In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM70 and R7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM70 and KEF R7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM70 | KEF R7 |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" 2 x Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4 x 5.25" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10" Polypropelene | 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-23 kHz | 48-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 15-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 33.60kg / 73.9lbs | 31.40kg / 69.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 47.4" x 11.3" x 16"
1204 x 287 x 407 mm | 43-13/16" x 8" x 15-5/16"
1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM70 and KEF R7 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 Dymension DM70 |
KEF R7 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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 Dymension DM70 and R7 are 3-way speakers.
Definitive Dymension DM70KEF R7
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 Dymension DM70 |
KEF R7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
4 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Dymension DM70 features a 1" aluminum oxide 2 x Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 10" Polypropelene Woofer. On the other hand, the R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Dymension DM70 has a frequency range of 30-23 kHz whereas R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Dymension DM70 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R7's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Dymension DM70 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R7 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Dymension DM70 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dymension DM70 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R7's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive Dymension DM70 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R7, 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.
Dymension DM70 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas R7 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Dymension DM70.
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.
Definitive Dymension DM70
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R7 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dymension DM70 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM70's Binding post terminals
KEF R7's Binding 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 Dymension DM70's and KEF R7's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM70 has external dimensions of 1204 x 287 x 407 mm (47.4 x 11.3 x 16.0 in) whereas KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm (43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch).
Definitive Dymension DM70 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 91mm taller and 18mm deeper than KEF R7.
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 Dymension DM70 is approximately 1168.1cm2 / 181.1inch2 and base area of the KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2. The Dymension DM70 requires 50% more surface area than the R7 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Dymension DM70 weighs 33.60kg / 73.9lbs and the KEF R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs. This makes the Dymension DM70 7% heavier than the R7.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM70 and R7's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM70
What's in the Box of Definitive Dymension DM70?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dymension DM70:
- 4 Adjustable hard floor glides
- 4 Adjustable carpet spikes
What's in the Box of KEF R7?
Here are the items that come with the R7:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Wrench
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1113mm
vs
1204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
778cm2
vs
1168cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM70 |
KEF R7 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-23 kHz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
2 x Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1204.0mm (47.4") |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
| Width |
287.0mm (11.3") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
407.0mm (16") |
389.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
33.60kg (73.9lbs) |
31.40kg (69.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Definitive Dymension DM70 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Definitive Dymension DM70 digs deeper - 30Hz against 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Definitive Dymension DM70 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF R7 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | KEF R7 is easier to place; Definitive Dymension DM70 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Definitive Dymension DM70: Atmos drivers; KEF R7: bi-amping. Definitive Dymension DM70 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Definitive Dymension DM70 is cheaper - $3,998 against $4,500, about 11% less. |
A Definitive Dymension DM70 B KEF R7
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 Dymension DM70 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 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive Dymension DM70 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.