The Official Dynaudio Speakers Thread

[Intamin]

I suppose I should post in this thread now that I'm part of the club, w00t!

Steve, looks like you've got some nice upgrades planned! And thanks for the link to the Focus review, was a good read. I listened to the original focus 220s next to my STs at a friends house, and wasn't a fan at all relative to my STs. Good speakers no doubt, but I felt that the STs trumped them in every way. They also have two different presentations to them, so it's obviously preference based. My friend preferred the 220s to the STs, although he pointed out that the STs had better detail, bass, and imaging, he thought the 220s were more musical. Regardless, I would like to hear the new lineup to compare again.

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by callas01

Id like to buy an Oppo 93 and a new TV, but I think after the IA, Phono preamp, and DAC, Ill leave well enough alone on components. I might add a Shunyata Venom power cable or two, some nice ICs, but that will be all from here to 2013. I was contemplating what would give me the biggest upgrade in overall quality and I was thinking an Oppo and surrounds, but then I listen to music everyday. And most quality IA's will perform better then my Integra for music. So to make better use of my CDs and Vinyl I figure the best upgrade will be in the music department.

from everything ive read the oppo sounds great with cds ill let you know once i get it

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Intamin

I suppose I should post in this thread now that I'm part of the club, w00t!

Steve, looks like you've got some nice upgrades planned! And thanks for the link to the Focus review, was a good read. I listened to the original focus 220s next to my STs at a friends house, and wasn't a fan at all relative to my STs. Good speakers no doubt, but I felt that the STs trumped them in every way. They also have two different presentations to them, so it's obviously preference based. My friend preferred the 220s to the STs, although he pointed out that the STs had better detail, bass, and imaging, he thought the 220s were more musical. Regardless, I would like to hear the new lineup to compare again.

I think there are some advantages to ID speakers when they are built correctly buy someone that has a real ear for building speakers. Im sure the ST are great. Dynaudio isn't always the best speaker, but they are great ones. Im glad you really like the C2s, those are great speakers. Personally, Id give up a little detail for something that conveys the music better and more naturally. However there are limits to how much detail I would give up of course.

[callas01]

Here is a little write up in Stereophile for the new Focus 160, here is a snipit, the review is rather short in one of the columns. I would expect a longer full review soon in the next issue or two...

The FOcus 160 was recently reviewed by Stereophile's Sam Tellig and featured in his "Sam's Space" column in the January 2012 issue (Vol. 35/No. 1) of the magazine.


"The Dynaudios offered exceptionally spacious sound, with extraordinary low level resolution of ambient information. When a recording allowed, I could hear more of the recording venue than I could with just about any other speaker I've had in my listening room. The midrange and treble were exceptionally smooth and sweet. The highs were exquisitely extended too, but never etched."

Tellig adds: "I think this is what Dynaudio's driver technology can achieve: a finely detailed, very dynamic, and at the same time nonfatiguing sound."

The article concludes with Tellig proclaiming:
"Once again, Dynaudio has done it, Can you justify spending and more than $3000 on a pair of speakers? Or any less?"

Please be sure to check out the January 2012 Stereophile to read the full article.

[BigAl87]

I can't wait to read the review Steve

[callas01]

Well.... hmm... There could be a new Excite line coming very soon...

http://www.dynaudio.com/int/index.php

I prepped the wife on maybe having to trade up the X16s for X16 MKIIs?


Could you imaging a new Excite line that uses the same tweeter, a better crossover, and the same 1.5" voice coil but over a Black Kapton voice coil former like the new Focus? That could be a nice/nicer speaker.... we'll see what they are planning to introduce. I know the Excites are going up in price... closer to $2k for the X16s. Id probably pay the extra $500-700 for a better design, Add it to the cost of the IA. Id take that upgrade.... anyday.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

Well.... hmm... There could be a new Excite line coming very soon...

http://www.dynaudio.com/int/index.php

I prepped the wife on maybe having to trade up the X16s for X16 MKIIs?


Could you imaging a new Excite line that uses the same tweeter, a better crossover, and the same 1.5" voice coil but over a Black Kapton voice coil former like the new Focus? That could be a nice/nicer speaker.... we'll see what they are planning to introduce. I know the Excites are going up in price... closer to $2k for the X16s. Id probably pay the extra $500-700 for a better design, Add it to the cost of the IA. Id take that upgrade.... anyday.

