In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Definitive Technology. Definitive Technology Demand D17 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Demand D7 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Demand D17 and Definitive Demand D7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive Demand D17 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Carbon-fiber Woofer
- 42-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-300watts
- Weight:29.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1086.0" x 10-1/4" x 14-3/4"( 1086.0 x 261.0 x 375.0mm )
Definitive Demand D7 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 67-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:5.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 251.0" x 5-9/16" x 9-1/8"( 251.0 x 142.0 x 232.0mm )
Demand D17 and Demand D7 are members of Definitive Technology's Demand series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Definitive Technology Demand Series History
What size room are the Definitive Demand D17 and Definitive Demand D7 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 Demand D7 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive Demand D17 and Definitive Demand D7 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Demand D17 is a 3-way design whereas the Demand D7 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Definitive Demand D17 |
Definitive Demand D7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-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 Demand D7 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Demand D17 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas Demand D7 has a frequency range of 67-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Demand D17 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Demand D7's min frequency of 67Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Demand D17 and Demand D7 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 Demand D7's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive Demand D17 a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Demand D7, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Demand D17 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Demand D7 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the Demand D17.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Demand D17 features 5-Way Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Demand D7 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Demand D17's 5-Way Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Definitive Demand D7's 5-Way post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Demand D7'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 Demand D7 has external dimensions of 251.0 x 142.0 x 232.0mm ( 9-7/8 x 5-9/16 x 9-1/8inch) .
Definitive Demand D17 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 119mm wider, 835mm taller and 143mm deeper than Definitive Demand D7.
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 Demand D7 is approximately 329.4cm2 / 51.1inch2. The Demand D17 requires 197% more surface area than the Demand D7 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Definitive Demand D17?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Demand D17:
Left floorstanindg loudspeakerRight floorstading loudspeaker2 Grilles4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)2 Bases8 Spike feet8 Floor-glides8 Lock-rings8 ScrewsCleaning clothOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Definitive Demand D7?
Here are the items that come with the Demand D7:
Left bookshelf loudpseakerRight bookshelf loudspeaker2 GrillesCleaning clothOwners Manual
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*