The Official Dynaudio Speakers Thread

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Curious if anyone has any experience with or thoughts on the Contour 25 Ci center channel. My 15 yr old AAD Silver Reference 3 has a short in the crossover which causes me to lose the tweeter for a bit, and it looks as if I will not be able to get at the crossover. They designed the Silver Reference back in the day to compete with the Contour line, so it will be a pretty good match to the rest of the system based on tweeter design and voicing. On paper it is impressive, and should be a step up from what I am using now, but would love some first hand reviews.

I have not tried the 25 centre but i cannot imagine it not being a perfect match to the Contour 30 which i own so the 25 being the centre channel I cannot imagine it being less impressive than the 30s as it has the same driver size. I terms of voicing I think they are tad more forward than the old contours, would not say lively or tip up but just less roll-off in the treble.

All I can say is with music the new line does have more pace than the older Contours but i don't think this would make it less appealing match to your AADs Reference.

Hope this helps.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I have not tried the 25 centre but i cannot imagine it not being a perfect match to the Contour 30 which i own so the 25 being the centre channel I cannot imagine it being less impressive than the 30s as it has the same driver size. I terms of voicing I think they are tad more forward than the old contours, would not say lively or tip up but just less roll-off in the treble.

All I can say is with music the new line does have more pace than the older Contours but i don't think this would make it less appealing match to your AADs Reference.

Hope this helps.

New tweeter diaphragm was soldered in yesterday, so will see if it solved the issue with the AAD. I appreciate the insight and description of the Dyn voicing. Part me of actually hopes I still have the issue as I can picture the Contour already in my system. I will report back in a couple of days.

[gotmule]

So after resoldering leads to the tweeter, soldering in a new tweeter diaphragm, changing from a biamp to a bridged configuration, removing the center channel sub from the equation, I am still losing my tweeter intermittently. The only thing left is a short somewhere in a resistor in the crossover, and I don’t want to rebuild that.

So, I just ordered the Contour 25 Ci. Don’t know when it will come in, but am psyched to hear what this will do. Will plan on bridging it and having the REL t9i hooked up as well, so should be a damn cool center configuration. I will report back once I am up and running.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by gotmule

So after resoldering leads to the tweeter, soldering in a new tweeter diaphragm, changing from a biamp to a bridged configuration, removing the center channel sub from the equation, I am still losing my tweeter intermittently. The only thing left is a short somewhere in a resistor in the crossover, and I don’t want to rebuild that.

So, I just ordered the Contour 25 Ci. Don’t know when it will come in, but am psyched to hear what this will do. Will plan on bridging it and having the REL t9i hooked up as well, so should be a damn cool center configuration. I will report back once I am up and running.

Cannot wait to read your impressions on it, they even improved the wetter since the first iteration of the current line.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

So after resoldering leads to the tweeter, soldering in a new tweeter diaphragm, changing from a biamp to a bridged configuration, removing the center channel sub from the equation, I am still losing my tweeter intermittently. The only thing left is a short somewhere in a resistor in the crossover, and I don’t want to rebuild that.

So, I just ordered the Contour 25 Ci. Don’t know when it will come in, but am psyched to hear what this will do. Will plan on bridging it and having the REL t9i hooked up as well, so should be a damn cool center configuration. I will report back once I am up and running.

Yes, agreed with BigAl, very interested to hear your impressions of the Contour center channel! Play some music on it running full range for a week or so before critically judging it though... that tweeter, and those 7 inchers will need a bit of working in.

I've found between 40-60hrs is good enough break-in for most changes in the drivers to take place,... though most people will recommend over 100hrs.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Twm1988

Yes, agreed with BigAl, very interested to hear your impressions of the Contour center channel! Play some music on it running full range for a week or so before critically judging it though... that tweeter, and those 7 inchers will need a bit of working in.

I've found between 40-60hrs is good enough break-in for most changes in the drivers to take place,... though most people will recommend over 100hrs.

