Dynaudio Owner's Thread - Page 543

Originally Posted by RaceTripper 

That is most definitely not a thread I'm getting involved in. The majority of AVS threads on HiFi outside this one are completely idiotic, and troll bait at best. I don't even look for other discussions here anymore.

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

Just got back from 2 days at the lake and waiting for me were my new Dyn Focus 160s (in gloss white!!!). Listening now. Man, first of all, I can't say enough about playing with speaker location. I first set them up on my Stand 4s just to the inside of my PMCs. My thought was that I would leave them both setup so I could do some A/B switching. Well, I was disappointed with the sound of the Focus 160s from the first note. Just didn't have the transparency of my PMCs. Then I let them play for about an hour, came back and still was a bit underwhelmed. So I moved my PMCs off to the side and moved the Focus 160s farther out and closer to the back wall. Now they are about 2' from side walls and 20" from the back wall. Wow, talk about a difference. I mean WOW!!!
More later, plus pics!

Originally Posted by CDLehner 

If we're talking music...here's two titles I've been listening to a lot lately, and highly recommend:

Congrats on the new speaks Jax!
CD

Originally Posted by callas01 

Do you believe in break-in, or are you one of those that dont?

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

For speakers and for tubed equipment yes, I believe in break in. Speakers have moving parts. It makes sense. For everything else, solid state gear, and cables, nope.

Originally Posted by callas01 

interesting, because for a while I was using my Naim Nait 5i and Arcam rDAC and couldnt really see the difference between it and my Integra 40.2, I went back and forth a few times and was contemplating selling them and just keeping the Integra. I told myself to give it a couple months, I did and when I plugged everything back into my Integra for music, and OMG, there was a huge difference. The Integra as good as I used to think it was, showed its lack of dynamics and abilities to develop the same levels of detail and soundstaging as the Naim/Arcam combo. Happy now that I didnt sell the items when I was feeling discouraged.

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

CD, I tried to get into that Fionna Apple release. Listened to it a few times, but it's just too far out in la la land for me. It is well recorded though and also very interesting.

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

Ok, this site's been kind of dead. Maybe this will spark some discussion. After some break in, I am officially blown away by how good these new Focus speakers are. For the money, the Focus 160 is a true giant killer. It's no secret that I loved my Contour S1.4s and I owned them for more than 2 years and listened to them daily. However, between the two, I'd have to pick the Focus 160. The S1.4 only beats the Focus 160 in bass weight. In that one area, the S1.4 is truly amazing for a stand mount speaker. And while the S1.4 is no slouch in the mids and highs (to the contrary, it is an excellent all around speaker), it cannot match the transparency and natural tone these Focus 160s are capable of IMHO.
Don't get me wrong, the S1.4 is one of the best stand mount speakers on the market, but it is a nearly 10 year old design and I think the engineers at Dynaudio have made a real leap forward with the latest focus line. I would imagine when the next gen contours are released (in 2013 would be my SWAG), they will be another leap forward.

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

Hey old friend. I pretty much agree entirely with your assessment. No doubt some people will prefer contours to the new focus. They are in fact very balanced and I enjoyed that aspect of them very much. Having owned B&W CM7s for awhile (going back a few years now), I can say that the focus line while more open and airy is not bright like that particular B&W is. But they are definately more forward than the contours. I sill wouldn't catogorized them as lean or bright. They are after all still Dynaudio speakers. They still have bass that kicks ass over the vast majority of the competition. The contours do tend more toward the dark end of the spectrum which I liked because I was using Bryston gear which leans the other way. And, the 160s are definately not as tipped up as the special 25s.

Originally Posted by RaceTripper 

So I wonder how the S3.4s would stack up to a pair of Focus floor-standers (260?/340?) in the comparable price range.

Originally Posted by Dynero 

How good is the new Dynaudio sub 600? Or for that matter the earlier subs, are they good enough to take on REL and JLAudio?

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

Good question. The most reasonable comparison would be the S3.4 to the 260 since they are similarly configured. I suspect it's just like the S1.4 to 160 comparison, more a matter of taste than one being clearly superior.
Now, the 340 is another matter. It has a dedicated mid range driver. It also has bigger woofers than the S3.4 or 260 so I suspect that's a different ball game.