A bit more than 1 day now,

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

A bit more than 1 day now,

Mick quelched the rumors... Its not a revision to the Excites. He said those are still to new to get a MKII version.... which is funny cause they were launched in 2008. I think most mfg would have had 2-3 revisions by now. LOL.

Its also supposed to be affordable and game changing... not sure what that means. However its a smaller looking box, thats for sure. Its not a boombox or an iPod thing like the B&W Zeppelin either.... Who knows, maybe its a $500 bookshelf.... but then that really wouldn't be overly game changing.... so who knows.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

Mick quelched the rumors... Its not a revision to the Excites. He said those are still to new to get a MKII version.... which is funny cause they were launched in 2008. I think most mfg would have had 2-3 revisions by now. LOL.

Its also supposed to be affordable and game changing... not sure what that means. However its a smaller looking box, thats for sure. Its not a boombox or an iPod thing like the B&W Zeppelin either.... Who knows, maybe its a $500 bookshelf.... but then that really wouldn't be overly game changing.... so who knows.

Ah ok, yeah but Dynaudio does not change their speakers that often, Totem does some slight changes also in their lines like the Model One has evolved a lot over time.

Oh well maybe they couldbecome your surrounds

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Ah ok, yeah but Dynaudio does not change their speakers that often, Totem does some slight changes also in their lines like the Model One has evolved a lot over time.

Oh well maybe they couldbecome your surrounds

that would be awesome.... poor dealers wouldn't be making much money on them

[Motobonsai]

I got to hear some dynaudio focus 160's. And i was blown away. They sounded better than any speakers ive ever heard. I have a few questions though.

They are 4 ohm and my rotel rsx 1550 receiver says it can only handle 8 ohm.
Is there a way around this? I just bought this receiver a month ago. I wish i heard the dyns before that. I got the rotel cause I was going to go with b&w speakers. But the dyns blew them away.
Would an external emotiva amp like the xpa2 or xpa3 work with the rotel and dynaudio? Are they a good match?

Would the focus 260's, which they didnt have to listen too, be better to get since i would have to buy stands for the 160's? Would the cost be about the same? Would they sound as transparent and awesome? Or would they give up some transparency for more bass?

My room is a nightmare of reflections with a concrete floor. It is 16x22 with 10 foot ceilings.

My other thought is to start a seperate 2 channel system.
Which is better for dynaudio? An integrated amp or 2 channels seperates?
Which products to you recommend to match with the dyns?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Motobonsai

I got to hear some dynaudio focus 160's. And i was blown away. They sounded better than any speakers ive ever heard. I have a few questions though.

They are 4 ohm and my rotel rsx 1550 receiver says it can only handle 8 ohm.
Is there a way around this? I just bought this receiver a month ago. I wish i heard the dyns before that. I got the rotel cause I was going to go with b&w speakers. But the dyns blew them away.
Would an external emotiva amp like the xpa2 or xpa3 work with the rotel and dynaudio? Are they a good match?

Would the focus 260's, which they didnt have to listen too, be better to get since i would have to buy stands for the 160's? Would the cost be about the same? Would they sound as transparent and awesome? Or would they give up some transparency for more bass?

My room is a nightmare of reflections with a concrete floor. It is 16x22 with 10 foot ceilings.

My other thought is to start a seperate 2 channel system.
Which is better for dynaudio? An integrated amp or 2 channels seperates?
Which products to you recommend to match with the dyns?

Yes, Dynaudio speakers typically sound better then most other speakers.
The Rotel should be able to power them, however you might be better off using an power amp. Emotiva Im sure would be fine. You can even look at Outlaw audio, the mini mono 2200s and perhaps even the Parasound Classic 2125 or 2250.

The 260s will still be just as transparent, but will have better deeper bass. Its amazing how good the bass on a bookshelf can be isn't it? I have not heard the 160, I did hear the 260s, and they were very good. Almost like the Contours in a boxier design. However I loved the way the new Focus line sounded more like the Contours.

If you wanted to use the speakers as both a HT and 2-ch setup like I have mine, then you can use a IA with a HTBP, which is what I want to do. Good products for Dyns would be Tube gear, Naim, Arcam, Parasound, Conrad Johnson... really whatever you thing sounds best for your ears with them. Tube gear is like the Cary products, Rogue Audio Magnum... etc.

