Definitive Technology Mythos ST are in the HOUSE!!!!!

[mantis]

What is up all??????????

They finally came in. I love it. As some may know you have to Install the base which ok sucks but I guess shipping it's more protected. Every time I do a pair of St's , I hate Installing the base. It's just one of those things.

I got them hooked up when I got home from work which is a chore , I didn't even feel like hooking up the center channel and get that all tuned in. I was a bit tired today but I managed to get the might ST's all wired up.

Speaking of wiring , I have to find a better way then the way I do it now. In customers homes I use this technic and I always feel like a better way. Now that they are in my home , I will find a better way. For most it's perfectly fine , my customers thing I do a excellent job there but personally I don't like it.
I have wire Mesh by Tech flex which is what you find on most higher end wires. I tried to get the power cord , line level and speaker wire all in one nice bundle. But by doing so it frayed at the end so I took it off. I think I was tired and rushing so I didn't try another way. I took some pic's you decide on the wiring and tell me what you think and if you have any ideas other then wire loop which I refuse to use. It's terribly ugly.http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01679.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01680.jpg
A shot from the couch.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01682.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01683.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01684.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01685.jpg
This is what I'm talking about with the wiring. I don't really care for it. What do you think?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Dmantis/DSC01686.jpg

[leroyjr1]

Very Nice!!!!!!! Polkfest at your house next year:D

[Ern Dog]

Congrats Mantis! They look great, how do they sound?

[obieone]

Congrats. Whatever you do, DON'T crank it!:eek::D
I've probably got 100+ on my pair of STS's and still can't go above -15db on the SC-O5:( I think I'm gonna need an amp:o

As for the wiring, I can't think of anything that you can use with the power chord, BUT, I do have some AQ FLX 14/4 that I plan to make into a single +/-, then terminate the other pair in RCA to make the LFE.
I figure some nice LOK plugs, heat shrink, and expandable sleeving:rolleyes:

[Polkie918]

very nice...time to upgrade the TV

[thuffman03]

Very nice setup! You will enjoy them a lot.

[dorokusai]

If you get rid of that awful paint and "artwork" they might actually sound good.....eventually.

[polkatese]

Very nice, Dan..let us know after you break 'em in.

[mantis]

very nice...time to upgrade the TV

Guess it shows I'm a audio guy.:eek:

[mantis]

Congrats Mantis! They look great, how do they sound?
I had them running since I hooked them up so it's been a few hours. I want to get at least 60 hours before I judge them in my own home. I know how they sound as I have Installed them many times and we have a pair on the floor.

They are a little bright and bass heavy right now. Mid range is pretty damn good. I'm so used to how my Dynes played music it's difficult to listen to anything else there but....

I did run a movie "Fast and Furious" on Blu ray and that sounded great. Very dynamic and clear. I was pretty impressed with the overall movie experience. It's what I was looking for this time around. A theater setup but they do do music. I'll do a review after the break in.

I do like not having a floor sub. But we shall see if that sticks. I like the Supercube reference and think it would make a beautiful addition to the system. I could remove LFE from the mains and just leave them "large" .
But for now I'm gonna kick it ST style.

Dan:cool:

[KG Audio]

I know how they sound as I have Installed them many times and we have a pair on the floor.

Dan:cool:

Dan Man,

I know you have probably answered this many times but I am too lazy to do a search.

Where do you work? You always talk about installing and such. Plus the threads that I remember reading...your opinion is always respected.

Cool speakers, btw. I have been looking at that line since it came out.

KG

[mantis]

Dan Man,

I know you have probably answered this many times but I am too lazy to do a search.

Where do you work? You always talk about installing and such. Plus the threads that I remember reading...your opinion is always respected.

Cool speakers, btw. I have been looking at that line since it came out.

KG

I work for the Audiolab in Fairless Hills , Pa. They have been in business for 50 years. It's a audio first shop which I like. We carry many speaker and wire lines. It's pretty cool that way. Before I worked there , I really didn't care for Def tech's. I only heard there mini speakers and BP series. I had a different approach back then. I wanted music first speakers then theater suport. My tastes have changed. But the Mythos series actually gives me what I want in a true double duty speaker.

[pearsall001]

Lookin real good Dan!!! Once everything is properly broken in, give me a shout so we can hook up. Road trip baby!!!!

[olilugo]

Swwet Dan. The TV's focal point is overtaking from the beautiful Mythos. I was about to ask for your TV man card until you said you are more into music :-) ok I will let it pass for now...

Dan very nice pictures.

[Hawkeye]

I have a friend who does not want to see his wires at all. The aesthetics of the room are very important to him.