Originally Posted by RaceTripper 

The Dyn subs do not have high level inputs like the REL/JL, making it difficult to integrate for two-channel music. I tried several times to get my Sub500 to work in my two-channel system without success. Otherwise, the Dyn subs are fast and sound great. I use my Sub500 in the AV system and wouldn't change it.

Originally Posted by Dynero 

Interesting, thanks, can I just say I absolutely love the way Dynes do home theatre, soo good

Originally Posted by CDLehner 

I'm more convinced than ever, the Contour line is not long for this world.

Originally Posted by jaxwired 

Interesting theory. I will say that the Focus line is stupid good for the money. However, the Dynaudio lineup has been too crowded ever since they added the Excites. Wasn't there a time when it was just Audience/Contour/Confidence? So that's morphed from 3 lines to 5 with DM/Excite/Focus/Contour/Confidence. Yep, pretty crowded. No matter what you do, one line is always encrouching on another one. Used to be Excite encroching on Focus, now its Focus encroaching on Contour. If they upgrade Contour then it will be encroaching on the Confidence line. Extrapolating from the new Focus line price jump, a contour update would probably put the S3.4 II at $8k to $9k and the S5.4 II would be bumping up against the C2 price range. I agree, it can't be fixed without bumping up the Confidence and Contour prices a lot. Move the Confidence floorstanders into the $25k to $35k range and then you'd have room to spread it out (not that I want to see that )
I'd still be surprised if they discontinued the contours simply because it's the most well known Dynaudio speakers with a long rich history. My guess is that they will actually come out with a mark II version of all the contours and just deal with the pricing overlap. They've been putting up with it for years now with the Excite/Focus overlap.

Originally Posted by CDLehner 

So...Jax likes his new Focus 160s "better" than even his Contour 1.4s. That's no small feat, because I happen to know that Jax loved...not liked...the sound of those monitors. We talked a bit about the contrast in sound; perhaps the newer lines...Excite, and now the Focus update...having more of a "new school" approach; cleaner, more "natural" sonics. I'll admit...it seems to be keeping with the times, and finding to be popular with a lot of listener's sensibilities. People rave over the Excite; and not just price v. performance, but we've read people in this very forum...audition against (old) Focus, and I believe in at least one case, even a Contour; and prefer the Excite. Now, the new Focus line is giving the Contour a run for its money...or even besting it (and again...I lend Jax's opinion a lot of weight, because he's listened to a lot of speakers, and he loves Dyns...especially that S1.4).
On top of which...the Focus line is a sizable offering; you've got the monitor, and 3 different config of floor-stander. My point is, there's something for everyone. I'm more convinced than ever, the Contour line is not long for this world. My reasoning: the Excite is great bang for the buck; as I said, even getting the best of the old Focus and Contour, at times. The new Focus line seems to be running neck-and-neck, or even besting the old Contour line now. So, you say no problem; they'll simply v2 the Contour line, and all will be right with the Dyn-world again? I don't think so; I think you make the Contour any "better", you're surely running up against the Confidence...yes?
I mean...if we can say Excite is "better" than old Focus, and now Focus is "better" than old Contour; wouldn't it make sense that new Contour would eclipse old Confidence? You say, well the Confidence line has already been upgraded; but I just didn't get the impression it took leaps and bounds, the way the Focus line did. How could it; how much room was there to improve? That's why I say the Dyn line has gotten too crowded, and the Contour seems like the line to go. You have Excites for the "budget" minded...new Focus besting even the old Contour line for the middle, and Confidence for those who want the best-of-the-best (and of course the Evidence line doesn't even warrant conversation...it is in a category of its own; the uber-spehere ). I just don't see the niche for a new-and-improved Contour: "when you want pretty-good, but can't quite afford the best...the Contour"...lol
Don't get me wrong; I'm not putting the speaker down, and I'm not trying to denigrate anyone's decision to have them...based on the choices at the time. I just happen to think...given the new landscape...it's getting squeezed out of the middle. Mick, this is just my opinion; I'm just a jerk spouting-off on the Internet...lol. No need to confirm or deny. And that's not to say Dyn is going to put a big, red X through the brand right now. No harm in continuing to sell it, in its current config. I just don't see the refresh, the way some of the other lines are getting.
CD

