Looking for Dynaudio experts

[NJB]

I am running my Naim combo into Dynaudio Excite X12s, with some success. Naim can be bright, but the Excites are just about right, with a nice bass weight, although much depends on the cd production. I am about to upgrade, and the speakers are the theoretical weak point from what I can see. I struggle to pick speakers, and these Dynaudios have lots of good points, so am tempted to work up their range a bit.

Can anybody suggest where I need to go to get an improvement, thinking sweeter treble and keeping the bass weight and control? Happy to go secondhand if necessary.

 

[jjbomber]

I am running my Naim combo into Dynaudio Excite X12s, with some success. Naim can be bright, but the Excites are just about right, with a nice bass weight, although much depends on the cd production. I am about to upgrade, and the speakers are the theoretical weak point from what I can see. I struggle to pick speakers, and these Dynaudios have lots of good points, so am tempted to work up their range a bit.

Can anybody suggest where I need to go to get an improvement, thinking sweeter treble and keeping the bass weight and control? Happy to go secondhand if necessary.

As you love the Dynaudio sound, I would look for a good pair of Contours. You haven't actually stated a budget nor what the Naim combo is, so that's just a general piece of advise. Stick with what you like.

 

[davedotco]

I rather like Dynaudio products though most of my experience is with their active speakers.

The Dynaudio evening a few nights ago very much put the emphasis on active speakers (and wireless technology too). The active Focus 200 XD sounded very good but integrating that with a Naim setup?Maybe not.....*unknw*

The Focus 160 is the passive equivilent, maybe look into that.

On the other hand, depending on your sources, you might be able to integrate the full 200 XD system with a Naim 'front end'.

 

[jjbomber]

The Dynaudio evening a few nights ago very much put the emphasis on active speakers (and wireless technology too). The active Focus 200 XD sounded very good but integrating that with a Naim setup?

... while the 'secret' stole the show. I spoke to one of the reps about my Naim set up and he advised a pair of Contour passives rather than selling everything and switching to actives. It would be different if I was starting from scratch.

Enjoyable evening wasn't it.

 

[davedotco]

The Dynaudio evening a few nights ago very much put the emphasis on active speakers (and wireless technology too). The active Focus 200 XD sounded very good but integrating that with a Naim setup?

... while the 'secret' stole the show. I spoke to one of the reps about my Naim set up and he advised a pair of Contour passives rather than selling everything and switching to actives. It would be different if I was starting from scratch.

Enjoyable evening wasn't it.

It was, though not particularly enlightning.

The 'secret' looks overpriced to me, the big setup playing Muse just sounded sh!t, that much low frequency in an untreated room was just horrible. Some of the other dem material was pretty poor too.

The Focus 200 XD was pretty good but the best sound all evening was after the presentation ended and some guy played a recording of his own jazz band, via Bluetooth FFS, on the 'secrets', fantastic, simply miked and easily the best sound of the evening.

Based on what I heard, if it meets your needs, a Uniti of some type plus the 200 XD would do for me. In fact given that, for music anyway, I stream everything online, the 200XD system including the Spotify Connect equiped 'Connect' box would be enough for me, £4k + though, pretty pricey considering a pair of ADM10s and a streamer can be had for less than half that.

 

[gowiththeflow]

Interesting remarks about the Focus 200XD.

Compared to their passive equivalent, the Focus 160, the amplification, DAC and wireless kit works out at just a touch over £2000 extra. Cutting down on the box count and eliminating speaker cables is becoming a seriously attractive proposition.

Did they bring along one of the larger floor standing models, 400XD or 600XD?

Z

 

[NJB]

Hi, I have a NAC202 with a NAP150x. I have received mixed comments on both of these in the past via forums. There are people who consider the 150x as a 'cracking power amplifier for the money' and others who say 'you will never control the bass driver in a Dynaudio speaker with that'. My view is that the bass is as taut as I need it to be, and any shortcomings are more likely to be due to the small enclosure of the X12, which seems to be backed up by the frequency response curves that are available online.

