Floor-standing bipolar SuperTower loudspeaker with built-in powered subwoofer
$1499.00 each
A Legend Reborn
Definitive Technology's first product in 1990 was a bipolar tower loudspeaker. The BP10 was the first step in building the company that stands 20 years later as the best selling and most honored brand of audiophile-grade loudspeakers in the USA. Later Definitive pioneered the concept of "powered towers" by incorporating powered subwoofers into Bipolar floor-standing speakers and dubbed them "SuperTowers." The BP-8080ST is a third generation BP SuperTower and makes use of our most advanced technologies, including a new patent-pending approach to bipolar speaker design called Forward Focused Bipolar Array, Digital Signal Processing amplifier and our patented BDSS driver technology. The BP-8080ST SuperTower is the crowning achievement of over 20 years of research and development to create the perfect balance of style, convenience, and most of all performance in a floor-standing loudspeaker.
The Most Advanced Technologies for the Most Advanced Performance
If you love great sound you must experience Definitive's BP-8080ST Bipolar SuperTower. Its combination of Forward Focused Bipolar Array™ technology (for rich life-like, room-filling, three-dimensional sound), built-in SuperCube® technology powered subwoofers (for lightning-fast, earthshaking bass), and our latest generation patented Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) midrange drivers, all housed in a rock-solid attractive enclosure, delivers unsurpassed sonic performance.
Bipolar technology creates a huge, three-dimensional soundstage for every listener in the room
Bipolar Technology Brings Performances to Life in Your Home
Many experts and in-the-know listeners agree that bipolar speakers are superior for both music and home theater. With bipolar speaker technology each speaker incorporates two sets of drivers, one facing forward and the other facing to the rear so that the speakers radiate sound both forward and rearward exactly as sound is produced in real life. Forward Focused Bipolar Array™ technology is Definitive's patent-pending improvement to our original Bipolar designs. This new ground-breaking technology combines the huge life-like imaging benefits of bipolar design with improved pinpoint localization of soloists, greater placement flexibility, and superior intelligibility.
The sonic benefits you hear are dramatic! This unique technology provides you with a lifelike balance of early-arrival sound from the front facing drivers, which provides focus, clarity and location data, and reflected delayed sound from the rear drivers which conveys the lush three-dimensional soundstage of a live music or cinematic performance. This combination creates a huge soundfield which is rich, warm, ultra clear and vibrantly alive for every listener in your room. Most importantly, Definitive's bipolar speakers make the walls of your room seem to disappear transporting you into the sound space of the recoded event. They will literally bring your music and movies to life in your home. One listen and you can never go back to conventional speakers again!
The Subwoofer System Will Rock Your World
Each BP-8080ST combines a built-in 12" subwoofer driven by a 455-Watt class D amplifier and two pressure-coupled 12-1/2" Low Bass radiators for 33% more surface area than a single 18" woofer but with better control, speed and detail than a single big woofer could ever deliver. The dual built-in powered subwoofers achieve dramatically better blending, integration and timbre accuracy than could ever be achieved with separate subs.
The brawny 455 Watt Class D amplifier features an integrated Digital Signal Processor (DSP) – in essence a mini computer – that equalizes the woofer system to extend and smooth the bass response, provides a phase coherent crossover to perfectly blend the subwoofer system with the midrange arrays for seamless high performance. Digital protection systems tightly monitor and control the woofer system to prevent distortion and woofer damage at ultra-high volume levels. The bottom line is the BP-8080ST's bass will rock your world like no other speaker anywhere near its price and size.
Why Built-In Powered Subwoofers Are Better Than Separate Subs
Besides eliminating the need for a floor space-hogging separate subwoofer, integrated subs offer dramatic performance benefits. First is the obvious benefit that you'll have two subwoofers in the room instead of just one for simply more bass output. Second, two subwoofers in the room reduce "standing wave" room resonances that create bass dead zones in the room. With two ST-8080STs you'll enjoy high impact bass throughout the room.
Most importantly the subwoofers are perfectly integrated with the mid/high section. Audiophiles often spend hours moving and adjusting their subwoofers' crossover and phase controls in pursuit of perfect subwoofer to main speaker "blending." With the BP-8080ST you won't have to go through that kind of hassle to get great sound. Definitive's engineers have perfectly adjusted the crossover and phase to achieve seamless blending and life-like sound. All you have to do is set the bass volume to match your room and taste then sit back and enjoy great sound.
Watch the Bass Radiator tech video
Patented Technology Delivers High Definition Mids and Highs
Each BP-8080ST features a D'Appolito front array consisting of two cast-basket 5-1/4" second generation BDSS midrange drivers surrounding a 1" pure aluminum dome tweeter housed in an acoustically isolated sealed enclosure. The drivers feature Definitive’s patented Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) technology that supports the speaker cone at both the inner and outer edges allowing longer, more linear excursion for greater clarity and finely textured inner detail. A new patent pending Linear Response Waveguide™ smoothes off-axis frequency response and disperses sound over a wider area for crystal clear intelligibility for every listener in the room. The tweeter is a pure aluminum dome, which has been heat-treated to relax the crystal structure and then coated with a ceramic to produce extended highs that reveal nuance and shimmer without a trace of edginess.
