ynaudio belongs to the top loudspeaker manufacturers in the world – that's exactly what one could read in press information released for the premiere of two models from Contour S Limited Edition line, a floorstanding model, Contour S 3.4 LE and a compact one, Contour S 1.4 LE. This type of statement is a classic PR. But in this particular case of this Danish manufacturer this happens to be true. All you have to do is to comb through audio magazines issued in the last, say, 10 years, to realize how Dynaudio's portfolio changed over the years. These changes were based on a need of refreshing the offer, which is a marketing requirement, but also on actual advancements and improvements Dynaudio engineers accomplished during this time.

Dynaudio is a conservative company, at least when it comes to introducing new lines. These change only rarely, and even if they do it is clear that there is a strong connection between new models and older ones. Maybe that is why this manufacturer tries to keep lines' names, changing only markings for particular models in the line. That's what they did with Confidence line. Two years ago they presented models marked “II” and “Signature” during High End Show in Munich. Same happened with Platinum and last year we reviewed Confidence C1 Platinum.
I think this type of changes is what initiated a release also of two new models from a lower, Contour line. To distinguish them from regular models manufacturer added „LE” („Limited Edition”) to their name. “LE” is usually used for electronics, rarely for speakers, and it means that particular version will be available for a limited time.

The LE speakers were presented during High End 2014. The first thing most people will notice is their look, which is more similar to Confidence line. It is offered with unique finishes like: Bubinga High Gloss, Walnut Special, Mocca High Gloss and Black Piano Lacquer with a steel front. The drivers' die-cast aluminum baskets are finished with a black color and so is the front panel all drivers are fixed to. Only the Black Lacquer version sports a silver front baffle that is made of stainless steel.
The front baffle is on one had a decorative element (and it really works this way!), but on the other it also has its actual job to do improving working conditions for drivers. This front plate has three layers – MDF, damping material and a steel plate.

The key changes were made inside the speakers obviously, as some elements directly responsible for sound quality were upgraded. The same tweeter was used, as in regular version, but with addition of Precision Coating (Dynaudio does it also for Confidence line). The internal wiring uses high-quality, thick OFC copper cable, and the crossover sports special Thin Film Ceramic Resistors for treble section, same ones that were used for Consequence Ultimate Edition and Confidence Signature. The mid- lowrange woofer sports a diaphragm made of MSP and extremely light aluminum coil on a Kapton coil former.

We received these speakers for a review with dedicated Stand4 stands. Speakers were screwed to he top plate of each stand. Despite the fact that these stands can be bought separately one should remember that they were designed to work with these particular speakers.

I'd like to start with a very non-scientific observation, but a very true one: both Limited Edition speakers look fantastic! Quality of veneer and metal elements is outstanding, and the way these were combined together brings Confidence Platinum models immediately to mind. I think that these present the same, premium level of fit&finish. Small things made with style can be very attractive!
The second observation, even less related to their performance, is about value of these speakers. I mean their performance is excellent, they look gorgeous and they are a “limited edition” models. That means their number on the market is limited – they are actually collectibles. You should always buy (if you can, of course) such products as their value decrease over time is much smaller than of regular product. If you're looking for speakers from this price range and have a fairly powerful amplifier, NOT buying these beauties will be hardly justifiable.

The looks, fit&finish quality, and a limited quantity manufactured – these are reasons good enough to buy products (also audio) as collectibles. I think that such approach should be acceptable also for audiophiles. The speakers under review comply with all these conditions and yet, their primary function is playing music.

They deliver rich, coherent performance. They are capable of delivering a large number of details although not as big as C1 Platinum or Special 25. These two speakers were bit more resolving, which translated into richer, more saturated picture. But I urge you to listen to Contour S 1.4 LE driven by some high quality, powerful amplifier – I am pretty sure that for many music fans the way they convey music might be even more engaging, more enjoyable. Both above mentioned models offer, by objective terms, better performance than 1.4 LE, and yet…

S 1.4 LE deliver very rich performance. Considering their size they surprisingly well perform in bass area, and particularly well in lower midrange. Scale of the sound, its intensity is truly impressive and could easily be compared with that of many small, and even mid-size floorstanders. Double bass, capable of going as low as 42 Hz, on Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet's Polka was presented with nice “weight” and wonderful timbre. Despite the fact that lowest notes were not as energetic as these from up the range (regardless of what the measurements say) it didn't really matter. Other models of comparable size deliver “smaller” sound, unless they are “pumped up” but there is a price to pay for that – some type of coloration is always involved.

