Dynaudio Focus 380

have you tried tube rolling? Different tubes tend to give you a different sound. Maybe some EL34s for that warm lush sound, although you might lose some power at the low-end. Perhaps you could add a stereo amp to give the speakers more power then what that Ayon is giving as well as a tube change?

I heard the 380s with Audio Research gear and it sounded fantastic. One thing tho, and Im sure you know, is that Dyns typically try not to impart much of their own sound on the music. Sure they have a little warmth, but pretty neutral overall. If all you components are neutral then it could sound boring.

50 hours or less may not be enough to break them in. Most Dynaudio owners will tell you that after a certain amount of hours the sound quality improves. You really need to go thru the ritual first before doing anything.

Maybe you have a CD player that you can set repeat disc and let it rip for at least 20, 30 or more hours (100 ) But seriously I would try to get to two hundred hours before making any decisions on selling them or changing electronics.

I have not heard the 380s but owned the original Focus 220 before moving to Confidence and I still have the 110s as surround. The last thing I would call them is anemic.

Did you audition first and liked them at audition or blind buy? If after another 100 to 150 hours on these speakers maybe you just desire a different sound. If this is the case I would suggest a Focal audition. A bit more in your face/front row.

Really, run them in more then decide.

Rick
Edited by Mr.SoftDome - 11/23/12 at 2:49pm

yeah, I have had my focus 160s for a few weeks, about a month now and they sounded really good about 150 hrs in. If you can let them just play all day while youre gone at work, that is what I did. I was able to do that in about a week. Two weeks in they were pretty well broke-in. Now they have about 300 hrs, which is where people say they are fully broke-in. I havent noticed to much change in the last 150 hrs tho. It took at least a week(75-80 hrs) for the bass and mids to develop into what I heard when I auditioned them. I think that switching the tubes(replacing the tubes on your Ayon with new tubes, not changing the gear) will affect the sound more then cables. Im like you I cant afford that either. I use a Naim Nait 5i and an Arcam rDAC and the pairing is excellent.

have the 360s and they take at least 200 or more hours to start to break in. Do not give up. I am using a Mac 402 400 watt amp with mac 2200 preamp and it is incredible. I am actually thinking of upgrading to the 380s as they have been redesigned and are "suppose" to be better. I do know that everyone says the Dynas need a lot of power. Not sure what your gear is but these speakers are great. I had B&W 80 N and these are just so much more high end sounding with soundstaging and amazing detail,

Dynaudios tend to work best with powerful high current solid state amps. I was driving my Dynaudio Contour 3.3s with a 200@8ohms, 400@4ohms Classe' amp and the speakers probably would have liked even more power.

I'd recommend more break-in (at least a couple hundred hours), however, before doing anything. If they're still not where you like them, try auditioning new amps.