Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 Bookshelf Speakers

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 Bookshelf Speakers 

DESCRIPTION

  • Driver Complement: One 1" pure aluminum dome tweeter
  • Frequency Response: 24 Hz – 30 kHz
  • Impedance: Compatible with 8 Ohms outputs
  • Sensitivity: 90 dB
  • Inputs: One pair of 5 way binding posts

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-2 of 2  
[Mar 03, 2014]
JackN
Audio Enthusiast

I have a pair of 350s and 450s in my living room. The 450s are used for the mains and the 350s are used as the surrounds.

For bookshelf speakers, they’re fairly good. Just keep in mind what they are and not what Def Tech tries to make them out to be. They work well as long as the signal is clean (IE: Yamaha/Denon class, or better) and the amp does not make any kind of serious power. An amp with any kind of decent power can cause the passive subs to bottom out causing a really irritating (and embarrassing if guests are over) rattling sound. If you run into that situation you’ll have to change your receiver setting to small speakers so that the bass frequencies get routed elsewhere. Or, keep the volume turned down.

Other than the passive sub bottoming out problem, the speakers sound surprisingly good given their size. The sound is clear and linear making them easy to listen to.

Construction is certainly better than most. They have a nice heavy well-constructed feel to them. If you’re going to hang them on a wall, make sure they’re anchored to studs or something else solid. You’ll probably have trouble in time if you rely on just the sheetrock to hold them up.

The cosmetics are great. They have a really clean, very classy look. Top notch and second to none.

All in all, these are pretty good bookshelf speakers when matched with the correct equipment.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Oct 10, 2011]
Jetx
AudioPhile

OK, this is a MID-FI speaker. If you want bass you better buy a sub too. As I listen to these speakers, yes, they speak MID-FI. Sometimes the highs become stessed, slightly zingy. Not too often though. And, once again, you won't find ANY boom in the bass region. Since I do most of my listening at lower volume levels, the bass can sometimes disappear. Until you start really listening. What these speakers give up in low bass, they excel in articulation. In many recordings I now hear subtle textures in bass guitar and other bass instruments. Don't buy these for bass. Buy them because, ironically, they are a listening speaker. Give them about a week for break-in. They need to be in a small to medium-small room. The 450's are a good choice for Near-Field monitoring. The best part about these speakers is they suprise me more often then not. On some recordings I will sit there amazed at the broad soundstage and depth of field. By the way, the 10inch side-firing passive sub, obviously, does nothing for the bass except, I believe, enhance low frequency articulation. I have set these up in several rooms. They sound different in each. In the small bedroom, I have them hooked to a 40w Sonata receiver. The media source is an inexpensive TEAC cd player. Initially you may be dissapointed with the sound. Until you just relax and listen to CD's you haven't played in a while and start playing tracks you never cared for in the past. If you let them, the 450's will suprise you... for hours and hours.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-2 of 2  

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