I do not plan to go active, but the Focus 160 is certainly on my list of potential candidates. I have seen a few secondhand contour models too, but these might need to be a blind purchase without audition. Having said that, you do not lose much by selling on kit if you bought it secondhand in the first place, and it can take a few months to really decide if you like it or not.

 

[davedotco]

Gowiththeflow.

They used both the bigger XD models but only seemed interested in showing how much bass thay could produce, results varied from a bit messy to really awful. I fail to see the musical merit in making the room boom and rattle, though a lot of people seem to like it, beats me.....*unknw*

If they are going to use dsp and active amplification to give powerful extended bass, then they need to keep it under control 'in room', integrate 'Antimode' type technology into the connect box for example. As they stand, the prodigious and uncontrolled bass simply smears the midrange destroying clarity and detail, no wonder the smaller boxes sounded better.

Pricing seems quite high too, the smallest XD system costing more than a pair of 3000 watt phantoms for example, the reduced wire count is a step in the right direction though.

NJB.

I think I agree, attempting to integrate an active setup into your current setup seems more trouble than it is worth, if you are going to stick with Dynaudios then the Focus 160 looks good to me though I must say I am not at all familiar with the Contour range.

For other Naim users I was thinking that the active setups might work nicely with the Uniti series products but as they do not have digital outs, I was wrong!

 

[Rimse]

Contour or confidence line.I have both Anyway dyns needs power to control the sound like krell,pass labs,plinius etc... or class D amps like bel canto,devialet ,krell vanguard etc... Turn the volume up a little bit and you will have the excitement of real event

 

[NJB]

Gowiththeflow.

They used both the bigger XD models but only seemed interested in showing how much bass thay could produce, results varied from a bit messy to really awful. I fail to see the musical merit in making the room boom and rattle, though a lot of people seem to like it, beats me.....*unknw*

If they are going to use dsp and active amplification to give powerful extended bass, then they need to keep it under control 'in room', integrate 'Antimode' type technology into the connect box for example. As they stand, the prodigious and uncontrolled bass simply smears the midrange destroying clarity and detail, no wonder the smaller boxes sounded better.

Pricing seems quite high too, the smallest XD system costing more than a pair of 3000 watt phantoms for example, the reduced wire count is a step in the right direction though.

NJB.

I think I agree, attempting to integrate an active setup into your current setup seems more trouble than it is worth, if you are going to stick with Dynaudios then the Focus 160 looks good to me though I must say I am not at all familiar with the Contour range.

For other Naim users I was thinking that the active setups might work nicely with the Uniti series products but as they do not have digital outs, I was wrong!

I managed to get a set of Focus 160s at a price that I still cannot believe. They are new, will need to run in, but have already seen off the Excite X12s on pretty much every score. I cannot begin to say how pleased I am, they are sweeter, deeper and have a beautifully weighted character. Even albums that were verging on the overly bright side on the Excites are sounding far more controlled. The treble is still there, not recessed, but more polished. If the Excites are the excitable teenagers, the Focus are their grown up brothers.

 

[radiorog]

How much were they?

 

[davedotco]

Gowiththeflow.

They used both the bigger XD models but only seemed interested in showing how much bass thay could produce, results varied from a bit messy to really awful. I fail to see the musical merit in making the room boom and rattle, though a lot of people seem to like it, beats me.....*unknw*

If they are going to use dsp and active amplification to give powerful extended bass, then they need to keep it under control 'in room', integrate 'Antimode' type technology into the connect box for example. As they stand, the prodigious and uncontrolled bass simply smears the midrange destroying clarity and detail, no wonder the smaller boxes sounded better.

Pricing seems quite high too, the smallest XD system costing more than a pair of 3000 watt phantoms for example, the reduced wire count is a step in the right direction though.

NJB.