I am a firm believer in breaking in everything, including cables. I was planning on at least 100, but my guy says a Dyn tweeter really settles in after 200. I have to reconfigure some black fabric to cover the sides of the black gloss front face, since that will be pretty distracting with a projector setup.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I am a firm believer in breaking in everything, including cables. I was planning on at least 100, but my guy says a Dyn tweeter really settles in after 200. I have to reconfigure some black fabric to cover the sides of the black gloss front face, since that will be pretty distracting with a projector setup.

Yes, could be more hours needed with the higher end speaker lines I guess. I think after about the 80hr mark there was no noticeable change with my Excite X14's.

I don't see you running into much issue from the gloss finish on the front of the speaker... perhaps with the top of the speaker though, you may have light from the screen reflecting on the gloss finish on top of the 25C? In the pics in your gallery, you can see reflections on the top of your old center speaker, and more on the sides of your tower speakers.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Twm1988

Yes, could be more hours needed with the higher end speaker lines I guess. I think after about the 80hr mark there was no noticeable change with my Excite X14's.

I don't see you running into much issue from the gloss finish on the front of the speaker... perhaps with the top of the speaker though, you may have light from the screen reflecting on the gloss finish on top of the 25C? In the pics in your gallery, you can see reflections on the top of your old center speaker, and more on the sides of your tower speakers.

Could be. I have black fabric I drape over the front 3 and front subs while in use, but undressed things for the camera. I will experiment for sure.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Could be. I have black fabric I drape over the front 3 and front subs while in use, but undressed things for the camera. I will experiment for sure.

Yeah for sure... I experimented and took over three months of moving the acoustic panels that I bought around my room to find out where the best placement was,... and I have stuff made to block out the basement windows for when it's still light outside. And everything has to be symmetrical and lined up nicely or I go a bit nuts, lol... so I totally get you wanting everything to be just right.

I think it was all worth it for the end experience I get in my setup

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I am a firm believer in breaking in everything, including cables. I was planning on at least 100, but my guy says a Dyn tweeter really settles in after 200. I have to reconfigure some black fabric to cover the sides of the black gloss front face, since that will be pretty distracting with a projector setup.

indeed it does settle after 200, it sounded horrible on my 30s for quite a while but when everything come together wow, it sounds fabulous.

[mtrot]

Originally Posted by gotmule

So after resoldering leads to the tweeter, soldering in a new tweeter diaphragm, changing from a biamp to a bridged configuration, removing the center channel sub from the equation, I am still losing my tweeter intermittently. The only thing left is a short somewhere in a resistor in the crossover, and I don’t want to rebuild that.

So, I just ordered the Contour 25 Ci. Don’t know when it will come in, but am psyched to hear what this will do. Will plan on bridging it and having the REL t9i hooked up as well, so should be a damn cool center configuration. I will report back once I am up and running.

I'm also interested in adding one of those REL ti subs, probably the t5i, to my Polk center speaker, using REL's Speakon connection. The center channel is supposed to be full range, and adding the REL essentially turns the Polk into a full range speaker, and I can set it to LARGE in the setup. I have fooled all around with crossover settings and sub settings, but cannot get deep male voice in movies to sound right.

I'd also like to hear how you like the Contour 25 Ci with the REL connected.

[gotmule]

After about 5 months, my Contour 25Ci finally showed up. Worldwide shortage of the specific MDF they use was the main cause along with the now standard other COVID delays. Breaking this one will take some time, but will report back once dialed in. Easily the heaviest center channel I have ever had in my system tipping the scales at 58 lbs.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

After about 5 months, my Contour 25Ci finally showed up. Worldwide shortage of the specific MDF they use was the main cause along with the now standard other COVID delays. Breaking this one will take some time, but will report back once dialed in. Easily the heaviest center channel I have ever had in my system tipping the scales at 58 lbs.