Using and IA vs using a seperates system is really up to you. I like the ease of an all in one system. For your room, put down a rug or use acoustic treatments for your walls.

[Motobonsai]

Originally Posted by callas01

Yes, Dynaudio speakers typically sound better then most other speakers.
The Rotel should be able to power them, however you might be better off using an power amp. Emotiva Im sure would be fine. You can even look at Outlaw audio, the mini mono 2200s and perhaps even the Parasound Classic 2125 or 2250.

The 260s will still be just as transparent, but will have better deeper bass. Its amazing how good the bass on a bookshelf can be isn't it? I have not heard the 160, I did hear the 260s, and they were very good. Almost like the Contours in a boxier design. However I loved the way the new Focus line sounded more like the Contours.

If you wanted to use the speakers as both a HT and 2-ch setup like I have mine, then you can use a IA with a HTBP, which is what I want to do. Good products for Dyns would be Tube gear, Naim, Arcam, Parasound, Conrad Johnson... really whatever you thing sounds best for your ears with them. Tube gear is like the Cary products, Rogue Audio Magnum... etc.

Using and IA vs using a seperates system is really up to you. I like the ease of an all in one system. For your room, put down a rug or use acoustic treatments for your walls.

Thanks for the reply.

What exactly is a htbp and how would i set that up?

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by Motobonsai

Thanks for the reply.

What exactly is a htbp and how would i set that up?

home theater bypass fo 2 channel listening

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Motobonsai

Thanks for the reply.

What exactly is a htbp and how would i set that up?

like sandman said, an HTBP(home theater bypass) is a dedicated audio input on the back of a Pre-amp or Integrated Amp (IA), where you would go from the pre-outs of the receiver to the inputs on the back of an IA or pre-amp. Then when you select that input on the IA/PA, it bypasses the pre-amp section of the IA/PA, and it receives the signal from the receiver to the IA and uses only the amp of the IA like any normal Power Amp would do.

It lets you listen to music on just the IA, and then use the IA for a power amp when you want to watch a movie. Its perfect for people that use their setups for both 2-ch and movies all in one setup.... like mine. If you can have 2 seperate setups, then its not a neccesity.

If you look here at this website, you see that in the last pic of this IA, there is a switch and an input that says HT/AUX1, so you move the switch to HT and the input now acts as a dedicated Power Amp to power the speakers when you want to watch a movie, you select Aux1 on the remote, which allows the pre-amp to be bypassed so that you can use just the power amps in the IA to power the front R/L speakers.... your receiver will do all the rest of the work powering the center channel and surrounds.

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/produ...es/M3i/M3i.asp

Other IAs that have HTBP is Naim, Creek, Arcam, and Musical Fidelity. Im sure there are others too, but those are the ones that Im most familiar with. For the Focus line you would want to look at the Naim XS, Creek Destiny 2, Arcam A38 and Musical Fidelity M3i.

[Motobonsai]

Thanks for the replies to my previous questions.

How would the Integrated amp with htbp be compared to just separate amps from Emotiva like the xpa2, when driving the 160's?

The Naim xs is over 2000
The Emotiva amp is less than 800

Is the sound quality worth the price?

Thanks again.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Motobonsai

Thanks for the replies to my previous questions.

How would the Integrated amp with htbp be compared to just separate amps from Emotiva like the xpa2, when driving the 160's?

The Naim xs is over 2000
The Emotiva amp is less than 800

Is the sound quality worth the price?

Thanks again.

Naim is very musical, however you have a nice Rotels receiver, so you might just be better off adding a power amp. I can recommend the parasound products, its what I'm familiar with. I have not heard an Emotiva amp, so I'm not much help there.

[Motobonsai]

Originally Posted by callas01

Naim is very musical, however you have a nice Rotels receiver, so you might just be better off adding a power amp. I can recommend the parasound products, its what I'm familiar with. I have not heard an Emotiva amp, so I'm not much help there.

Which parasound would you suggest for the 160's?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Motobonsai

Which parasound would you suggest for the 160's?

ARe you looking at a multi channel amp to drive your Focus a60? Or you just need 2 channels?

[Motobonsai]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

ARe you looking at a multi channel amp to drive your Focus a60? Or you just need 2 channels?

I think i would like to drive the front three so that they all match. But if the center doesnt need an amp to match then only two channels.