Dynaudio deliver very clean sound. Not as pure as that of their more expensive cousins also created by Wilfried Ehrenholz, the owner of Dynaudio, but the differences between them are not particularly big. This clarity of the sound allows „LE” to convey even richer, more coherent sound. I believe that this particular set of qualities is better suited for a larger number of various systems for greater variation of music genres, than the one of more expensive models. What they are good at is combining all these qualities and modeling sound in such a way that gives listener an impression of particular richness and completeness of the sound.

Reliability of sounds plays a key role here. I mean how rich and palpable they are. They sport a large „body” that seems to be three-dimensional. Some closely recorded vocals like Diana Krall's on Wallfowers or May Allin Travers' (one third of the Peter, Paul and Mary trio) were very focused and had proper size. Often some objects are presented very clearly on the stage but it seems as they are just hollow shells, or flat as piece of paper, that they lack the “body”. In these case I could see two women, flash and blood.
The soundstage, as you probably guessed by now, is remarkable. Spacing is very precise, all phantom images are placed in particular places of a multi-layer soundstage. And since those images have a “body” whole presentation seems very realistic, natural and each element truly “lives” on the stage.

These speakers should sound nice even with low-watt tube amplifiers. But in my experience the better control amplifier has over these speakers the richer and warmer (!) sound will they reproduce. 1.4 LE deliver very coherent performance comparable with one-driver speakers – tweeter's range coupled with woofer's, but the latter requires perfect control. This might be achieved with a powerful tube amplifier, or efficient solid-state one. Place them on solid stands and toe them in so that their axes cross 50 cm ahead of listener's position. Width of the soundstage might decrease a bit but you'll get better depth, and localization of all objects on the stage will be more precise and steady as a rock.

Summary

Buy them!

The speakers were reviewed together with dedicated stands – Stand4. It is a perfect match in aesthetic terms as well as in terms of performance. If you're using not very thick, and flexible cables you could even place them inside of one of stand's legs. Stands sport adjustable spikes. I decided to use additionally Acoustic Revive SPU8 spike bases, that were placed on RST-38H platforms (same brand, signed by company's owner). As I already mentioned speakers were toed in with axes crossing around 50cm ahead my head. The better stereo base you'd like to get the further from the back wall must the position of speakers be. But the bigger the distance from the back wall the less impact bass will offer. So you need to find you optimal position for speakers for particular room and for your expectations and system. I placed them 110 cm from a back wall.

I already mentioned how to drive them. In my place, as usually during test, I used Soulution 710 power amplifier. But also with Mark Levinson No585 integrated amp and that was a fantastic setup. But the absolutely ultimate performance Dynaudio delivered when driven by 760 000 PLN Naim Statement. I don't think such setup will happen in a real life, but Naim forced these speakers to give all they got and it was a lot. But lets stay reasonable – I'm not trying to convince you to get Naim statement for these speakers. What you need is a decent performer (I mean amplifier), not necessarily expensive, capable of delivering high current over short time. You could hook them up to Heed SiIII (with X-2 power supply) or one of Linear Audio Research amps, and such a setup will keep you smiling for a long time.

These relatively small speakers measuring 188 x 404 x 360 mm are perfectly made. They are available in three natural veneer finishes: Bubinga, Walnut Special, Mocca, and in Black Piano Lacquer, all with high gloss finish. The designer did his best to combine natural wood elements with a nice piano lacquer and some metal elements. The latter have additional job – they ensure proper rigidness of the cabinets, but they also look really good. Front panel is in fact a sandwich of three layers: a thick MDF plate, 2mm stainless steel plate and a damping material between them.
Additionally cabinet is strengthened by cross braces. There are two sorts of damping materials inside – one placed on the side walls plus there is some polyurethane foam. The single WBT speaker posts were mounted in the lower part of column's back.