Holy crap, that's a heck of an awful wait for a new piece of equipment to come in... that must have been excruciating

Have fun with it now though, even during the brake-in process it will still be enjoyable just having it in your system finally

Let us know how you like it!

[gotmule]

25 hours with still a long way to go for the break in. But I can already get a taste of what the new center channel is about. The dispersion was the first thing I noticed as it does a much better job with filling in the space between my mains as they are a good bit of distance apart. The speaker is much hotter also, so I had to lower output by 6dB to get it dialed in. The frequency response is insane for a center as it extends to the mid 30s, which is much appreciated as I run my front 3 full range. The first gun shots to be heard caused my jaw to drop as this speaker is simply dynamic as hell. But the best example I have come across so far after watching about 3 hours of content was not to be expected. I am finally getting around to watching The Wire and am about halfway through season 3. At the end of each episode, they play the same song which is an instrumental and features an upright bass mixed to center channel. In my system, I have a REL t9i hooked up with the center channel as a center effect sub, so when the song started and heard the first bass notes plucked, I knew right there that I made the right decision. I turned up the volume louder than I watch the show, and it sounded like someone was playing an upright bass 15’ in front of me. I will use this song as a demo to show off the new addition and why a center effect sub is a cool thing. The link is not 5.1 but you can get an idea of the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSq5...ature=youtu.be

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

25 hours with still a long way to go for the break in. But I can already get a taste of what the new center channel is about. The dispersion was the first thing I noticed as it does a much better job with filling in the space between my mains as they are a good bit of distance apart. The speaker is much hotter also, so I had to lower output by 6dB to get it dialed in. The frequency response is insane for a center as it extends to the mid 30s, which is much appreciated as I run my front 3 full range. The first gun shots to be heard caused my jaw to drop as this speaker is simply dynamic as hell. But the best example I have come across so far after watching about 3 hours of content was not to be expected. I am finally getting around to watching The Wire and am about halfway through season 3. At the end of each episode, they play the same song which is an instrumental and features an upright bass mixed to center channel. In my system, I have a REL t9i hooked up with the center channel as a center effect sub, so when the song started and heard the first bass notes plucked, I knew right there that I made the right decision. I turned up the volume louder than I watch the show, and it sounded like someone was playing an upright bass 15’ in front of me. I will use this song as a demo to show off the new addition and why a center effect sub is a cool thing. The link is not 5.1 but you can get an idea of the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSq5...ature=youtu.be

Very happy to hear you are so pleased with the C25! Glad it worked out in your system. Now, when are the rest of the speakers being replaced with Contours?!

The Wire is excellent too, nice choice.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Twm1988

Very happy to hear you are so pleased with the C25! Glad it worked out in your system. Now, when are the rest of the speakers being replaced with Contours?!

The Wire is excellent too, nice choice.

My guy was joking about that when I picked it up! I need to see where the tweeter lands after break in and what the Lyngdorf does with it and my existing speakers before I entertain it.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

My guy was joking about that when I picked it up! I need to see where the tweeter lands after break in and what the Lyngdorf does with it and my existing speakers before I entertain it.

Haha, yeah I was just giving you a hard time... but if you do really love the C25 even more after break in, you could at least think about selling your current front L/R speakers and find some C20's or C30's on the used market, and maybe not even have to put out much money for the swap?

Then you would at least have the front L/R and center speakers matching. And I think you could easily still keep and use the rest of your current system (sides, surrounds) with zero issues.

[Twm1988]

Oh, forgot to ask too... any issues with light reflecting off the C25's gloss finish?

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Twm1988

Oh, forgot to ask too... any issues with light reflecting off the C25's gloss finish?

I should have reported on that. None whatsoever.

[Twm1988]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I should have reported on that. None whatsoever.

Awesome, glad to hear it worked out so well with that

Let us know if there's any improvements with the C25 after a couple hundred hours of break-in.