How much better are DM2/6 than Dali Zensor 1 ?

[Snooker]

How much better an improvement could the DM2/6's be over my Dali Zensor 1's with my Denon Ceol N8 ?

 

[matthewpiano]

Hi Snooker. The Dynaudios are wonderful speakers, and considerably more capable than the excellent Zensor 1s. They have the best treble of any affordable speaker I've come across and a cogency of sound across the frequency range which few speakers at the price can offer. It is a balanced and natural sound, but with remarkable scale for the size too. They are also excellent at lower volume levels.

However, there are a few things worth mentioning.

1. The DM2/6s need a lot of running in to give their best. I would estimate 80-100 hours before they come on song.

2. While they are not particularly difficult to drive, they do respond to higher quality amplification. I have the Exposure 1010 and a Marantz PM6005, but the Exposure gets quite a bit more out of them. Good though your Denon system is, I think you would soon find yourself wanting to explore more of the Dyn's capability with upgraded electronics.

3. They need plenty of space around them - 50cm from the rear wall and preferably more than this from side walls. This relatively free space siting enables them to image at their best and also brings out the balanced nature of the design better.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Snooker]

Hello mathewpiano:- We have communicated with each other before as you may remember, and as you are on the forum quite often was aware that you had the DM2/6's and use to have the Dali Zensor 1's, so thanks for your answer

I like my one box system, and do not want to upgrade it, so if I was to try the DM2/6's in place of my Dali Zensor 1's, and after they have run in, would you say the sound quality with my Denon Ceol N8 would be significantly better than the Zensor 1's as I presume from your reply, also I think you had the Marantz MCR610 at one point did you have chance to try the DM2/6's with that ?

(Just out of interest I did hear the DM2/6 at the Bristol show a few years back, powered with chord electronics amplifier etc, and was the best sounding system I have ever heard)

 

[Snooker]

mathewpiano:- Not sure if you missed my reply but would be very grateful if you could answer my last post, as I value your opinion, thanks

 

[matthewpiano]

Hi Snooker.

Sorry, I've kept meaning to reply all day!

I didn't get to try my Dyns with the Marantz unfortunately so I'm not entirely sure. My feeling is that you probably wouldn't get enough of the benefits of the Dyns with that amplification, so it might not be a good value for money upgrade. However, it would be worth auditioning to see how the combination sounds in comparison to your Dalis.

With the Denon/Marantz systems I would have thought that something like the Focal 705S might make a more effective upgrade than the Dyns. As Richer Sounds are the exclusive sellers of both the Dyns and the Focals it might be worth a trip to hear them with a Ceol to see how you get on.

 

[matthewpiano]

I am very much erring on the side of caution there Snooker, simply because I never got to hear the Dyns with my MCR610. As you know I do think those systems very capable.

The Dyns are beautiful sounding speakers so definitely worth exploring further.

 

[Snooker]

Hello mathewpiano:- Thanks for your last post, its just I noticed you were online earlier today and thought you may have missed my post or may have felt you answered my question fully in your first reply etc

I was just curious how much better the DM2/6 would be, but realise the only way to make sure is to hear them yourself, so that is an upgarde I can aim for perhaps in the future, and I have also taken onborad your advice to hear the other speakers as well, thanks

 

[Snooker]

mathewpiano:- Yes I am interested at some point in the future to try the DM2/6, also I ammended my above post whilst you were writing your last post to me and am not sure if you saw what I added, its just I noticed you were online earlier today and thought you may have missed my second post or may have felt you answered my question fully in your first reply etc

Thanks for all your advice as I know you have tried many systems and speakers etc

 

[richie60]

Sorry to jump in, I'm interested in the Dynaudio speakers for my system.

I want to use them with my Audiolab 8000LX amp, would they match well? I couldn't give them the 50cm free space as suggested but could give them a foot approx from the rear wall. They would be placed either side of a chimney breast.

 

[matthewpiano]

Sorry to jump in, I'm interested in the Dynaudio speakers for my system.

I want to use them with my Audiolab 8000LX amp, would they match well? I couldn't give them the 50cm free space as suggested but could give them a foot approx from the rear wall. They would be placed either side of a chimney breast.

Hi Richie

I'm not familiar with the 8000LX so its hard to say. A google search suggests that it was a version of the 8000A without tone controls. If it is, and if it shares a similar sound presentation, then I think it could prove an interesting partner with the Dynaudios. However, you really need to take your amp and audition the Dynaudios with it to see how the partnership works.

In terms of placement, they do like a bit of free space. They may be OK a foot from the rear wall, but I think that combined with being close to a chimney breast at the sides might prove to be problematic. In that situation I would ideally want to have a home demo, or at least an agreement that they could be returned and exchanged for something else.

 

[Blackdawn]

Here are some other speakers you might want to try which are quite sensitive and fairly easy to drive. - Tannoy DC6, Cambridge Audio Aero 2, Klpisch RB81 II

if you like the Dali sound then possibly move up the chain (Ikon)

Best thing to do would be to take your one box solution to a store and ask if you can try some speakers on the end.

 

[Snooker]

Blackdawn:- Thanks for your reply

Yes the only way really is to test my system with various speakers to see how they actually sound, just curious to how much of an improvement could possibly be made by just changing the speakers