So, he drilled holes in the floor behind his rack and runs the wires underneath the floor and brings the wires up through holes drilled directly behind the speaker. A very simple and elegant solution which hides the wires very well.

Gordon

[BB3]

mantis,

Just as I suspected, everything looks phenomenal. What a beautiful setup you have going on there.

Anyways congratulations on getting the speakers, take care of yourself, and I hope you enjoy the heck out of them, mantis.

--------Bill(BB3)

[Emlyn]

Great speakers Dan. I've happily used this before and haven't had fraying problems:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=082-436

The kind that wraps around cables, not the expandable kind. A hot knife seals the ends and stops them fraying if necessary.

Enjoy!

In your first message, you seemed to say were running a power cord, line level cable, and speaker cable in a bundle. Isn't it usually not advised to run AC and audio cables close together?

[blueboxer]

I have the same problem with the wires as well, I have been trying to brain storm ideas, but have come up short so far. I ordered a reference sub as well, but for me, I find the ST's more than adequate for my smaller room downstairs. Unfortunately, my significant other doesn't like the grills off, which is my preference. I have the gains set at noon for the time being and the overall sound is perfect without being too bassy or overbearing. Did you run the kimbers to the ST's?

[vijayl]

Thx Emlyn, I'll try this..
Bleboxer, whats a kimbers?

Dan,
Mythos manual says, it don't need the sub conn coming out from Preouts of receiver and only thing that needs to be done is to sent the fronts as Large. Any feedback on this, if u hav tried it?

[Retro152]

Very nice setup Dan, congrats on the new speakers. They look great.:D




Pat.

[jacob.simpson]

Very neat set up, write up a review that would be great..:D

[comfortablycurt]

Niiiiice!!! Congrats Dan!! These are my dream speakers for HT. Whenever I upgrade my RTi's in the HT system...it'll be to either an LSi15 based setup, or a Mytho's ST based setup.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them after you've spent some more time with them.

[mantis]

I have a friend who does not want to see his wires at all. The aesthetics of the room are very important to him.

So, he drilled holes in the floor behind his rack and runs the wires underneath the floor and brings the wires up through holes drilled directly behind the speaker. A very simple and elegant solution which hides the wires very well.

Gordon

I considered doing this but I move my speakers a lot. I tweak like a mad man so that doesn't work out for me. I go one step further in that idea , I run Wire paths for the power which is a closed circuit to the surge protector. Basically a in wall extension cord. We do them all the time for plasma and powered subs , towers etc. Then I also have a custom 2 gang plate which one side is the electrical sealed and the other is a speaker plate and LFE line level RCA connection. I could easily Install them but again I move my stuff all over the place. If I ever get around to finishing the basement, I plan on giving the ST's a home and then I will use my custom plate system.

Thanks for the tips,

Dan

[mantis]

Great speakers Dan. I've happily used this before and haven't had fraying problems:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=082-436

The kind that wraps around cables, not the expandable kind. A hot knife seals the ends and stops them fraying if necessary.

Enjoy!

In your first message, you seemed to say were running a power cord, line level cable, and speaker cable in a bundle. Isn't it usually not advised to run AC and audio cables close together?
I have a roll here. I think it maybe old. It's been in storage for a few years and maybe thats why it's fraying up on me. It looks a lot better then what I did so maybe I will take my time and get it done.

Dan

[mantis]

I have the same problem with the wires as well, I have been trying to brain storm ideas, but have come up short so far. I ordered a reference sub as well, but for me, I find the ST's more than adequate for my smaller room downstairs. Unfortunately, my significant other doesn't like the grills off, which is my preference. I have the gains set at noon for the time being and the overall sound is perfect without being too bassy or overbearing. Did you run the kimbers to the ST's?

No My Kimber 4tc is terminated in Kimber Spades. They don't work out to well with the way the back of the ST is. So I used my DH labs 14-2 Silver Sonic speaker wires due to the dark blue color. If I re-terminate the Kimbers then I will then use them. Or I may buy some new cables for fronts like 8tc or the new 4tc clear with banana ends. I do however like the Silver Sonic's , I have since I got them. Great sounding wires. They are fantastic.

[mantis]

Thx Emlyn, I'll try this..
Bleboxer, whats a kimbers?

Dan,
Mythos manual says, it don't need the sub conn coming out from Preouts of receiver and only thing that needs to be done is to sent the fronts as Large. Any feedback on this, if u hav tried it?

I see you have a Dynamo, isn't that a bit of a miss match? I'd like to see if you are going martin logan external sub, you should think Depth .