Contour 14LE sport a soft dome tweeter with special coating that damps resonances, called Precision Coating. Its motor included a neodymium magnet, and its back side is sealed in a chamber to damp resonances. Tweeter covers also a large part of a midrange as the crossover point is set on 1900 Hz. Below works mid- lowrange woofer with MSP diaphragm. Drivers sports a large diameter coil, as most Dynaudio drivers do. Drivers are made by Dynaudio in-house. Internal wiring uses large diameter OFC cable. Magnetic grills use metal frames.

Stand4 is made of two pipes/legs that connect lower and upper plates. Lower plate sports a sandwich design of two metal boards with elastic damping material between them. Using these stands with Dynaudio speakers one has to remove top plate and screw both legs directly to the lower part of the speaker. Stand uses quite tall, adjustable spikes.

Parameters (according to manufacturer)

Sensitivity: 85 dB
Power handling (IEC): 160 W
Impedance: 4 Ω
Frequency response: 41 Hz – 25 kHz (± 3 dB)
Crossover frequency: 1900 Hz
Weight: 12,6 kg/pc.
Dimensions: 188 x 404 x 360 mm

DIANA KRALL
Wallflowers Deluxe Edition

Format: SHM-CD + DVD
Released: Feb 3. 2015

Diana Krall hasn't been playing jazz for a long time now. I think that to best describe the music she offers one would have to use term: smooth jazz. And yet you can find her records in shops on shelf with jazz music, and they get reviewed by jazz magazines and portals. It's quite some achievement. I think that her latest album Wallflower won't change that. It includes covers of Diana's favorite singers and bands that have nothing to do with jazz. You find among other names: Elton John, The Eagles, Bob Dylan, The Mamas and The Papas. She did also few duets, for example with Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams.

The album was promoted with a single California Dreaming (The Mamas and The Papas). Ever since I heard this piece on the radio I knew I had to buy this album. I just fell in love with this slow, “dense” arrangement. But unexpectedly it took a while before anyone could actually purchase this album. The release date was scheduled for Oct 14the 2014, and a concert tour was supposed to start on Nov 7th in Phoenix. Due to severe case of pneumonia both the release of the album and the American tour had to be postponed until Feb 3rd 2015. Diana Krall released a statement:

“I’m deeply saddened that I will have to postpone the release of my new album Wallflower and the Wallflower US Fall Tour until next year. I’ve been battling a severe case of pneumonia and am under doctor’s orders to rest for the next few months in order to regain my strength and good health. Performing is both a privilege and a joy for me. When I go out on stage I want to be able to give it everything. Taking this time to rest and recuperate will allow me to do that. It is frustrating to be so close to the record release and have to delay but I am very proud of this record and want to be able to give you all my very best when we finally present this music to you. Thank you so much for your understanding.” – Diana Krall

Due to that unfortunate circumstance album was released simultaneously all over the world, including Japan. It was there, where it was released also as SHM-CD and in Deluxe Edition that included both, SHM-CD and DVD. By a pure luck I received my copy before official premiere, on Jan. 30th. On Saturday, the 31st we could listen to it on our Cracow Sonic Society meeting.
The sound is unbelievably rich. Dense, warm, palpable and “mature”. But also very dynamic and open. Vocal is obviously a key element here and it has a large scale, it is three-dimensional and palpable. The accompanying strings enter gently and never try to be in the center of attention. Soundstage is huge in all directions. Dominant features of the sound are clarity and richness – an unusual combination.

I was surprised with such a great sound quality as this time the guys responsible for the sound of previous albums, including 1995 XRCD24 All for You, Tommy LiPuma and sound engineer Al Schmitt were not involved. Wallflower was recorded in more than one studios by David Foster and Jochem Van Der Saag. I shouldn't be surprised though: David Foster, a composer and producer won 16 Grammy Awards and was nominated 47 times! Jochem on the other hand is a respected sound engineer from Holland, he also plays keyboard and drums. It is not the first time these two gentlemen worked together – Seal's A Change Is Gonna Come is an example of an album they recorded, that also sounded amazingly well.

Sound quality: 9-10/10

www.dianakrall.com YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW? JOIN US ON TWEETER: UNIQUE PHOTOS, UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, NEWS!!!