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Hi all -I recently auditioned the Dynaudio 140 and really enjoyed it from the midrange through treble. Problem is. . . the bass (too boomy / not naural). What speakers sound similar to the Dyns but have better (more agile and realistic) bass? Thanks.
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I have a pair of Focus fs68's and I can't believe how good they sound with real bass notes ie Dave Brubeck & Diana Krall. I purchased them because no one in Calgary carried the Dynaudio model. Good luck
Stone Image Audio Rothschilde
Johnny Bravo actually made a very good recommendation here. There is very little literature on the Rothschilde A2, sans a review at affordableaudio.orgThis tiny monitor represents just what makes monitors so attractive to many ears in the first place - lightning speed, imaging, and coherency beyond what most towers (and other two way monitors for that matter) are capable of.
The compromise you make here is 'cool factor'. You can brag to your friends about owning a pair of Dynaudio speakers. Mentioning Stone Image Audio will meet deer-in-the-headlight looks. I kinda like it. Then again, I was never out to impress other audiophiles..
Thank you for all of your comments thus far. I don't think it was a room problem - lisened to other speakers in the room which didn't have the bass problem. For the demo, Primare integrated and CD were used. My equipment is Ayre integrated and CX-7 CD.The great thing about the Dyns (for me anyway) is that the midrange/treble did not call attention to themselves, not too much of this, or too little of that.
The speakers being replaced are ProAc Tablette 50 Signatures. I will probably go back to listen with my gear as I would be thrilled if I could mitigate the bass 'problem'.
FWIW, I listened at Hanson Audio/Video in Dayton Ohio - I would love to do business with them as they seem to be great guys. Did a great job demoing about 6 pairs of speakers.
Well, careful placement probably could ameliorate the bass problem. Or, a little cut on the bass control--but your Ayre integrated amp probably doesn't have tone controls.I notice from Wes Phillips review in Stereophile that the Dynaudio Focus 140 comes with (removable) foam port plugs. These would lessen the bass response and might work better in your room.
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"Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony."
------Heraclitus of Ephesis (fl. 504-500 BC), trans. Wheelwright.
Take a look at Spendor S3e, even the S6e. Neither will have boomy bass. I had S6e for a while and now have S8e. My room is smallish, too (13' x 15') and I very much value fast, articulate bass. I owned Dynaudio 52SE about a year ago and I had Audience 62 several years ago. The Spendor Se series has IMO a "faster" (more damped) bass region, is much easier to drive and is similarly voiced as Dyn, if not a bit more "laid back". I found Dyns boomy overall, too. I suspect the issue with Dyns is that they need a big SS amp with good damping factor and good current into lower impedances to get the best out of them. I own Naim, which is more quality over quantity as far as watts and I found the 52SE, for example, was boomy in the midbass driven by a Naim Nait5i at 50 watts per channel. Also, although the Focus series is easier to drive than the typical Dyn, they're still 4 ohm speakers in the bass region and that I suspect that causes excess bass since it's calling for a lot more power out of the amp in the bass region than in the mids and treble.
I agree re: the S-series Spendors, though I should note that they sound fairly different from the "Classics" -- leaner, faster, slightly cooler. (Of course, the new "r"-type Classics may elide these main differences while preserving many of the line's strengths.)I have a pair of S3es, which I like. They are very clean sounding, as well as extremely pretty (the sound, not the box, which is nice but unlikely to set the world on fire). You'll probably enjoy the top end, which greg7 rightly calls "laid back" but which also retains much of the delicacy and clarity one hears in the S3/5.
The Dynaudios I've heard tended to sound a little warm - maybe "husky" is the word – even when driven by a enthusiastic amplifier. I didn't find them boomy, but I can easily imagine them going that way in a different environment and with different electronics.
I would also suggest you listen to the S5e. Like others who have posted here, I didn't feel there was a *tremendous* difference of sound between this and the 3. But I heard enough -- somewhat more extension and slightly greater articulation in the low end – that I'd have bought them if I'd had the scratch. For another (enthusiastic) response to this speaker, read Art Dudley's review on the Stereophile web site, if you haven't already.
I haven't heard that particular model.Alternatives I could suggest of comparable quality (which is very high, BTW) which aren't much more expensive are the Paradigm Signature S2 (there's apparently a new iteration available), the PSB Platinum M2, and the Joseph Audio RM7XL SE (I have heard an earlier version).
Based on reviews including measurements, I would want to audition the Focus Audio Signature FS68SE, too. It is a little less sensitive than the Dynaudios, but then its impedance doesn't seem to drop below 8 ohms, so it's not a hard drive.
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"Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony."
------Heraclitus of Ephesis (fl. 504-500 BC), trans. Wheelwright.
I know this sounds a tad ‘cliché’, but ‘when done right’, Dynaudio’s Focus series are serious contenders in their respective price-ranges and give the competition a thing or two to worry about.Like most Danes, the Focus series responds very well to electronics with power. Give them an amp with a high damping factor to really get control of those drivers and you will be playing right in the Dynaudio ballpark. Unlike the rest of their brothers and sisters however, the speakers in the Focus line do not require gobs of that power to ‘sing’.
The Focus series is also a tad more friendly in regards to room placement than other Danes. Still, it’s best to try and keep a fair amount of distance between any surrounding walls and the rear port of the speaker.
It also takes a hell of a long time for that woofer to mechanically ‘break in’. Dynaudio states it takes within the 300 hour ball-park. My experience along with a number of friends experiences matches that number.
The bottom line is that ‘slow’ bass is something that is not inherent with the sound of the Focus series. That is, unless you are accustom to full range ribbons, electrostatics or even planars. It sounds to me like there was some bad mojo going on during your demo.
But if you like British gear, try Neat Motive.
I auditioned Dynaudios and they were a strong contender. (I eventually bought Spendors.) However, "boomy" bass would be one of the last attributes I'd assign to any Dynaudio. Sure it wasn't a room placement issue?
ProAc.The Dyns need lots of love and care to make them really sing. Dont dismiss after a short listen as the Focus range offers a really nice sound. Been on the Dyn trip for about 3 years with various Dyn models going in and out... Try the smaller 110, all the mid/treble goods but a bit less bass, another thing about Dyn, they like really good (this does not meen powerfull) amps and cdps...
Hope this was of some sort of help!
v.i.
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