As far as using the ST's with just speaker wire, yeah you can do that since you have a external sub. Why not. If I was just using them in a 2 channel system I would wire just speaker wire. But if you where using them for LFE , then run LFE there. Either way is good. Speakers are always set to large.

[mantis]

Niiiiice!!! Congrats Dan!! These are my dream speakers for HT. Whenever I upgrade my RTi's in the HT system...it'll be to either an LSi15 based setup, or a Mytho's ST based setup.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them after you've spent some more time with them.

They are 2 very different speaker setups man. I owned both now and I can honsetly say the Mythos ST's run all up in the Lsi15's for everything. Music I feel the ST's are more refined. The 15's get loose down low and take away from there sound. I didn't really feel that way until I got my Dynaudio Audience 82's and heard the big difference. I came from Rt1000p's back then and thought the LSI 15's where the greatest thing since sliced bread. Great speakers but could be a lot better.

The St's vs the Lsi15's is not even fair. The St's destroy the 15's in every way here. I have never heard the LSi 15's do anything like the St's can do . They dynamic range the LSi15's simply can't do. They don't have that crazy response and recover. They simply are not a really good theater speaker in my opinion.

I don't think the LSi 15's can really hang anywhere with the ST. I wouldn't compare them myself. They are Apples and oranges. I like the Lsi15's don't get me wrong, sometimes I wish I still owned a pair just so when I felt like it, I could rock out with them.

[leroyjr1]

Dan

How would you compare them to the Rti a9's?

[apphd]

Very NICE Dan. Well for someone that likes to move your speakers around a lot, other than some type of a snake skin like the techflex that Emlyn suggested, there are not many options. What did you use? Looks like some kind of a nice wide zip tie. All I could think that may improve the looks of that, for me would be maybe a 5"or 6" spacing.

[speakergeek]

Very nice there!

[rubin]

Beautiful speakers! What ru driving them with?

[vijayl]

Dan

How would you compare them to the Rti a9's?

I don't think it is a fair comparison. I don't have RTiA9, but I do hav RTi8 (I understand there is a big diff betn RTiA9 to RTi8) Mythos produce a SQ (both Music and HT) which is way too good that can't be compared to RTi's.

[mantis]

Dan

How would you compare them to the Rti a9's?

The rtia series are the very best polk has made with the rt series. They are a great speaker and I would own them myself. I really liked the 7's when I sat with them. When I worked at Tweeter and they came in, we set up our demo room and let them play from days. Afterwards we went back for a demo and all of us where pretty shocked with what we heard.

I think they are in a different class then the ST's. The St's are a damn good speaker at it's price class, so are the RTIA9's. They are in different price classes so comparing them might be slightly unfair. But I think they are a damn good speaker meaning the RTIA series.

It would be fun to have them in the same room at the same time vs each other. Just from memory I think the ST's would beat them up on theater and shine over them with music. That doesn't take anything away from the 9's.

[Grimster74]

Dan, as always, impressive gear you have there. The thought of changing brands of speakers have crossed my mind on my "what to upgrade next list" and the DT ST's are on the top of my list. Having spent so much time with my current RTi setup though really hesitant to let them go. Who knows, PA isn't that far from me, may just have to stop in one weekend for a listen.

[mantis]

Beautiful speakers! What ru driving them with?

Currently a Pioneer ELite SC-07 which could change down the road. Who Am I kidding , it probably will. I find the ICE amps to work great with Mythos series speakers.

[mantis]

I don't think it is a fair comparison. I don't have RTiA9, but I do hav RTi8 (I understand there is a big diff betn RTiA9 to RTi8) Mythos produce a SQ (both Music and HT) which is way too good that can't be compared to RTi's.

Without knocking the Rt series speakers I do feel this way.

[mantis]

Dan, as always, impressive gear you have there. The thought of changing brands of speakers have crossed my mind on my "what to upgrade next list" and the DT ST's are on the top of my list. Having spent so much time with my current RTi setup though really hesitant to let them go. Who knows, PA isn't that far from me, may just have to stop in one weekend for a listen.
let me know if your in town, you are welcome to hear them.

[obieone]

Mantis, have you heard the ST/ STS's via a tubed integrated? Just curious:D
This hobby SUX!:mad:

[mantis]

Mantis, have you heard the ST/ STS's via a tubed integrated? Just curious:D
This hobby SUX!:mad:

No I have not. We have powered them with Krell which is insane , Pioneer Elite SC-09tx which is also insane and the mighty SC-07. O one job we used a SC-05 but it basically sounds exactly like the SC-07.

