Dynaudio Confidence 20...thoughts?

[lordemsworth]

Hello all,

Wondering if anyone has had a chance to hear them? Thoughts on how they would fair with a Lixman 590 AXii?

LordEmsworth

[lordemsworth]

Let me add more some more history.
My audio journey started with a humble pair of Royd Minstrels about 25 years ago. I’ve jumped back and forth across B&W, Focal and Dynaudio. About three years ago, I thought I had finally settled into my dream system:

PS Audio Directstream DAC with Bridge (fed via ROON)
Luxman 590AXii
Focal Sopra 2

As much as I had lusted after the Focals, I was never quite happy with the soundstage height. The music stayed within the speakers, not extending beyond the or above as much as I would have liked.

I had started with Krell amp, moved to Simaudio Moon 600i, and finally the Luxman. It made the sound better, but I couldn’t get the limitation out of my head (even if it was only in my head).

I was able to find a buyer for the Sopra 2s and I am contemplating the move back to Dynaudio or potentially KEF. I’ve read as much as I can, and there doesn’t seem to be much out there.

Aside from the price bump for the Confidence series, I was wondering if any that may have the new monitors, what are their thoughts?

I had read that the Confidence 20s are more like small floorstanders rather than standmounts. The new Esotar3 tweeter is an improvement over the older Esotar2. They have moved away from the look of the older model, and to be honest, I like the look of the newer model.

I’m looking for an end state system. Any help for the Audioholic would be appreciated.

[clpetersen]

I did a recent speaker search for stand mounters and ended up with Revels. I did not listen to the Confidence 20, but the Contour 20i, Magico A1, Sopra 1, and B&W 805 D3, Aerial 5T - post is in the Revel thread.

[Puma Cat]

I haven't heard the new Confidence 20, but I heard "original" Contour 20is back in the 2016, time-frame, I think. Right when the "first series" of the new Contour line came out. I thought they sounded great but it was at a dealer showroom. IIRC, they were quite a bit larger in volume than the preceding Contour S.14s were, so this is perhaps why they performed more like a floorstander than a standmount speaker.

The original Confidence C1 series (especially the Platinum series) were, and still are, a fabulous speaker. One of the best standmounts I'd ever heard up to that point in time. And that speaker performed with respect to lower octave performance, comparably to some floorstanders.

My guess is the new Confidence 20 would outperform them, but without comparing them in the same room with the same amplification system, there is no way to know. Again, the biggest factor of all with respect to how any loudspeaker performs is the room itself, and how the speakers are positioned in the room. I see a lot of systems where the speakers (especially if they are box speakers) are way too close to the front wall and side walls.

[Delija]

Confidence series is much better than Contour. The difference is far from subtle.

I still didn't have a chance to listen to Confidence 20's, but I did own Contour 60's for more than two years and now I own Confidence 50's for about five months. I've also listened to Confidence 30's, Contour 30's and 20's.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Delija

Confidence series is much better than Contour. The difference is far from subtle.
<SNIP>

I would expect so.

Better in what ways?

[Delija]

Confidence series has higher level of clarity, resolution, details, transparency, dynamics, better imaging and (3D) soundstage. In the same time it still keeps the basic sound character and smoothness and fluidity of Contours and generally Dynaudio, with zero fatigue despite pretty high resolution and details.

In short - I find perfect sound balance in Confidence series. Unfortunately - it's not cheap.

[lordemsworth]

Thank you for the info. At thoughts compared to Focal? The Sopra 2 specifically.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by lordemsworth

Thank you for the info. At thoughts compared to Focal? The Sopra 2 specifically.

Any comparing or contrasting between them is going to be an approximation and generalization at best, because they each will interact with a room, it's damping or diffusion, and the system and components in somewhat different ways.

The only way to accurately understand what the differences are between them is for you to hear them in your room, with your system and cables, etc.

[Kal Rubinson]

Confidence 30 review coming up.