
compared to more snooty high-end
speakers costing at least twice the price.”
“a floor-standing tower with an earth-
shaking frequency response of 15 Hz
to 30 kHz thanks to support from a
built-in powered subwoofer.”
Snooty high-end speakers beware. At $4,500 per pair and packed with dual 18-inch
subwoofers, the BP3000
TL are surprisingly smooth and go devastatingly low.
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