Originally Posted by callas01 

I am not opposed to any Dyn line, but I do like the Excite line more then the Contours, to me, the Contours seem a little too dark sounding to me, I find them very linear and slightly dark, and while they are great, they just dont do it for me. I do like the new Focus more then the Contours as well, again its the presentation. The Excites and the Focus seem to have more fun factor to me, without being brighter sounding like the Sapphires. To me the Contours are too dark, the Sapphires to tipped up, the Focus and Ecxites are perfect. I think the Confidence is in the middle as well. The DM3/7s were a little tipped up for my tastes also. Not sure how the rest of the line is tho.
I think if they redid the contours and find a price range of $5k, $8k and $12-13kk, they should be good without running into the other lines.
I have heard a bunch of speakers lately, the PSB Imagines, Images, Energy Veritas, Monitor Audio BX and RX, Paradigm Studios, B&W CMs and 600s, Epos, plus the new Focus, and I have to say that aside from the Focus, none of these speakers would move me out of my X16s. Many of the speakers I have heard cost more.

Originally Posted by CDLehner 

Callas, your post reminds me of something I hadn't considered in my first thoughts: I think that one (just one, not the only) of the reasons, Excite and (new) Focus seem to be "besting" the (old) Contour line...is maybe the Contour line is where gear upstream might really start to play a role, on unleashing or limiting a speaker. In other words...during a demo...the Excite and (new) Focus might be much easier to drive, and sound good even with just so-so gear upstream. It's a virtue, to some...but maybe; just maybe...the Contour would still sound "better", in the right system.
Also...we have to carefully consider long-term listening. A brighter sound can sound more "exciting", "fun"...or even, to some "open", "natural", etc. We all probably know of the common trick they use in TV showrooms; to max-out the Brightness, because the average consumer will find that picture to be the "best"-looking. I've read on several occasions, that...when properly calibrated...most people find a truly accurate picture to be "dull" and "dark". It takes the eye some time to adjust; but of course, once it does...you're left with an image you find acceptable, and it is truly more accurate. I tend to think the same of speakers. No one's talking about artificially tipping-up Treble, or anything like that. However, I have also read...that some listeners (I assume people who haven't really been exposed to much "hi-fi"), find a flat response to be "dull"; dare I say "dark"-sounding?
One of the toughest decision I ever had to make (in regards to my system...let's keep things in perspective here, lol)...was to let my Special 25s go. I don't want to get into yet another S25 v. whatever debate here; but talk about a "fun"-sounding speaker! My point is...while that "fun-factor" is great in the showroom, and even fun when you bring 'em home, and re-play everything you own; for some...it can wear on you over time. Just saying...that's another thing about the Contour's sound; it may not be the most "exciting" speaker in the Dyn line-up, but it just...to borrow from Conrad-Johnson...sounds right, all the time. Great balance, and it never drew attention to itself.
So I don't know; maybe there is a place in the Dyn line-up for the Contour after all. Maybe with the less-expensive lines, they're going to give people this "new-school" sound; with a Contour re-vamp, and the Confidence...they're gonna stay tried-and-true to the Dyn "house"-sound. "Balanced", "neutral"...dare I say "dark". Again, one man's "dark" is another man's "neutral"; another man's "neutral", is someone else's "bright". Different strokes for different audiophiles, right? I'll say this: I got in to Dyns, by wanting a humble pair of X12s. Focus 140s, Contour S1.4s, Special 25s, and Confidence C1 Sigs later...just look at me now.
Soon, I'll want to put together a little Office system (I started off, by listening in my Office; listening while I work. But as the gear got better and better...see aforementioned blurb about going from X12s to Confidence C1 Sigs, lol...I moved to a proper listening room). I was dead-set on a small, but good Integrated (a Naim 5i-2 maybe...or Rega Brio-R), and a pair of X12s or 16s. A friend convinced me that I might try elsewhere; the idea being that I am already very familiar with the Dyn sound. Lots of good speakers in the world...so why not use this opportunity to strike-out some; try some other brand? I agreed...but after this latest discussion, it'll be hard to not be tempted by Excites. They really sound like a helluva bargain!
CD

Originally Posted by Dynero 

Interesting, thanks, can I just say I absolutely love the way Dynes do home theatre, soo good