Definitive Technology
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Mythos XTR-50 speakers exude aircraft style, remain grounded by price tag
Let's get this out of the way: at 38mm (1.5 inches) thick, these Mythos XTR-50 speakers are not the "world's thinnest," no matter what manufacturer Definitive Technology might have you believe -- JVC dropped 31mm satellites onto our secret wishlists just last fall. But unless you live in Japan, the Mythos XTR-50 may be the thinnest speakers you can actually buy. Made completely from aircraft grade aluminum, the enclosure houses six domed drivers and a tweeter, themselves shaped from aluminum, and connected with copper-covered aluminum wire. Why all the aluminum, you ask? The obvious reason is that -- in moderation -- it's lighter and stronger than alternative materials, which contributes to these satellites' luscious curves, but it also means that the entire assembly acts as a giant heatsink. Logical design -- who would have believed it. Too bad the units cost $700 each, and you'll need at least two -- if not five -- to get the full effect.
Abracadabra -- Definitive Technology announces Disappearing In-Wall speakers
Gearheads like us like to show off our speakers in the room, but fashion circles with different sensibilities take a "loudspeakers are meant to be heard, not seen" approach. No doubt, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers have come a long way from the dreck that spewed out muzak from an acoustic tile in our dentist's office. Definitive Technology has announced a new line of flush-mount speakers with micro-perf grills, dubbed the Disappearing In-Wall series, set to ship in Q1 of 2009. The company has both round and rectangular models (but being invisible, does it matter?), and since this is Definitive Technology, you know there's a bipolar model for surround channel duty. Bass output is goosed a little with Def Tech's Balanced Dual Surround System (BDSS) technology, borrowed from the floorstanding Mythos ST speakers, and the aluminum dome tweeters can be pivoted to get the setup dialed in. Sizes cover a gamut from 3.5- to 8-inches, and prices range from $179 to $379 per speaker. Sounds promising -- we'll try to get a listen for ourselves at CEDIA in a few months to see how far things have come from our dentist's setup!
Definitive's Mythos SSA-50 soundbar gets reviewed
During our trip to CEDIA last year, we were pretty astounded by just how well a soundbar could sound when placed in the right environment. Definitive Technology's pricey Mythos SSA-50 won't save you much (dollar wise) compared to a mid-range surround system, but it's probably the form factor that has you captivated. Sound & Vision were able to take this bugger in for a listen, and during testing, reviewers noted that they actually forgot to pay attention to it and simply enjoyed the experience. To us, that's a pretty positive remark. Furthermore, critics noted that it "could replace a lot" of 5.1 systems, and given the ease of installation, it ended up looking mighty attractive. Hit the read link for the full review, but only if you don't mind being talked into a purchase.
Definitive's new Mythos "surroundbar"
The way the svelte profile of a flat panel display blends into the decor makes many folks look to "slim down" the rest of their setups. Target number one is usually the collection of speaker cabinets in the room. We love the look of serious speakers (not to mention the performance), but for everyone else a "surroundbar" is appealing. Definitive Technology has introduced its entry to the field, the Mythos SSA50. Tuck the 46-inch array underneath that new FPD and you not only get LCR audio, but also some sense of surround thanks to psychoacoustic trickery built into the unit. Add in a subwoofer and say good-bye to all your old speakers. There are only nine drivers in the array, so it's using a different approach than, say, Yamaha's "Sound Projectors." Definitive is known for its bipolar designs, so they know how to deal with acoustic phase -- hopefully they'll keep the pseudo-surround from being too phasey or just plain weird. Available in February for $1099.
