'Fanatics of 'accuracy to the source' fail to realize that an audio system's truthfulness is not something that exists on a scale of less to more—it is always more an opinion than a fact. Accuracy is whatever you think accuracy is.

1. Dynaudio Contour 20 Specs

And what is more subjective than that?' W H A T I N T H E W O R L D?!It is really simple, signal goes in, sound goes out. How accurately sound represents the signal? There is nothing 'subjective' in it.Jesus!!!And no, your amp does not have 400 WPC, it's 400WPC into 4 ohm with 1% THD!At best it has as much power as a well built 120 WPC amp. I was heartened to see the Contour perform well with a low-powered tube integrated amp.

Dynaudio Contour 20 Specs

When rear-ported speakers are moved closer to the wall behind them, port plugs made of foam (or old socks) are sometimes necessary. Dynaudio's plug can be used to either fully block the Contour 20's port, or by removing the center of the plug merely narrow its aperture. I experimented with the plugs and nearly drove myself crazy. Every time I moved the speakers closer to or farther from the.

• Danish speaker maker Dynaudio sums it up succinctly with the description for its new £1,999 Xeo 20. It calls it a compact digital active wireless hi-fi speaker delivering hi-fi performance without the hi-fi system.
• Dynaudio contour 20 speakers piano gloss white absolutely immaculate- no nicks or scratches 1 year old; lightly used, never abused sensitivity 86db/w power handling 180w imp 4 ohms freq resp 39hz-23khz +/-3db woofer 7' tweeter 1' soft dome 34 lbs each shipping to continental us is free.

How would such a pairing hold up over time?I have always enjoyed the sound of Dynaudios. The lower sensitivity and impedance have always concerned me as a potential purchaser, as has the extent to which one has to turn up the volume compared to a B&W, for example.This review demonstrated that the new Contours, like the old s1.4, still require an aggravating amount of fiddling around to get the right in-room placement. At least your review shows that the optimal placement is attainable. An older review of the s1.4-issued by a publication north-of-the-border-left the reviewer, by my interpretation, unable to find a satisfactory placement for the older model.I had another question about Dynaudio in general, and other soft-dome tweeter speakers. What's the long-term durability of soft-dome tweeters (and non-metallic woofers for that matter) compared to the aluminum that is found in other brands? Perhaps it's comparable; perhaps it's better. Given the expense of good speakers, some commentary-in a general, non-product-specific write-up-would be welcome at some point in Stereophile.I have not heard the Contours, only the Confidence and Excite models.

If you can find the appropriate amplification for these Dynaudio products, they are fine transducers indeed. Some reassurance that they can accommodate a broader array of amplification would also be welcome news to those who sell, and might buy, this brand of speaker. Allhifi,Since you referenced my username and had a tone of disrespect, I will respond once.First you mention that I am a 'brand faithful'. Hey breeze: Indeed, amplifier choice is crucial to obtaining high performance.Yet, for some (including you and tony ) that must search the world over for a 'suitable' amp for your Dyn's is rather self explanatory; it's a barely passable design that requires amplification with specific colorations to sound acceptable.

That's bad.There are many fine sounding amplifiers today, and if the Dyn's can't sound good with most of these, I'd suggest the issue/ problem/weak sound lies with the transducer.It's bizarre that an audiophile would have spend such an inordinate amount of time seeking a suitable amplifier; I'd say find a better loudspeaker.That Dyn made/makes? Solid drive-units has nothing to do with the company's inability to manufacture consistently top performering loudspeakers.You references to impedance/phase angle plots (if one should exist to potentially cause issues for the amp) is yet again another indication of poor loudspeaker design decisions -do NOT force the amplifier into a uncomfortable zone. It's not Rocket Science breezy.Finally 'eisegesis' (woah, never heard that one before), flat-earth, Christians. We're definitely on to something here.pj.

Allhifi,Thanks for respectful communication. The 'shouts' in my last post were meant as highlights to key phrases, but I don't know of a good way to do that here.I'm not an audiophile, and I'm not searching the world over for a suitable amp for the speakers.The Dyns sounded good with low power, they sounded good with way more power than they needed. But they sound most alive with moderate-high power.This kind of variability occurs with any type of speaker out there; it's not limited to Dyns. It's the reason most people with very high sensitivity speakers run flea-watt tube amps on them; people with low impedance/current demanding electrostats and planars pair them up with massive monoblocks. That's how to get the best sound from them.Hope this is a more clear explanation.Regards,- Jbreezy. Hi breezy: It's always wise to determine who it is one is communicating; a novice, few years experience, or a lifetime of hi-fi experience.

One that includes thousands of people, hi-fi systems, spanning decades.Also one who took each and every moment and opportunity to experiment with varying combinations of world-class electronics, cabling and AC power 'systems'. Forget that Dynaudio should have remained a drive-unit manufacturer only.

I bought a pair of Contour 20s last year and was transfixed by the sound of these babies pushed with the McIntosh 402 and Bat VK500. But then about three months after I purchased them they suddenly when crackle, zap and dead. When the Dynaudio warranty came into play, it turned out that document was not worth the paper it was printed on. So regardless of what they manufacture, the warranties that back up their products are rubbish! Better Amplification?, good luck finding that.I first read this report when my Print Issue of Stereophile arrived two weeks ago. You pinned me back in my chair as I read.I've had the same experience of mix & match hunting to discover & release the magic that I knew was lurking there. As a Retail Dealer, I ordered every Amplification Sample I could negotiate.