I got them on and want to get past the break in period. It's annoying . I should have left them at the store and let them play for a few days before I took them home. Or gave my boss mine and took the floor models. O well I just hate waiting.

Dan

[obieone]

You may be waiting a while. I've had mine for 2 weeks, and they sound good, but...
Now I'm wondering what they would sound like with tubes:confused:

[jacob.simpson]

Congrats very elegant set up, and now review please, and also how much did you pay for them.

[SolidSqual]

Nice work! Any plans for a Definitve Reference Sub?

[mantis]

Nice work! Any plans for a Definitve Reference Sub?
Down the road I may add a Reference Supercube but I don't think I need it in my living room. The St's got a lot of bottom end . After the break in period , I will really judge there performance.

[mantis]

Congrats very elegant set up, and now review please, and also how much did you pay for them.

Thanks probably in a few weeks after a serious break in. Then I plan on a detailed review.
I don't talk about what I pay for my gear. I got a good deal I work for a Def Tech dealer.

[smglbrth]

Nice looking speakers Dan. Kind of makes you wonder why Polk went away from the passive radiators. Your St's have them, two no less, and they seem to have got it right with the low end on these. Granted they are arranged differently than what the old Polks used to be. Am looking forward to hearing your impressions after break-in!

BTW, isn't the person who started Definitive the one who used to work with Matthew Polk when they both started out?

[Sherardp]

Mantis,

I must have been enroute to the USA when you started this thread bro. Nice speakers man. What do they sound like? How do they perform with bass? Any plans on a sub or ar e you using one already? Congrats bro, all you need now is that Oppo and we're in business :)

[mantis]

Nice looking speakers Dan. Kind of makes you wonder why Polk went away from the passive radiators. Your St's have them, two no less, and they seem to have got it right with the low end on these. Granted they are arranged differently than what the old Polks used to be. Am looking forward to hearing your impressions after break-in!

BTW, isn't the person who started Definitive the one who used to work with Matthew Polk when they both started out?

His name is Sandy Gross. He worked at polk in the beginning. he then moved on to his own speaker line. The passive radiators you will find all over Def Tech's lines. They use them and use them well. All of my new speakers have them in a "racetrack" design.
Polk has made some fantastic speakers over the years. For the money you can't be mad at them.

[mantis]

Mantis,

I must have been enroute to the USA when you started this thread bro. Nice speakers man. What do they sound like? How do they perform with bass? Any plans on a sub or ar e you using one already? Congrats bro, all you need now is that Oppo and we're in business :)

How do they sound?? Well that is a wide open question I will try to answer. They now have probably 20 hours on them. They where on all day yesterday so many give or take a few hours. they are coming into there own.

At first I thought I made a mistake for music but I judged them alittle early. Right out the box they sounded good just not Dynaudio good. yesterday I let them play and lastnight we watched Resident Evil and RE 2. I was shocked on the theater performance and dynamic range. WOW man they rock for theater.

As far as a sub goes, I want to run them with there internal subs for now. It was part of my goal not to have a floor standing sub. So far so good , movie impact is sick Bro. They hit you in the chest and rattle my house. I love it. I have them tuned to the room but after a full break in I plan on retuning them.

I noticed on thing about them is that they are placement sensitive. When I was listening to music I had them to close together. They where about 7 feet apart and I sat 10 feet away . So the 3/4 rule don't work out so well with them. I found 8 feet to work better so far. I plan on spending a day with them and tweaking them until I get that perfect center image. I got it pretty good right now but I know I can make it better.

So sit tight and probably next weekend or so I will do my official review on them. So far man they are amazing theater speakers. Just totally awesome dude (in my surfer voice).

The oppo I will get. I installed one and loved every minute of it. I can push the open button and guess what? It opens. Something that simple yet puts a smile on my face. Built quality is average to good. It's nice looking to. The audio and video performance I really thought it was a good as anything I have used so far and installed. Nice player.

[blueboxer]

I had initially ordered a reference sub with my Mythos, but never took it out of the box. The two ST's up front really went low and added the impact I needed for home theatre use. This was with the gain set at the 11 o'clock position. During some movies (Pirates of the Carribbean during the cannon blasts) I found them not as full as I would ultimately want, same with certain music tracks, but those moments are about 5% of my listening and seems to vary. The odd thing is that during other movies with less bass or explosions, they surprise me with how much they rattle the entire house. One area I was surprised was with some of my concert DVD's, especially the acoustic versions, where the mythos system sounded far better than I anticipated. Great choice, Mantis, and I hope you keep playing with them until you are content.

[Barefoot]

Wow great looking speakers.