The rear array uses a single identical BDSS driver and the same 1" aluminum dome tweeter as used in the front array. Like the front array the rear array is housed in a separate sealed MDF enclosure to isolate the midrange drivers from the woofers' influence.
Slim Elegant Styling with Rambo-Like Brawn
All the driver and electronics technology in the world would be wasted if housed in a resonance-prone box. We devoted as much Design and Engineering attention to the styling and construction of the 8080's enclosure as any other part of its design. The tapered front of the enclosure serves to make it appear slimmer while also enhancing sound quality by minimizing cabinet diffraction distortion. The decorative high gloss end cap and bottom panel add elegance to the matte black tower the way satin piping adds dash to a tuxedo. Each BP-8080ST occupies a mere 1.4 square feet of floor-space (including stabilizer feet) leaving plenty of room for furnishings. 
But the enclosure's most important job is to be totally inert and resonance free so as not to color the sound. And that's just we did in engineering the BP enclosures. Wherever a driver is attached to the cabinet we placed a second layer of heavy MDF (a low resonance wood composite material) to prevent the drivers from imparting vibration to the rest of the enclosure. The sealed midrange enclosures also serve to provide bracing for the side walls while MDF cross braces near the woofer further stiffen the system. Tap on the side panels of a BP enclosure to hear the solid "thud" of a solid, well-damped cabinet instead of the hollow ring of a poorly constructed speaker. NOTE: the high gloss polymer composite end cap is a decorative element; it is not part of the acoustical system.
The Proof is in the Listening
This extraordinary speaker sets a new reference standard for high-accuracy loudspeakers in its class and achieves equally superb performance with both music and movies. The BP-8080ST reproduces a silky smooth, incredibly detailed sonic image at lifelike volume levels with a sense of ease which is truly remarkable.
Movies and music are reproduced with unequaled purity, transparency and lifelike realism. These elegant, slender towers seem to disappear in a huge natural soundstage which extends in a three-dimensional arc beyond the speakers with front to back depth which recreates the illusion of live music or cinematic action being performed live in your room. This combination of high resolution, magnificent sound-staging awesome bass and explosive impact envelops you in the ultimate listening experience.
Now that you're thoroughly impressed with the technology and passion we've poured into every BP series product it is time to find a stocking dealer near you to audition this remarkable achievement of art and science.
Find a Definitive retailer near you
Watch the BP Series Video
Driver Complement | |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Diameter | 1" (2.54cm) |
| Type | Pure Aluminum Dome |
| Midrange | |
| Quantity | 3 |
| Diameter | 5 1/4" (13.34cm) |
| Type | BDSS Midrange Driver |
| Tweeter/Mid Array | |
| Type | Bipolar Configuration |
| Front Firing Array | D'Appolito |
| Subwoofer | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 12" (30.48cm) |
| Type | Active Subwoofer Driver |
| Bass Radiator | |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Diameter | 12" (30.48cm) |
| Type | Planar Low Bass Radiator |
Control | |
|---|---|
| Digital Signal Processing | |
| 56 bit DSP | Auto Loading |
Electrical | |
|---|---|
| Audio Inputs | |
| Speaker Level | 1 Pair (Speaker Cable) |
| LFE (optional) | 1 (RCA) |
| Maximum Sensitivity | |
| 1 watt @ 1 Meter | 92 dB |
| Total Frequency Response | |
| Overall | 18 Hz - 30 kHz |
| Nominal Impedance | |
| Compatible with | 8 ohm |
| Crossover | |
| A/V Receiver Crossover Setting | Large; Full Bandwidth |
| Power Handling | 20 - 400 watts per channel |
Amplifier | |
|---|---|
| Internal Amplifier | |
| Power | 455 watts |
| Channels | 1 |
| Type | Class D |
| Power Cycle | |
| US | Auto On/Off: Signal Sensitive |
| International | Product not available outside of USA, Canada and Latin America |
| Power Requirements | |
| US | 110 volts A/C |
| International | Product not available outside of USA, Canada and Latin America |
| Fuse | |
| US | 6.3 amp 250 volt Slo Blo |
| International | Product not available outside of USA, Canada and Latin America |
Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Dimensions | |
| Height | 48 1/4" (122.56cm) |
| Width | 7" (17.78cm) |
| Width with Stabilizer Feet | 12 1/8" (30.80cm) |
| Depth | 16 5/16" (41.43cm) |
Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Accessories | |
| Included Accessories | Stabilizer Feet (4); Carpet Spikes (4); Hard Floor Glides (4) |
| Carton Size | |
| Height | 52 3/4" (133.99cm) |
| Width | 12" (30.48cm) |
| Depth | 20 7/8" (53.02cm) |
| Shipping Weight | |
| One per Carton | 66 lbs |
Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Electronic Components | |
| Parts and Labor | 3 Years |
| Drivers and Cabinet | |
| Parts and Labor | 5 Years |
Demonstration of how bass (passive) radiators work in loudspeakers and subwoofers.
