Name: Definitive Technology SR-9040
Brand: Definitive Technology
SKU: 735SR9040
Rating: 5 (37 reviews)

by Crutchfield's Dave Bar

Bipolar design for dramatic wraparound sound

Definitive Technology's SR-9040 surround speakers will instantly immerse you in every high-speed car chase, high-impact explosion, and bruising brawl that Hollywood blockbuster movies can deliver. Using left- and right-firing driver arrays that radiate full-range sound in an omni-directional pattern, the SR-9040s provide an enveloping listening experience that goes beyond ordinary surround speakers.

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The SR-9040's right- and left-facing driver arrays provide a more immersive surround sound experience.

Bipolar design for dramatic wraparound sound

High-tech drivers for exceptionally detailed sound

Each driver array in the SR-9040 has a 3-1/2" midrange paired with a 1" dome tweeter, for perfectly blended highs and mids. This bipolar design creates a big, immersive soundfield. Each aluminum dome tweeter is heat-treated to relax the crystal structure of the metal, then attached to a silk surround to help produce smooth, sparkling highs that reveal delicate, low-level ambient details in soundtracks. And thanks to Definitive's Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) driver design, your movie special effects and multichannel music will sound clear and detailed. These mid/woofers disperse the sound over a wide area in your room so that even viewers sitting off-axis hear engaging surround sound.

Versatile placement options

Definitive's bipolar surrounds aren't fussy about placement — they shine in a variety of room sizes and shapes. A pair of SR-9040s works well on your side walls for 5-channel systems, or on the side and rear walls for a 7-channel system. Each speaker has a keyhole slot for on-wall installations. You can also place this speaker on a shelf or stand and get great results.

Build a complete Definitive home theater system using perfectly matched bipole towers (see the BP-9020, BP-9040, BP-9060, and BP-9080X) and center channel speakers (see the CS-9040, CS-9060, and CS-9080).

Did you know?

Your new speakers will probably sound better after several weeks of use than they do right out of the box. That's because the material surrounding the woofers will loosen up, allowing the drivers to move more fully. Definitive Technology estimates a break-in period of 24 to 48 hours of playback before the speakers will deliver optimum sound quality. For more information and helpful tips, check out this article from Definitive's website about conditioning your speakers.

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Product highlights:

bipolar speaker design with wide sound dispersion for enveloping surround effects
Balanced Dual Surround System (BDSS) driver technology places rubber surrounds on both the outer and inner edges of each speaker cone for improved control and clarity
left and right speaker arrays each include a: 3-1/2" BDSS mid/woofer and a 1" annealed aluminum dome tweeter with silk surround
frequency response: 50-40,000 Hz
sensitivity: 92 dB
impedance: compatible with 8-ohm outputs
recommended amplifier power: 25-150 watts
one set of 5-way binding posts
keyhole slot for wall mounting
high-gloss black finish on top and bottom caps with cloth grille-wrapped enclosure
7-7/8"W x 9-1/2"H x 5-3/8"D
warranty: 5 years
MFR # MEBA-A

What's in the box:

Definitive Technology SR-9040 owner's manual

Bipolar surround loudspeaker
2 Grilles (installed)
Owner's Manual

See the difference between "Open Box" and "Scratch & Dent" Outlet items

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Researched by Crutchfield's Stacey B.

Features & specs


Enclosure	Ported
Bipole or Dipole	Bipole
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome
Tweeter Size (inches)	1
Midrange size (inches)	N/A
Woofer size (inches)	3-1/2
Connector Type	5-way post
Power Range	25-150
Sensitivity	92 dB
Impedance (Ohms)	8
Frequency Response	50-40k Hz
Height (inches)	9 9/16
Width (inches)	7 7/8
Depth (inches)	5 3/8
Weight (pounds)	---
Wall-mountable	Yes
Bracket Included	Fixed keyhole mount
Parts Warranty	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years

Product Research

Features

Surround Speaker: The Definitive Technology SR9040's bipolar speaker dispersion pattern provides enveloping surround sound, tremendous dynamic range as well as true high-definition sound quality, which results in total soundfield immersion. This compact, high-quality bipolar speaker is intended primarily for use as a surround or surround back speaker. In addition, it can also be used as front "effects" speakers in multichannel DSP systems.

