Opinions on the Dynaudio DM 2/8

Thanks, I think the Quads definitely excel with vocals and acoustic music. I don't think I listen loud enough that it gives my amp too much trouble. The volume knob starts at about 7 o'clock and I usually listen at 9 o'clock. The system is in a small room and it doesn't take much to get things up to room filling volume.

I guess cabinet size (volume) has a lot to do with creating big sound. Not long ago I had the Tannoy Mercury F2, which were big speakers for a bookshelf. I loved the sense of scale. I had the PMC TB2i for a couple of days, same thing there. In terms of cabinet volume (I basically just multiplied the w, h, and d), the 2/8 is by far the largest. Second is PMC, then Tannoy and the Excite X16 are almost tied, and then the 12L2 brings up the rear and it is well behind. I don't know if this is the best way to determine which speaker will give the biggest sense of scale, but I think it probably has some merit and it least gives you some idea. If anyone is curious, here are the numbers converted to percentages, with the 2/8 fixed at 100%...

Dyn 2/8: 100%
PMC TB2i: 80.9%
Tannoy F2: 71.9%
Dyn X16: 70.5%
Quad 12L2: 57.7%

This shows just how much bigger the 2/8 is, and how small the Quads are. I guess I can expect the X16 to have a similar sense of scale as the F2 did, which I think would satisfy me. Of course they are $450 more, and I'm definitely intrigued by how huge the 2/8 must sound.

I own both the DM & Excite lines. In their respective price points, they are almost impossible to beat and I agreed with JA of Stereophile that unless you get another pair that costs severeal thousand dollars more.

I have used a NAD 352 to drive both the Excite & DM 2/10 and both pairs sound great with the cheap NAD. Both speakers sounded much bigger than their sizes suggested and threw a huge & dynamic sound stage.

Both DM & Excite lines are 4 ohm loads. I don't know anything about Exposure's capability to drive tough load speakers so I cannot comment.

The Excite X 16's bass is truly amazing & hits very cleanly down to the 40 Hz. The bass is extremely deep given the small size of the woofer. I compared my notes auditioning a pair of PSB T 45 with the X 16. They both go deep but differently. The bass on the PSB T 45 is fuller & more dynamic but I would say the bass on the X 16 is the type of bass that most standmount speaker owners would love to own, deep yet very clean. I auditioned an Enya album that features the Orinoco Flow track.

But given the small size of the woofer, a powered subwoofer is recommended for the X 16 or the X 12 to prevent bass overload.

You will not be disappointed with either the DM 2/8 or X 16. The X 16 is a very handsome speaker and very easy on the eyes.

Unless you are a fan of British brands, I would say the Dynaudio DM & Excite are in a league above the PMC, Quad, & Tannoy.

I have also compared the bass on the X 16 with my brother Totem Rainmaker & my trustworthy backup JBL S-38.

The X 16 bass hits deeper and more punchy and the high is smoother than those of the Totem Rainmaker due to the $600 difference in price and the Dynaudio soft dome tweeter is probably the factor here. Cabinets on both the Dynaudio & the Totem are top notch.

The JBL S-38 is a fun speaker that I love with more dynamic and fuller bass than that of the X 16. However, the high and the mid of the S-38 are not as smooth and revealing as the X 16 of course.

But the folks at Dynaudio somehow managed to voice the bass on the X 16 very, very, very punchy yet with very, very, very accurate bass notes, and from my notes "the bass is just PERFECT for music listening regardless of music genre".

That makes the X 16 as special as its smaller brother X 12, a speaker that had won quite a few favorable reviews in North America.

I can live with both the JBL S-38 & Dynaudio X 16 bass. With the S-38, you don't need a powered sub for music. Of course, the S-38 is almost as big as my Dynaudio DM 2/10 which was designed primarily for movie editing & dance studios where accurate & good sound is a must.

With the X 16, you probably need a powered sub, NOT for the lowest note in terms of bass but for a more pronounced & revealing mid-range and to help the small woofers on the Dyns from being overwhelmed with bass rich materials reproduction like rap or night club music.

I love both the DM & Excite line from Dynaudio. To my ears, they sound almost similar but the DM line is a bit more efficient and that may help if you do not crank your amp too loud.

I am happy to own either Dynaudio or PSB speakers. Both companies make great speakers. You have to pay a little more $$$ for Dynaudio speakers but their cabinets IMO are second to none.

Fusion10

You will not be disappointed with the DM 2/8. They are very neutral and more efficient than the Audience or Focus line. The Dynaudio DMs are fun speakers to listen to. You will love them but you just have to be patient with their long run in period.

My GF who is not an audiophile said this after we AB my brother Totem and her Dyn DM 2/10. "I want the Dynaudio. Return the Totem to your brother. The Dyns do not lie."

Like many of the responders I have not listened to the DM 2/8's. Though I do have a pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 and a pair of Quad 12L2. I have been AB listening for several weeks now and cannot decide which I like better. I think that they are both good and that it kind of depends on the mood your in.
The Dynaudio's are a little more detailed, with a defined edge, more focus and a little forward.
The quads are smoother, a little laid back, and present the music as more of a sum total as opposed to individual instruments/vocals. That's the best I can explain it.
Maybe I'll keep them both and whenever I get that upgrade bug I can just switch them out.