One 1 inch Pure Aluminum dome tweeter
Optimum surround sound home theater reproduction places heavy demands on
the center channel speaker, which in many respects is the main speaker
in the system and often handles 50% or more of the program material.
It’s no place to compromise and settle for second best. All Definitive
CS series center channel models are designed with the same rigid
standards and high performance goals as main left and right front
speakers and feature wide frequency response and extended dynamic range
with extraordinary detail and articulation.
Bass Radiator Technology Makes a Dramatic Audible Difference
Most audio experts agree that the ideal surround speaker system would
have 5 identical truly full range speakers at every position. But most
rooms and setups can’t accommodate 5 identical large speakers. So we
engineered the next best thing – a center speaker with robust bass
response that fits on a shelf.
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| The CS-8040HD’s bass radiator gives you full, rich center channel sound |
The CS-8040HD features two patented high-definition Balanced Double
Surround System (BDSS) 4-1/2 inch drivers that are pressure-coupled to a
5 x 10 inch racetrack-shaped planar Low-Bass Radiator. The result is
bass extension unheard of in a center speaker of this size and price.
With the CS-8040HD you will fully realize the performance potential of
the center channel program material as the movie director intended it to
be heard.
Its upward-firing bass radiator requires only 1" (25mm) of clearance, so
it works perfectly whether you mount it in free-air or put it in a
cabinet.
Patented Technology Delivers High Definition and Wide Dispersion
The “HD” in the name of this speaker stands for High Dispersion.
Dispersing the center channel sound evenly over a broad area of the room
is vital if all listeners in the room (even those sitting well
off-axis) are to hear clear, concise and highly intelligible dialog.
We’ve engineered the CS models with our latest generation ultra-high
definition midrange drivers that set new standards for wide dispersion.
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| The second generation BDSS driver |
The CS-8040HD features a D’Appolito array consisting of two cast-basket
4-1/2" (11cm) second generation BDSS midrange drivers surrounding a 1"
annealed Pure Aluminum dome tweeter housed in an acoustically isolated
sealed enclosure. These are the same drivers and tweeters used in the
BP-8040ST bipolar SuperTower loudspeakers, making the CS-8040HD the
perfect center channel match. 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 1” (25mm) 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.
Non-Resonant, Low-Diffraction Cabinet Maintains Sonic Purity
All the driver and electronics technology in the world would be wasted
if housed in a resonance-prone box. We lavished as much attention to the
styling and construction of the 8040’s enclosure as any other part of
its design.
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| The CS-8040HD’s enclosure is solidly built |
The tapered front of enclosure serves to make it appear slimmer and less
obtrusive while also enhancing sound quality by minimizing cabinet
diffraction distortion. The decorative high gloss end caps and top trim
panel add elegance to the matte black grille cloth the way satin piping
adds dash to a tuxedo.
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 CS enclosures. Wherever a driver or low bass radiator is
attached to the cabinet we placed a second layer of heavy MDF (a low
resonance wood composite) to prevent the moving drivers from imparting
vibration to the rest of the enclosure. Tap on the top of a CS enclosure
to hear the solid “thud” of a stiff, well-damped cabinet instead of the
hollow ring of less-well constructed speakers. NOTE: the high gloss
polymer composite end caps are decorative elements; they are not part of
the acoustical system.
The Proof is in the Listening
This extraordinary speaker sets a new reference standard for center
speakers in its price and size class and achieves equally superb
performance with both music and movies. The CS-8040HD reproduces a silky
smooth, incredibly detailed music, dialog and sound effects at lifelike
volume levels with a sense of ease which is truly remarkable. The
elegant styling features beautiful sculptural refinements to
Definitive’s signature look.