Bipolar Design: The Definitive Technology SR9040 is a bipolar surround speaker, containing two full-range woofer and tweeter arrays. The speaker cabinet has three sides, with the driver arrays firing in phase approximately 100° apart to flood the area with sound and the third side mounts against the wall. Dispersing the surround channel's sound evenly over a broad area of the room creates an enveloping home theater experience.

Aluminum Dome Tweeters: The SR9040 bipolar surround speaker features two 1" aluminum dome tweeters for crystal clear highs that bring the most demanding audio soundtracks to life. Definitive Technology tweeters are designed to play higher in frequency than what is heard by the human ear, creating an authentic reproduction of sound as the artist intends in the studio or concert hall.

BDSS (2nd Gen) Drivers: The Definitive Technology SR9040 employs two 3.5" midrange cone woofers with patented Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) technology (2nd generation). BDSS technology improves driver excursion which results in the selected driver producing bass output usually associated with a larger driver, while retaining the improved dispersion and midrange definition of a smaller driver.

Resonance-Free Cabinet w/ Acoustically Transparent Grilles: The Definitive Technology SR9040 uses a resonance-free cabinet w/ acoustically transparent grilles for high performance, distortion-free sound. The speaker cabinet's maximum rigidity with strategically placed bracing improves imaging while reducing resonance, further reinforcing the speaker's clean and powerful sound. Thanks to the speaker's acoustically transparent grilles, you'll enjoy the subtle elegance of the speaker design without having to remove a speaker grille to enjoy natural, uncolored sound.

Binding Post Terminals: The speaker terminals are 5-way binding posts that will accommodate spade connectors, single or dual banana plugs, pin-connectors, and bare wire up to 10 gauge.

Mounting Options: The SR9040 has a rear-panel keyhole slot for wall-mounting. It can also be simply placed on a shelf or stand.

Placement: For use surround speakers, position the speakers approximately 6' high and directly beside or 1-2" behind the listening area. For use as surround back speakers, position the speakers approximately 6' high and 6' apart directly behind the listening area.

BP9000 Series: The SR9040 is part of Definitive Technology's BP9000 series line-up of speakers. Definitive Technology's BP9000 series loudspeakers is its 4th generation of bipolar tower speakers, matching center channels, surrounds, and a height speaker module, designed to offer true, full-range performance for listeners seeking the highest quality audio reproduction. The BP9000 series of loudspeakers consists of the BP9020, BP9040, BP9060 and BP9080X bipolar tower speakers; the CS9040, CS9060 and CS9080 center-channel speakers; the SR9040 and SR9080 surround speakers; and the A90 elevation speaker module supporting Dolby Atmos.

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7 questions already asked

Can I have the mounting hole use the screw from a low voltage box? Will it be too heavy for the low voltage to support over time?

jay Nov 29, 2021

2 answers

I would not attempt to mount the speaker in this manner. This speaker requires a dedicated #10-#12 mounting screw that is ideally anchored in a stud, or using a high-quality drywall anchor if mounting to sheet rock alone. If your LV box is mounted to a stud, put a dedicated screw in the stud just above the box so the speaker covers the box when installed, or drill a hole for a drywall anchor above the box to accomplish the same thing. Use good quality hardware designed for the weight and take the time to do it right. You don't want these speakers crashing down in the middle of movie night.

charles Dec 02, 2021

They are pretty heavy, probably not the best idea.

ryan Dec 01, 2021

Will these work well with Polk Rti A7 floor speakers and Csi A4? I cannot find the fxi A4 as they are discontinued and I need to find something comparible.

daniel Apr 04, 2021

1 answer

Absolutely.!!

richard Apr 29, 2021

Are these stable (not going to fall over, (playing or not in use) on a flat speaker stand? Do they have feet to accommodate flat stand setup?

