Dynaudio Owner's Thread - Page 42

MAOULQ:
hi! AUDITIONED BOTH FOCUS 110 & 140...some review magazines prefer the 110. But my experience led me towards the 140's. They just sound fuller and more "complete". The 110's sounded very smooth and clean...but they just lacked "balance". They just seem to lack the lower spectrum.

I used a pair of audience 42's and b&w dm603s2...until kids damaged them both

But you have to have a lot of PATIENCE with the 140's . After I got them home, I really really really thought I made the wrong choice! they sounded bad out of the box. But after about 300 hours of playtime...they sound very very good indeed.
Oh, you also need to experiment a LOT with placements. After moving them around from side and front walls, and slight toe-in, they sound REALLY GREAT!

Absolutely no regrets at all now...I love them more each day hehehe

hope this helps

I have also listened to MA line - the RS and GS, both floorstanding, and the Dynaudio Focus 140. Let me put it this way. The MAs to me were like, OK, they sound good, ho-hummm. However, when I first heard the Focus 140 with the Sim i5 driving I was like wow, these speakers sound really good. I can't believe bookshelves could be so balanced at all freq responses levels.

Granted they were not compared side by side, and the Dyna were used speakers, but sometimes you hear a speaker and they just sound right - do you know what I mean?

The Focus 140s were the first Dynas that I had ever heard. From these I went up the chain and listened to Contour 3.4, Confidence C1 and then C2. I had compared the 140s direct with the ProAc Response 1SC. A lot of people rave about the ProAc but to me the Dynas were better sounding - definitely smoother and better in the mids but the Proacs were somewhat more detailed in the highs. But to me, it's the mids where it counts. Get those right and start from there is my philosophy.

I compared the MA GS with the B&W 804S back-to-back. I thought the B&W sounded better of the two. Actually I liked the B&W 805S better than the 804S, which was when I started thinking maybe standmounts were better for me - small space that I live in.

What you will find is the posters here will favour the Dynas whilst the posters in the MA thread will favour their speaker. But you need to listen for yourself and determine what speaker sounds best to your ears. Because that is all that matters.

What speaker wire would you guys recommend for a C1 and Sim i5.3 amp. I was going to go with a no-name 12-14 gauge wire but can get my hands on some used Chord Odyssey 2s at a reasonable price. A friend also recommended some inexpensive QEDs and Gothem wires.

Wire length will be 3m so any 16 guage lampcord should do, right?

Any thoughts?

The debate goes on but I don't think anyone would dare put K mart brand tires on their Corvette so why put lampcord on the best stand mount speaker made? Their is a difference in cables, you just need to listen.

Mick

I will tell you that the biggest difference between the 110 and 140 is the tweeter, the tweeter in the 140 is better and is actually the same as what is used in the 220's. You will getter smoother more refined high frequencies in the 140 and of course more low frequency because of the larger bass driver.

Mick

I don't want expensive cables, just ones that are good enough. Any hints where I can start?

ZeroEight,

Take a look at signalcable.com. There prices seem very fair and reveiws of their products are very good.

Bill

For my C1s (and other speakers) I use cabling that I have built myself. I use Canare StarQuad 4S11 which has four 14 AWG wires interwoven with a large sheathing around the four conductors. Its large and flexable wire (I think its around $1/ft for the wire - I ordered from Have Inc.). I recently installed WBT connectors when i got my C1s as my "cheap" radioshack bannana plugs don't work with the C1s. I don't have all of the fancy techflex covering on the cable builds, but i may do that sometime in the future. I have no real complaints, for a reasonable build price, at a fraction of the cost of someone else building them. I don't know how many of these cable manufactures I see using Canare cabling and charging $60+ for 6ft with little to no terminations...crazy IMHO!

Quite a few years ago I did some testing if i could hear the difference between a variety of cable qualities, only on the worst cables could i actually hear a difference. That convinced me on how much i should pay for cables....

-DrPyro

Try bluejeanscable.com. Not the sexiest cables around, but great for the price. They even have cable using the Canare 4s11 that DrPyro is using.

Hello ZeroEight,

First of all, congratulation on purchasing C1 speakers. I hope they server you well.
As far as the cabling question, you should read this first: (if not already)
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
then maybe consider this:
http://www.bryston.ca/speaker.html
My take on cable is this, NO CABLE IS THE BEST CABLE. Keep them short (mine are 1 meter) and thick (mine are 10 awg sliver plated copper with Teflon insulation). I have used the same cable inside my 3.3 Contour and it works great. Original Dynaudio cable was showing already signs of corrosion when I replaced it. I have also changed every single resistor, capacitor in the crossover (Mundorf components) and speaker binding post (WBT - 0730.12). Hell, I couldn't stop so I've got rid of the plinth and order custom stands (with 1cm sorbothane between the speaker and stands). Speakers are connected to the Parasound JC1 and source is Sony SDC1 and TA-E1. Too bad that I couldn't attached my dedicate listening room pictures (they are 3MB in size and this site will allow only for 0.5MB). Anyway, my two cents on cables. ;-)

Bo

Tim916- Yup..that is basically exactly what i built, not fancy, and very reasonably priced! Spend your $ on speakers, pre/pros, & amps ;-)

Dynaudio_fan- Hey, great link to the Roger Russell website..... Those are a heck of alot of mods on your 3.3, so the important question...How did it change your sound?

-DrPyro

That is a very good question. I would like to think for the better ;-). It is Mundrof Supreme Silver/Oil cap against Solen (on there tweeter). In the midrange circuit you have also one Benic electrolytic cap.
You can read more here:
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
PROS:
1) Sounds got to me
2) B&W and many more are catching on it (used in Nautilus series)
CONS:
1) Not a dynaudio sound any more :-(
2) Loss of retail value
3) Also, there is a possibility that I have changed the crossover frequency by lowering the resistance (not attentional).

