Special Forty?

I first found Dynaudio while speaker shopping at a local high end shop. I was so impressed with the sound and really wanted the bigger towers, but I opted for bookshelf Special 40s since my listening room is small (13' x11').  

Once I got them home, I loved the sound, but wanted more lower end so I traded them for a used set of Contour 20s. I found the Contours to be the perfect match with enough punch to fill a larger room if necessary.  Speakers are 7' apart (3' from back and side walls), and  6.5' each from the seated listening position (almost a triangle). They sit bolted to Dynaudio Contour 20 stands filled with sand. Toe-in is set so tweeters point directly to the listening position, but I have tried them without toe-in and they still sound great.

Since I'm banned from filling our much larger living room with audio equipment, I waited for the opportunity when the wife would be away for a week and relocated the McIntosh/Dynaudio set up into the larger living room; where I also rearranged the furniture to suit audio, not guests. With the extra space the system showed its greater potential, treating the neighbors to a live Led Zeppelin concert. Eventually, I retreated back to my listening room and I'm still very happy with the Contour 20s.

@DRUBIN, I had the Dyn special 40 and upgraded to the Heritage special. Using my Passlab 250, I did not like the Heritage and ended up selling them and purchasing another pair of special 40's.  In fact the person I purchased the Heritage from, took my dyn 40's in trade. Not saying its a bad-sounding speaker, but for my ears it was too bright. The dyn 40 is one of my favorite speakers in my collection. My PS audio F5 will outclass it mainly because of the ribbon tweeter. I have a pair of Buchardt

E50's on order so I will see how they compare. Regardless the Dyns will stay in my collection.

I had such a similar experience except it was with the Pearl Audio Sibelius speakers. Completely underwhelmed when I set them up in my large living room space. I was back and forth with P.A. countless times changing positions, room treatment, gear. Was ready to return them at the end of the trial window when I decided to try them in a different room that was more like a standard enclosed large bedroom, and wow, Instant bliss. Loved them there. Same gear, different room. I’m a room believer now. 

@fmiller37 I too am/was a HUGE Dynaudio’s fan! There was just something wildly addictive about their sound. Back in the early 2000’s their Audience line (which was just their entry level-all I could afford back then), just completely enamored me soon as I heard them…I say was because I found that warmth/air/detail just wasn’t the same nowadays with their Excite line. However, Evoke did bring back some of that magic…Plenty of juice and especially, plenty of space is the key to really setting the Danes up to shine. Maybe my go round this time wasn’t a fair assessment as my setup is now in a smaller space. Still a large room but 8 foot ceiling vs 14ft vaulted (have since divorced and moved) probably makes all the difference in the world. They love space!

Glad you stayed with it and found the right stage for them, enjoy!

I was curious about the Heritage Special, at least partly because I liked the look. Considered buying a used pair, but I noticed what seemed like an unusually large number of pairs for sale, suggesting that people were trying and being disappointed. ... Was the Heritage Special a sonic “miss?”  

Yes, it was a "miss", at least in my opinion.

Let me add the disclaimer that I have owned probably 5 pairs of Dynaudios and I hated every one of them (yes, I know, the definition of insanity), so I am definitely not a fan of the house sound. These included the Special 40, the Contour 1.3SE, the C1 and the Heritage Specials.

The Heritage Specials did have some good qualities.When adequately powered - at least 150 watts was preferable - they could go very loud without distortion. They imaged extremely well, to the far corners of the room.

But they were just strangely unmusical and unengaging. Whenever I played music on them I wanted to stop very quickly. Without knowing quite why, I came to avoid listening to the stereo. When I realised what was happening, I sold them and have ended up with some Rogers LS5/9s which I find much more enjoyable to listen to, even if they give up a bit of the hifi artifacts by comparison.

But this is of course a personal preference, and you may love them. So a lengthy audition is definitely recommended before buying.

Rooms do matter.  Also consider trying speakers with less toe-in.  Most speakers are actually not designed to point right at your head.  Also try listening below the tweeter firing line.  Often you'll find a much fuller presentation that way.

Question for you Dynaudio enthusiasts. A while back, I was curious about the Heritage Special, at least partly because I liked the look. Considered buying a used pair, but I noticed what seemed like an unusually large number of pairs for sale, suggesting that people were trying and being disappointed. (I have never heard them.) Now Dynaudio has the Contour Legacy, which also appeals to me for many of the same reasons. I appreciate that the price premiums on these limited-edition models are a lot of marketing, but I’m curious what people who know the brand well think. Was the Heritage Special a sonic “miss?”  Is the Contour Legacy also?

I am using an integrated Simaudio Moon ACE in both rooms. I love the simplicity, the quality, and the sound. The power does limit my speaker choices a bit. The speakers have about 40 hours of play time.

The first room is 12x18, with the speakers on the short wall. However, it is hardwood floors with a 9x12 rug, 2 windows to the right, a stone fireplace and 2 wide openings to the left, and a larger opening directly behind. No bueno. The new room is also 12x18, speakers now on the long wall, but still relatively close together, now with carpet, less windows, more fabric furniture. Much easier to find a magic placement that sounds amazing everywhere.

Thanks for your story. How many hours on the speakers?

@freediver +1

I have been helping a friend of mine put together an audio system and he finished purchasing components about a year ago and then he set out to set it up. Small room 12’ by 18’ (?). He took the ball and ran with it. Read articles and a book.

He tried it along the short wall, then long wall. Then used cushions and blankets and pillows (at my suggestion) to act as dampeners. After six months he began buying acoustic tubes and panels to replace the cushions and pillows. Then he moved things back to the short wall. [full height windows behind the speakers which he put half tubes).

I visited last weekend. His system sound was simply stunning. Nothing like how it began. He’s now going to put the spikes in the speakers and do the tiny tweaks. A complete success story.

I'm curious,how big & what treatments in the bad room & same for the good room?