Learn about speaker cone resonance, why it hurts sound quality and one technique for reducing it.
The BP-8080ST is "accurate...musical...and satisfying to listen to "
"...the first thing I noticed, was its neutrality. Everything from voices to acoustic instruments and percussion sounded ultraclean and natural. Imaging was precise -- the soundstage was well delineated while still being very wide and deep. The speaker was able to unravel complicated musical passages without sacrificing the ability to play at extremely high output levels."
Roger Kanno - SoundStage HiFi (Jun 01, 2012) Read More3 reviews with an average of 5
"astounding"
Amazing sound is so unbelievable coming from these cabinets. Although not a tiny footprint the idea that the amount of sound coming from them is astounding and the clarity is just as impressive. Whats even better is the fact I can sit at any corner of my living room as well as leave the room to other areas of the house (which is fairly open) and still hear the music clearly and well balanced.
I took a big gamble and purchased these speakers based on a number of seemingly credible on-line reviews. When I received them it took a while to get them out of the double-box cartons. They were packed extremely well and were in perfect condition despite some evidence of rough handling on the outer boxes. I attached the 'outrigger' stabilizer feet which was easy to do. My early visual impression of these 48" tall monsters was that they were built like tanks. Still, the stabilizer feet only provide a moderate amount of side-to-side stability. Rambunctious children and large dogs should be kept at bay for fear of toppling them. Hook-up was simple using the built-in binding posts. Conspicuously absent was any way to bi-wire. For me, that's a nit -- so, I won't pick it. My electronic set-up consists of a 200W/Channel component stereo amp, a processor/preamp, an upsampling CD player, a turntable, and a tuner -- all very high quality but with real-world pricing. I was so eager to hear my new acquisitions that I tossed on a favorite CD that I knew boasted very clean midrange, crystal highs and -- are you ready? -- thunderous bass. Please note that I was a rock-and-roll bass-player who used high-end guitar gear in my band. I know what a good bass guitar sounds like and this was it. In spades. Still, I was shocked at how clean the sound was. The BP-8080st's produced the bass so accurately and effortlessly that I could usually identify the brand of bass guitar being played. That's no mean fete because it requires a complete lack of smudge and mud. It seems that I could actually count the cycles (Hz). I was in heaven. I've heard many, many high-end home speakers but I have heard few with such 'you-are-there' authority. The BP-8080st's make a subwoofer redundant -- unless you're a real glutton for excessive boom-boom, or want to feel that rarely-recorded last 1/2 octave that really requires a potent subwoofer. For most people, a stand-alone subwoofer is completely unnecessary. And remember, I'm an ex-bass guitar-player in a rock band! I love bass. The high's were crystalline -- if not slightly edgy. Some might say they are a little too forward. In my case, my pre-amp contains no tone controls so I was unable to roll the treble back a bit. However, if you have a pre-amp with a treble control, then a very slight roll-back might do the trick. I should also mention that my listening room (furnished basement) has 10 foot ceilings, is carpeted, but has partial cinder block walls. The room tends to be a bit bright despite my modest attempts to tame it. I have not yet had the opportunity to listen to the BP-8080st's in my less-bright upstairs listening room. That will happen in the coming months right after I threaten my two sons-in-law about leaving them out of my Will unless they schlepp these speakers upstairs for me. Frankly, my expectations are that such a move will solve the treble issue following some fine-tuning in their placement. I have discovered that the BP-8080st's are less sensitive to placement than I would have expected. This is especially true given that they are true bipolars. (Actually, you could call them quad-polars since there are D'Ap arrays front and back, as well as active/passive subwoofers on either side!) I should also point out that the BP-8080st's must be placed at least 2 feet from the side walls and an equal distance (+/-) from the back wall. After all, that's the nature of a bipolar speaker since they rely on direct and reflected rear-projected sound. This placement requirement might discourage some people from acquiring them. However, I have to admit that, if you have the room, these speakers are amazing in reproducing instruments and vocals in their proper place within the soundstage. They were so completely involving that I lost track of time. I heartily recommend that you give the Definitive Technology BP-8080st's serious consideration. I would venture to say that you won't find a better speaker at even twice the price.
"goose bumps"
I am a long time definitive owner/installer/fan and I recently upgraded to the BP8080ST's after having the BP7002 for about five years. After several months of ownership, I must say that these speakers are probably one of the best values on the market. Deep bass, sharper, more focused but yet spacious mids and highs, and cleaner sound overall.While watching movies that have epic tracks I have gotten goose bumps, which I haven't felt in years.