I think I agree, attempting to integrate an active setup into your current setup seems more trouble than it is worth, if you are going to stick with Dynaudios then the Focus 160 looks good to me though I must say I am not at all familiar with the Contour range.

For other Naim users I was thinking that the active setups might work nicely with the Uniti series products but as they do not have digital outs, I was wrong!

I managed to get a set of Focus 160s at a price that I still cannot believe. They are new, will need to run in, but have already seen off the Excite X12s on pretty much every score. I cannot begin to say how pleased I am, they are sweeter, deeper and have a beautifully weighted character. Even albums that were verging on the overly bright side on the Excites are sounding far more controlled. The treble is still there, not recessed, but more polished. If the Excites are the excitable teenagers, the Focus are their grown up brothers.

Nicely done.

The Excites have never really done it for me though pretty much every other Dynaudio product, many of them pro series, have always impressed.

I would love a pair of 200XDs, more or less active 160s, but baulk a bit at the price.

 

[NJB]

How much were they?

Approximately £800 in sterling equivalent.

 

[radiorog]

Wow! Result! Not bought in the UK then?

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm another big Dynaudio fan. The main problems in general is most of their speakers need lots of breathing space. This was rectified with the Excite & DM series - a little more room friendly.

If I had the space the Contours would be top of the list. Terrific speakers.

 

[gowiththeflow]

I would love a pair of 200XDs, more or less active 160s, but baulk a bit at the price.

The 160's usually costs about £1800.

In what sort of minimum price range would a suitable amp, that would do justice to the 160's, be in?

The 200XD costs about £4000. That extra £2200 buys amps, Dac's and includes the wireless kit. No speaker cable needed either.

As an example, the Arcam A39 and Rega Elicit-R cost around £1600. The Naim XS2 and Exposure 3010S2-D around £1700. The next step up in integrated amps, starts above £2000. That's without factoring in the Dac's, etc.

z

 

[davedotco]

I would love a pair of 200XDs, more or less active 160s, but baulk a bit at the price.

The 160's usually costs about £1800.

In what sort of minimum price range would a suitable amp, that would do justice to the 160's, be in?

The 200XD costs about £4000. That extra £2200 buys amps, Dac's and includes the wireless kit. No speaker cable needed either.

As an example, the Arcam A39 and Rega Elicit-R cost around £1600. The Naim XS2 and Exposure 3010S2-D around £1700. The next step up in integrated amps, starts above £2000. That's without factoring in the Dac's, etc.

z

You are quite right GWTF, in relative terms the value is fair, well as fair as any hi-fi.

It's just that £4k+ for a setup that is only, for the forseable future, going to be playing Spotify strikes me as a little absurd. Ok, the new Dynaudio mark 3 Connect box has Spotify Connect built in and the setup is wireless, but still.....

When you consider that a mint pair of late model ADM9s can be had for £700-800, adding a streamer with Toslink out and you are barely over the £1k mark, and with greater functionality too. Sure you have to manage a couple of extra cables but the price differential is huge.

Even the latest ADM10 model, new, costs £1.5k, so well under £2k including a streamer....*unknw*

 

[chebby]

They've not been the same since Knudsen the raccoon ...

 

[davedotco]

They've not been the same since Knudsen the raccoon ...

Look great but I have never had the pleasure of meeting one.

When living in Sydney, having a quiet night in watching TV, we were suddenly aware of a strange face staring at us through the window. Gave us a bit of a fright until we realised it was a possum, the clever beggar had put his weight onto a branch of the tree which bent to place him right up to the window.

Had the window not been closed he could well have hopped right in, after the hi-fi no doubt.

 

[chebby]

They've not been the same since Knudsen the raccoon ...

Look great but I have never had the pleasure of meeting one.

When living in Sydney, having a quiet night in watching TV, we were suddenly aware of a strange face staring at us through the window. Gave us a bit of a fright until we realised it was a possum, the clever beggar had put his weight onto a branch of the tree which bent to place him right up to the window.