Finally, Karen Sumner sent me some Electrocompaniet and viola, the Music bloomed, and addiction set in. I carried the Full-Line of Electrocompaniet, all of which were Superb.Those Norther European Drivers are special, nearly everything that has em can sound wonderful. Great Tube gear releases it just like the Electrocompaniet stuff. I had only two Tube Amps that were consistently outstanding: Audible Illusions Modulus Pre and Conrad-Johnson's MV-45a but the Audible Illusions didn't do Moving Coils so I only had the PreAmpliwire which was all I needed ( I was a Koetsu man ).Your Review prompted me to have a look at PrimaLuna. Geez, these people are Tube hunters ( like Art Ferris of Audible Illusions ) which explains your findings. You fell into Dyn drivers & musical tubes, I doubt that any Solid State electronics will equal what you're reporting ( I still own and enjoy a good SS Class A Headphone Amp ).Headphone wise, the Tube rollers are reporting magic from the Polish Feliks amp. There's quite a group of them on HeadFi.I hope that Mr.Kevin Deal will allow you to review his Big Integrated Dialogue Premium HP!!!

I can't think of another person that could put it thru it's full performance envelope or be able to report as clearly and understandably as you've seemed able to do ( I've just read all your stuff from 2014 onward ).I'd even suggest that Tyll would welcome a Headphone contribution to Innerfidelty, about this Amp. Phew, that would be an exciting 'Must-Read' bit of Journalism!I congratulate and applaud J.A. For discovering you and releasing your talents.This report on the Contour is one of the best Audio journalisms I've read in some time.Tony in Michigan.

Herbert, Herbert, Herbert. Octoberfest is not upon us, and yet you decide to 'Eine Prosit' a bit early!What a mess of a review. On so many levels:1) That's why we should have 'Reference' equipment -so we don't waste 4-days of our lives attempting to 'figure out' the problem(s).2) But I'm getting head of myself, your comments about validating measured performance with subjective impressions is a far more nuanced dance than your stark and wild interpretations.3) And then you finally 'discovered' amplifier problems / incompatibility issues? What a (sad) start.Spending what felt to be half of the article explaining your stupidity (and disturbing lack of professionalism), you then go on to describe the sound with 'words of expression' you just shunned in the opening paragraph!You, Stereophile and the editor should apologize to readers and DynAudio for this immature piece of drek and at least offer the manufacturer another 'review' lead by a professional. Or a few of extra 'rounds' on the (Stereophile) House come this Oktoberfest!' Ziggy-zaggy, ziggy-zaggy hoi, hoi hoi' lolpeter jaszP.S.

Herbert, lean off the brown pops until then!). Sadly, I have to back up to some degree allhifi's comments on the review of this speaker. A product in this league deserves to be tested and reviewed by someone with lots of knowledge and understanding of Dynaudio's products and philosophies. As an example, it shouldn't really be a surprise that Contour 20 (although being a completely newly developed model in every aspect, aside from the tweeter) would surely benefit from amps with an ability to provide lots of solid current to it. This is not entirely new with Dynaudio speakers. Another thing that bothered me all through the review, is that it seemed like this was Herb's first entry as a reviewer, looking like a blind man in a wheelchair crossing a busy highway during rush hour.Sorry Herb - better luck next timeRegards. I am fully aware that this thread is dead by now, but still I'd like to contribute with my new findings.When I purchased the Contour 20s a little over a year ago, my amplifiers were a 20 year old 'set' of Parasounds, the PHP-850 and HCA-1000.

First, the Parasound power amp (2x 230 W / 4 Ohms) was a very good match with the Dyns. Second, of course these otherwise very respected elderlys lacked in other areas. Amplification technology, along with much else, has surely come a long way since the millenia.Recently, my long 'lost love' of amps came into my living room: The Accuphase E-370. A product of a more modern time and technology, and with a much firmer grip on things altogether, which is clearly audible in every aspect of the music reproduction. The amp loves the Contours, and vice versa.

Todaypk age of ultron. The funny thing is, it IS in fact a moderate powered amp, but with a rather oversized power stage compared to many other amps in the 1oo Watts per channel range.Regarding the difficulty of positioning the Contours correctly (which I absolutely experienced with the Parasounds), the next funny thing is that all anomalies in the resulting stereo image, had disappeared like a popsickle in Nevada on a hot summers day when I connected the Accuphase. The stereo image was out of this world depthwise, and clearly better than decent hight- and widthwise.The amps crisp detals, speed, the very convincing level of fidelity and coherence, and the iron grip on my woofers, made this combo stand out as one of the best I have ever heard in a private home. And the 'true to the source' claim we have so often seen quoted regarding Dyns, becomes much easier to believe when you tie an Accuphase horse in front of your Dyn waggon. Only people with access to the source could ever get a chance to vertify it, but who cares, if a certain combo makes us believe it?