Definitive Technology W7

Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers / Home

A Play-Fi-compatible WiFi and Bluetooth wireless home speaker system.

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CR's Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers

What goes into the Overall Score?

Sound quality

/ 5

Ease of use

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

Color

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

Sound quality: Definitive Technology's W7 had good overall sound quality. Bass has good impact but is tubby and although it is pronounced to the extent that it overwhelms the midrange and treble, deepest bass is lacking. Midrange is dark, soft and bit grainy, and treble is extended. This model doesn't do a good job recovering room ambience--a sense of the acoustic space where the recording was made--and it lacks fine detail and treble air. We found no significant difference in sound quality whether a WiFi, wire, or optical audio connection was used. As a single speaker, the soundfield has a monophonic character when heard from a distance, and only a slight stereo image up close. When two units are combined as a stereo pair they provide a very solid stereo image that seems to recover a bit more ambience--a sense of the acoustic space where the recording was made. However, the treble becomes recessed and the already prominent bass sounds even heavier, dropping the overall sound quality to the lower range of good. This model can provide a decent volume level in a medium sized room.

Ease of use: We found the system's ease of use to be good overall. Connecting the Definitive Technology W7 to a WiFi network was very easy if you have a router with WPS capability. The connection occurs fairly quickly, but there's no tonal or clear visual feedback. Otherwise, manually setting up WiFi can be tedious. The smart phone app volume controls are well marked, and are displayed as a slider next to a speaker symbol. But there are no numeric or hash mark references, so fine volume adjustments require a steady hand. We noticed an inconsistent response lag when using the scrub bar to go to a specific time on an audio program. The Smartphone app mute control is somewhat ambiguous, but once located and engaged it clearly indicates when playback is muted. Switching between WiFi sources was good, but there weren't provisions for switching between WiFi, optical, and line inputs.

About

The Definitive Technology W7 is part of the Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Wireless & Bluetooth Speaker models like the W7 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Sound quality: A high score indicates the speaker delivers accurate and detailed sound across bass, midrange, and treble after adjusting settings for balanced audio. Expect clearer, high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion or other audio issues.

Ease of use: Higher scores mean the speaker is intuitive and easy to use, from setup to daily operation. Expect well-labeled controls, straightforward Bluetooth or Wi-Fi setup, and a physical or app remote (if included) that's simple to use.

Versatility: A high score indicates the speaker is packed with features users typically want and need. While higher scoring models may not include every specific feature you’re looking for, they offer features that suit a variety of needs like number of inputs and adjustable sound settings.

Features & Specs

Features

IP rating

Claimed battery life (hrs.)

Adjustable tone settings

Wireless stereo pairing

Speaker phone w/built-in mic

Optional multi-room sharing

Yes

Remote

Power source

Updatable software/firmware

Yes

Warranty (mos.): parts/labor

12/12

Other features

None.

Included accessories

Setup Guide, Product Information, Power Cord

WiFi content sharing technology

Play-Fi, DLNA

Wake timer

Sleep timer

Specs

Wireless type

WiFi

Audio format

Stereo

Height (in.)

Width (in.)

Depth (in.)

Weight (lbs.)

Dimensions HxWxD (in.)

7.5 x 6 x 8.5

Connections

Stereo analog audio input

Yes

Optical digital audio input

Yes

Headphone jack

Active subwoofer pre-amp out

Other connections

Ethernet

iPod Docking

Price & Shop

Definitive Technology W7

CR's Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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