daryl Dec 07, 2020

6 answers

I have the SR 9040's on Sanus SF30 Speaker Stands. No feet on speakers but sit fla between rubber on the standt. I used some very thin rubber material that is sticky on both sides. After a while it becomes anchored in place. The stands are stable with adjustable feet, metal for carpet and rubber for wood floors. I keep them slightly out of range due to the obvious concern. But its not been a problem at all. When I bumped it once it only shuddered while I quaked. It would take a very solid big bump to unsettle the speaker. They;re wide bodied and slightly heavy. Oh, and the sound is great.

geoffrey h Dec 08, 2020

They don't have feet but the bottom is flat and they are pretty heavy. Mine are wall mounted but I think they'd be plenty stable on a flat surface.

will Dec 08, 2020

Daryl I think they would be fine to be put on a speaker stand as long as you use the felt pads that come with them to stick them on the bottom then you should be okay I've got mine on the wall

richard Dec 08, 2020

The speakers have a very smooth bottom with no option for direct mounting to a stand, which is unfortunate. We "mounted" ours onto free standing stands that had rubber pads on top of the stand, which helped prevent the speakers from shifting about. I would be very cautious about using these if it is an area with foot traffic etc. since they could topple if bumped into. With that said, ours never experienced a fall either during use or from accidental bumping into.

bruce Dec 08, 2020

Yes these, Definitive Technology SR 9040 Speakers, are very stable as Bookshelf Speakers or what I'm using is an adjustable pole stand with a cast iron base.

brian k. Dec 08, 2020

They are very stable on a flat surface...they are not light so would not recommend a chincy speaker stands.

ryan Dec 07, 2020

My Sony Subwoofer has 2 left and 2 right speaker outputs. Can these speakers be connected to my subwoofer?

paul Sep 27, 2020

2 answers

Connect your speakers to your receiver use lfe receiver to the subwoofer

richard Sep 28, 2020

I would think so I use the SR-9040 for rear surround I'm thinking about replacing them with definitive D17 don't know if that's a good idea

marvin Sep 28, 2020

Can this speaker be used as a single (mono) back surround, or is it meant to be used a full surround system, 2 units?

daniel Feb 05, 2019

6 answers

They sound beautiful in a pair for rear surround

anthony Feb 05, 2019

It only has input for one channel. You cannot hook both a left rear channel and a right rear channel to only one speaker. Thus to do surround you need two speakers.

joseph Feb 05, 2019

I am using this as a single mono back speaker. My room did not allow for two surround back speakers. In my opinion the bi-polar design of this surround speaker makes it perfect for that application.

jay Feb 05, 2019

I think it would work good, it should fill the area close to as if 2 were there

leland Feb 05, 2019

Hi Daniel, Yes. You use it as a single mono speaker. It will just split frequencies between the drivers to recreate an ambiance sound feeling. But, it's better and recommended to use it in pairs and channeled according the room configuration so you can create the intended ambiance, and have the best surroundIng theather sound experience. I have two of them as surround back channels in a Dts:X system. The sound, amazing immersive rich sound. -Sergio-

sergio rodrigue Feb 05, 2019

I would recommend purchasing two speakers, why deny yourself great sound. I have a pair used for back surround and they are great. One speaker could limit the surround sound experience in my opinion. I have not regretted my purchase at all. Good luck, hope that helps.

paul Feb 05, 2019

Can the sr9040 be used as height speakers?

eddie Nov 26, 2018

1 answer

Negative, you have two speakers that face opposite directions it won't be any use as a height speaker.

stanley Dec 03, 2018

Mounting Bracket - Def Tech SR9040 I am trying to find an adjustable mounting bracket that will work with the keyhole style on the Definitive Technology SR9040 speakers. Any thoughts?

marc May 01, 2017

2 answers

Hi, I didn't look for a bracket, mounted the speaker on a appropriate size screw, pulled the wires out of a hole I made in the wall to coincide with the speaker terminals and it looks perfect. I figured when I'm no longer using the speakers I'll only have four little holes to spackle.

albert May 02, 2017

Try these it says they are compatable with the single keyhole slot https://www.crutchfield.com/p_121AM30B/Pinpoint-AM30-Black.html

paul May 02, 2017

SHOW MORESHOW LESS

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