Bo

I heard the C-1 a few years ago and was very impressed by them but I was concerned they were too small for my large family room so I passed on them. My room is about 3000 cf and opens on one of the long sides to a 2000+ cf kitchen. Currently I have a pair of Contour 3.3 for my mains. Do you think it would be a mistake to trade the 3.3s for a pair of C-1s. They are used 75% ht and 25% music.
Ken

Thanks guys for the feedback. I had read the Russell article but I also see the otherside as some people prefer a nice looking cable and do want to spend more than the minimum, and some who claim to hear a difference - well as long as they do who am I to argue.

Ken - Hard to say as every room is different and one's level of what is acceptable is also different. I have a fairly small listening area (1200 cu/ft that opens out to another space that is about 2000 cu/ft) compared to you but compared to the majority of apartments here, it is fair size. Many salesmen have suggested that I stick with floorstanders, so in a week I will see whether they were right or I was by going with the C1s. But then I also have full carpeting, drapes, concrete walls, big picture window and little furniture, so my room might be on the bright side - we'll see. Too bad home demos are not available here.

I picked up a few pairs of Zu cables on ebay factory direct. They are fairly cheap and they sound just fine. I can't really hear the difference between these and some other higher priced ones. They are nicely terminated and look great too.
Ken

Ken-

Can the C1s be run in that size of room..you bet. I run mine in 2500ft^3 room that is open to a roughly 3000ft^3 kitchen to very loud levels (for me). Should YOU? that is much harder to say...it really depends on your personal preference! I love my C1s! They are in my living room and connected to my TV/HT, they do get used for "daily" use for that kind of listening. If that is all i did, I would have happily kept my Klipsch speakers. However, I love classical music and the mid tones are just weak on the klipsch speakers and i was no longer willing to sacrifice my classical enjoyment. (Plus the minor thing that the little lady didn't like the large black monoliths of the klipsch, but it did take her some time to warm up to the C1s ) I only get about 25% listening time on music due to other pressures, but i still made the leap to the C1s and don't regret it. The Contour 3.3s are very good speakers, what are you looking to improve in your listening experience? Or other problems and such?

-DrPyro

DrPyro,
I like my 3.3s very much. They just don't have the stunning mid range as do the C1s. Before the 3.3s I had a pair of Celestion SL600s for 15 years. The C1s reminded me of the 600s only better. I almost bought a pair of them 3 or 4 years ago when I heard them but I was afaird they wouldn't cut it in a large room. That's why I sold my 600s.
Ken

I'm looking second bookshelf i'm hearing lots of good things about the 140's just how good are these speakers(for music that is not into ht much)
Was also looking at at the Energy Veritas 2.2i and the Revel M22, which are in the same price range. Any thouhgts guys.......

Hello Ken,

Contour 3.3 speaker is a very powerful speaker with very good bass extension. If the listening space is not acoustically treated there could be an excess of the bass which could result in muddying up the midrange and upper frequency sound. Speaker itself has the crossover frequency in the 350Hz range (lower midrange) where it could be down by 6db. I don't want to sound like I'm defending the Contour 3.3 speaker, but unless you have acoustically treated room you will never find out what particular speaker can do. Even though I have never heard C1 speaker, I can see how better drivers and possibly better crossover components in the smaller speaker (less of the bass extension) would sound better in a average size room.

Has anyone paired up Dynaudios with a EAD Powermaster amp? I saw a few for sale on a-gon and must admit they look interesting. The one I saw was the Powermaster 1000 and it is 200x5 @ 8ohm.

What piqued my interest was the mention that in 2 CH use it diverted all power (500x2 @ 8ohm) to the two channels being used. I tryed to get more specs on the EAD amps but their site is not very well set-up. So if anyone has any thoughts on the EAD amps I would appreciate your thoughts.

Bill

I maybe taking a whole different direction. I have been looking at the Integra 9.8 but due to the lack of some features I am now looking at the Integra 8.8 reciever. The 8.8 seems to have a pretty robust amp section that is capable to drive 4 ohm speakers.

If this is works out and the 8.8 can power the 140s/200C well enough I could replace my Anthem AVM 30/Parasound A52. I would appreciate any thoughts on this. I am sure the SQ will be a lateral move at best but I am looking at setting up a seperate 2 ch room in the near future. Thanks in advance for any input.

Bill

Where oh where have all the Dyn owners gone? I'm starting to get a little nervous here, I think I just saw a tumbleweed fly by! Only one post in four days.

Bill

Must be vacation time. I am sure after next week when we show the Sapphire at Cedia there will be quite a few new posts.

Mick

we are enjoying our speakers =]

Mick,

I am sure you are right I was just feeling lonely.

DWAIY,

I am enjoying mine as well!

Bill

From my experience, you should move up not down. I got a Simaudio Titan-5 six months ago (base on AA advice) and sold it to my friend due to financial reason. He used the Anthem AVM30/Titan-5 to drive his Contours and very happy with the results. And for me, I am stuck with the Parasound A52 and wish that I didn't sell the Titan.

Zi

I agree that you should move up and not done but I will have to listen for myself to see if there is a huge difference between the 8.8 and AVM 30/A52. Worst case is I can use the A52 with the 8.8. Also I am sure the A52 is not in the same league as the Titan 5 but I am sure it's not that bad.

Bill

I was wondering if anyone has ever used the McIntosh 501 Power Mono Blocks at 600WPC to power there Dynaudio Speakers?

I have a chance to pick up a pair of the mono blocks for a great price, and was thinking they might make a nice match with my S5.4.

Michael