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Time to change. But to what?

I've had my B&W N803 for a while now. Love them. But have a craving for a different type of sound.

I want speakers that play all kinds of music equally well. Excell at soundstaging, imaging, resolution, are NOT analytical, sound natural(this is very improtant...I hate artificial sound), and do the bass so you not only hear it but feel it as well.

I started building a list of potential candidates.
Here goes it:
1. B&W 803D
2. DALI Helicon 800MkII
3. DALI Euphonia MS4 or 5
4. Dynuadio S5.4
5. Sonus Faber Cremona

from the list I am familiar with S5.4, 803D and Cremona. I have never heard DALI speakers.

Room width is about 14 feet. Length is 18 feet. Speakers are on the short wall. Behind the speakers corners are treated with 8th Nerve Rectangles and Triangles, there is an area rug in front of speakers.

I listen to rock music, jazz(vocal and instrumental but dynamic stuff...no smooth jazz at all), acoustic music, solo, chamber and large orchestral classical(Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Bartok, Shoenberg, Shostakovich, etc). I would like the orchestra to be rendered as large and real as possible within the natural limitations of my room, system, listener.

I like to listen on realistic levels when I can, but since I have a 5 year old who goes to bed early, low level resolution is VERY IMPORTANT. I do a lot of late night listening at low levels and want to hear as much information out of the speakers as possible. My B&Ws excell at playing loud without strain. I want this quality to remain with the new speaker as well.

The speaker upgrade will most likely force me to use my Bel Canto DAC3 as a preamp for a while.

I am selling my BAT VK-51SE preamp right now to raise some funds for the speakers. Once I sell the preamp I plan to sell the B&Ws.

DAC3 isn't that bad direct into my Pass Labs X250.5 and I have a feeling I can deal with it for the time being.
No plans to change the amplifier, or anything else. Just the speakers.

What are my options?

Your advise is greatly appreciated.
128x128audphile1
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,273 posts
 
Hi Keith

it isn't clear from your post which speaker was better sonically in your system, the C4 or the Sophia. Aesthetix aside.

Also, C2 is almost full range. Low frequency is specified at 28hz. That's deep. C1 goes down to 45hz. Not even reaching the lowest note on acoustic bass. I realize it rolls off and may still go into the 30s, but it won't dig as deep as C2. At least basedon the specs.
C2 also has 4 times the internal cabinet volume of C1. Just that should be enough to make a substantial difference in the performance of the speaker.
keithr
1,306 posts
 
my problem with the C2 is its a 2.5 way as i recall. The C4 is a true 3 way and will get you better bass and overall sound. i would rather have C1 or C4. btw, the person i bought them from bought C4s

there is a C1 review out there that mentions the guy gets in room response of -3db at 34hz. the official specs are 45hz at -2db. that is pretty crazy. unless you listen to organ music....

as far as C4 vs. Sophia--- i liked both, but for different reasons. Sophia is more dynamic, more amplifier friendly. Danes perhaps have a more neutral top end/midrange. bass also leans to the C4s as you would expect.

fyi- gotta believe the Confidence series will be redone in a year. its up next and due. been out since 2002.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,273 posts
 
Keith, I see. Thanks.

As I said, I do realize the bass goes deeper than specs(same as with my B&Ws, which reproduce 28hz test tone but specified as 42hz low, they gently roll off the bass), but still, a mini monitor is what it is. Doubt it competes with a large floorstander such as C2. If the C2 isn't much better than C1, that would be really surprising. If the design is properly implemented, I wouldn't worry about 2.5 way vs 3 way speaker. Dynaudio usually doesn't screw up.
I haven't heard the C2 or the C1 and I can not back it up with facts. So we are probably discussing something we both are not sure about(it seems you haven't heard the C2 either).

I have heard 2 different Dynaudio speakers, at 2 totally opposite ends of the product line, the Evidence Master and Contour S5.4, and liked both of them a lot.
keithr
1,306 posts
 
well, if you want to talk about specs- the C4 is only specified to 27hz vs. 28hz for the C2. weird eh? i would much rather have separate mid drivers of the C4, but i would be shocked if the C4 didn't have tons more bass than the C2 with the addition of 2 8" drivers.

ps. i would absolutely rather have Sophias than C2s (which are pretty much the same price point used)
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,273 posts
 
Hi Keith,

I pretty much decided it will either be the S5.4 or the Sophia. C2 are great but I doubt they will have the bass I want.

BTW, review of C4 in Stereophile indicates the bass to be too much of a good thing, to the point it is hard to get right. I wish I could shoot straight to C4 but at this time the room and budget allow for a lesser speaker only.
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