Had the window not been closed he could well have hopped right in, after the hi-fi no doubt.

ROFL ...

 

[gowiththeflow]

It's just that £4k+ for a setup that is only, for the forseable future, going to be playing Spotify strikes me as a little absurd. Ok, the new Dynaudio mark 3 Connect box has Spotify Connect built in and the setup is wireless, but still.....

I'm not sure what you mean, by only going to be playing Spotify?

Using either the Connect or the Hub, multiple sources can be connected wirelessly to the 200XD, including both digital and analogue inputs. That will allow sources such as a PC, CD and Streamer to be played through the Connect or Hub. Any music streaming service can be used.

When you consider that a mint pair of late model ADM9s can be had for £700-800, adding a streamer with Toslink out and you are barely over the £1k mark, and with greater functionality too. Sure you have to manage a couple of extra cables but the price differential is huge.

Even the latest ADM10 model, new, costs £1.5k, so well under £2k including a streamer....*unknw*

Granted, but the use of the second-hand example is completely pointless as you could compare anything with anything else that way. For example, the discontinued Dynaudio XEO 3, completev with the Hub, can be had for around £700 to £800 2nd hand, or for around £1100 brand-new.

The ADM10 appears to be great value, bearing in mind that there's also the benefit of buying direct and missing out on a huge dealer mark-up, but are you comparing apples with apples in terms of sound quality?

Unfortunately, I haven't had the benefit of hearing the ADM's to judge for myself. I'm also unsure of the quality of Dac onboard, rather hoping it's not a cheap off the shelf £0.50 chip, as suggested elsewhere?

z

 

[davedotco]

I was trying to make the point that I listen to all my music from Spotify, by choice that is. The connectivity of the Connect Hub is useful but having Spotify Connect built in is the attraction and as I said, I would probably use my AEX for convenience. The attraction to me is the simplicity.

I agree, comparing new product at list price to used is somewhat disingenuous, my only defence being that there are a few modern ADM9s (on the AVI website) available from users upgrading to the 10s, which are out of the question for me on finish grounds.

Performance comparisons are difficult though, I have an aquaintence with a pair of the older ADM9Ts, well set up, that sound great, mostly with CDs. Way better than the Dynaudio XD200 that I heard the other evening in that situation.

However, I did see a lot of potential in the Dynaudios, and my general experience of their products, both hi-fi and professional, is extremely positive. I have no doubt that the XD200 can do a lot better, so my interest was somewhat piqued.

Overall though the point that I am making is that I would not be all that comfortable spending £4k on a system, any system, playing Spotify, an inherently limited format.

 

[gowiththeflow]

... while the 'secret' stole the show....

Would that secret be the new small size XEO 2 ????

z

 

[davedotco]

It's no great secret.

It is a compact 5 inch active speaker with onboard dac and pre-amp. Minimal facilities but although it requires a wired input via toslink, the master can send signal to the other spreaker of the pair wirelessly.

It uses bits of technology from the 'Connect' box that feeds the Focus SD but lacks Spotify Connect, which the separate box has. It makes rather a nice minimalist system and sounded pretty good on the day though of course the only comparison was the much more expensive XD models.

Price is supposed to be around £1k, fair enough if the performance stands up to the competition. For example the new Yamaha NX-N500 offers far more facilities, including full network capability, Spotify, internet radio etc, at little more than half the price.

 

[gowiththeflow]

It's no great secret.

It is a compact 5 inch active speaker with onboard dac and pre-amp. Minimal facilities but although it requires a wired input via toslink, the master can send signal to the other spreaker of the pair wirelessly.

Ah! That description sounds like the speaker that was announced a while back and then promptly all mention of it disappeared from view. Maybe somebody made a Boo Boo and released some info too soon?

There is a XEO 2 due to be announced (next week?). I don't know if this is what they're now calling that "secret" speaker, or if it's a different speaker and just a smaller model in the XEO range?

z