several music CDs. The com-
pact speakers sounded so
stinkin’ good that I suspected
Sandy of pulling a fast one. The
ProCinema 1000s were located
suspiciously close to some of
Definitive's highly regarded
floorstanding loudspeakers, so
at one point during the demo I
lurched from my chair to see if
our host was playing a high-tech
game of three-card monte.
My reaction made Sandy
laugh. I just shook my head,
wondering how speakers less
then one foot high and around 6
inches deep and wide could
deliver such rich, expansive
tones and full-range vitality
even when the system’s 300-
watt ProSub 1000 subwoofer
was turned off. The ProCinema
system’s ability to ef
fortlessly
fill the room—in this case,
a large pre-fab room with
concrete fl
oor covered by thin
carpet—with vibrant sound was
nearly as remarkable as its
price: less then $1,500.
Experiencing the ProCinema
speakers was one of my CES
highlights, so I made an
appointment to audition them
at home. They have been every
bit as impressive from the
moment their gold-plated,
fi
ve-way binding posts were
connected by 14-gauge Monster
speaker wire to a 105-watt/
channel Onkyo receiver.
The ProCinema normally
comes with the ProCenter 1000
center speaker, but at
Definitive’s recommendation,
I substituted the ProCenter
2000. A $149 upgrade, it has
larger drivers and passive radia-
tors (5.25 versus 4.5 inches) that
provide extended bass response.
The four ProMonitor 1000
satellites included in the
system have 5.25-inch drivers
and radiators, and—like the
center speaker—1-inch pure
aluminum dome tweeters.
Rounding out the system is the
ProSub 1000 subwoofer with a
300-watt digital amplifier: front-
firing, 10-inch, downward-firing
passive radiator.
The radiators, designed to
enhance the bass and help
the subwoofer blend more
seamlessly with the satellites,
are new to the ProCinema line.
The line also included the
ProCinema 800 (featuring 4.5-
inch drivers and 8-inch sub-
woofer for $1,099). All of
the new systems feature a
patented new balanced Double
Surround System (BDSS) and
central wave guide for the driv-
er cones, intended to deliver
smoother response and greater
dynamic range and stability.
The ProCinema satellites and
center speakers boast sensually
curved cabinets composed
of high-density, mineral-filled
polymer that resists resonating.
They’re available in a high-
sheen, hand-rubbed black or
white fi
nish and feature rear
keyholes and brass threads for
wall mounting. Or they can
perch on optional ($109/pair)
pedestal stands.
Definitive’s shapely stands
feel like they could support a
Hummer, but I used them
instead for the left and right
front channels and rear sur-
rounds. I placed the ProSub
1000 in a corner about 5 feet
from the right front speaker, and
put the ProCenter 2000 directly
below my 60-inch monitor.
The center channel’
s vitality
and clarity were the first things I
noticed.
With my famous-brand
speakers, it seemed like we
were always pumping up the
center channel to better deci-
pher dialogue in DTS or Dolby
Digital DVD movie sound-
tracks. The Pro-Center 2000, on
the other hand, made it sound as
if the actors were in the room.
The sats and surrounds deliv-
ered similar realism. Once, I
jumped up to answer the phone
before realizing the ringing was
coming from the movie.
I’ve also jumped on more then
one occasion when the ProSub
1000 delivered an explosion
or similar sound effect with gut-
wrenching power.
Perhaps what impressed me
most about the ProCinema 1000
system, however, is the way it
reproduces music. I’d pretty
much stopped listening to music
on my home system with the
old speakers, but found myself
craving couch time after
connecting the ProCinemas.
I haven’t yet found any source
material they don’
t render accu
-
rately with a spaciousness that
makes my 21-by-13-foot room
sound like it’s two or three
times the size. And despite the
speakers’ compact dimensions,
I’ve been able to crank my
receiver’s output as loud as my
ears and neighbors would allow
without noting any distortion.
For those reasons, I have no
qualms stating that Definitive’s
new ProCinema system is a
worthy successor to its wildly
acclaimed predecessor. Or that
it delivers sound quality and
construction that are simply
unsurpassed for the money
. But
the system’
s greatest attribute
won’t be realized until the Boss
comes to visit again and they
wipe the audio elitist sneer from
his face.
The ProCenter 2000 center-
channel speaker delivers
crystalline dialogue from
a pair of 5.25-inch drivers
and a 1-inch aluminum
dome tweeter on its face.
Two side-firing passive radiators
enhance bass response.
FALL
2006 DIGITAL TV & SOUND
“ability to
effortlessly fill
the room ...
with vibrant sound
as remarkable
as its price”
“spaciousness
that makes my
21-by-14-foot room
sound like it’s
two and three
times the size”
>
RA
TING
•
EXCELLENT
>
DESCRIPTION:
Definitive Technology
ProCinema 1000 speaker system
>
HIGH POINTS:
Remarkable sound for the
money; outstanding fi
t/fi
nish and build
quality; fairly compact
>
LOW POINTS:
ProCenter 2000 is large
enough that placement could be an
issue for a typical compact sub/sat buyer
>
CONTACT:
Definitive Technology,
410.363.1748, defi
nitivetech.com
>
PRICE:
$1,644 as tested, with $349
ProCenter 2000; ProMonitor 1000s
available individually for $199;
ProSub 1000 available for $499.
“sound quality and
construction that are
simply unsurpassed
for the money”
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