In this review, we will be comparing Demand D17 and BP-9020, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Demand D17 and Definitive BP-9020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Demand D17 | Definitive BP-9020 |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 3 x 3.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Carbon-fiber | 8" Polypropelene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-22k Hz | 28-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-300 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 29.10kg / 64lbs | 13.64kg / 30lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-3/4" x 10-1/4" x 14-3/4"
1086.0 x 261.0 x 375.0mm | 35-9/16" x 11-1/16" x 13-13/16"
904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Demand D17 and Definitive BP-9020 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Definitive Demand D17 |
Definitive BP-9020 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Demand D17 and BP-9020 are 3-way speakers.
Definitive Demand D17Definitive BP-9020
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Demand D17 |
Definitive BP-9020 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
3 x 3.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Demand D17 features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Carbon-fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the BP-9020 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter, a 3.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Demand D17 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas BP-9020 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the BP-9020 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Demand D17's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Demand D17 and BP-9020 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Demand D17 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the BP-9020's is at 92 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9020 a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Demand D17, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Demand D17 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas BP-9020 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Demand D17.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Demand D17 features 5-Way Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9020 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Demand D17's 5-Way Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive Demand D17's and Definitive BP-9020's external dimensions. Definitive Demand D17 has external dimensions of 1086.0 x 261.0 x 375.0mm (42-3/4 x 10-1/4 x 14-3/4inch) whereas Definitive BP-9020 has external dimensions of 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm (35-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch).
Definitive BP-9020 is 182mm shorter and 24mm less deeper than Definitive Demand D17 but it is also 20mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Definitive Demand D17 is 24mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Definitive Demand D17 is 182mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Definitive Demand D17 is approximately 978.8cm2 / 151.7inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9020 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Demand D17 requires 1% less surface area than the BP-9020 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive Demand D17 weighs 29.10kg / 64lbs and the Definitive BP-9020 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the Demand D17 113% heavier than the BP-9020.
Here is a comparison of how Demand D17 and BP-9020's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive Demand D17?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Demand D17:
- Left floorstanindg loudspeaker
- Right floorstading loudspeaker
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 2 Bases
- 8 Spike feet
- 8 Floor-glides
- 8 Lock-rings
- 8 Screws
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9020?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9020:
- Tower loudspeaker
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Top-plate (installed)
- Stabilizer base
- 4 Floor guides
- 4 Carpet spikes
- 4 Screws
- 4 Nuts
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
978cm2
vs
986cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
904mm
vs
1086mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1498USD
vs
2798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology Demand D17 |
Definitive Technology BP-9020 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
28-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-fiber |
Polypropelene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
3.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1086.0mm (42.8") |
904.0mm (35.6") |
| Width |
261.0mm (10.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
29.10kg (64lbs) |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Aluminum |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive Demand D17 costs roughly 1.9x what Definitive BP-9020 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Definitive BP-9020 digs deeper - 28Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Definitive BP-9020 is more sensitive (92dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive Demand D17 takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Definitive Demand D17: bi-amping; Definitive BP-9020: Atmos drivers. |
| Price | B | Definitive BP-9020 is cheaper - $1,498 against $2,798, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Definitive Demand D17 B Definitive BP-9020
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Definitive BP-9020 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Definitive BP-9020 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.