Dynaudio C1, why so expensive?

Doesn't aluminum ring like a bell?

Sorry, I couldn't resist saying that for some reason. Whether it is or not and does or not, the Dynaudio engineers typically know what they are doing based on my experience.

International exchange rates might help explain high cost of Dynaudio speakers in the US. Most european made products seem to go for a premium here these days.

I have more difficulty understanding the cost of Canadian made Totem speakers these days. They mostly all sound really good and have very good build quality it seems but the price tags are surprising when you look especially after noting their generally compact size. Then again, good sound in a compact package has value.

PSBs might be a better value overall. You appear to get more for the money at least in terms of size. Not sure though. I'd have to listen to these top notch contenders back to back in order to say.

The baffle is a mdf layer sandwhich. The drivers are mounted in an aluminum plate that is mounted in the baffle.

09-17-10: Xti16
I have the speakers and it is aluminum.
------------------------------------------
09-17-10: Steidlguitars
Even the baffle on my lowly Contour 3.4s is aluminum (or some aluminum alloy), so I am sure that Xti16 is correct.
-----------------------------------------
You are both incorrect. The baffle is composite wood. The tweeter is mounted to an aluminum plate which fits into a machined recess in the baffle. But the baffle is NOT aluminum. And I know, becasue I had C4s, C2s and C1s and the baffles use all the same construction technique.

From the Dynaudio Confidence catalog:

"The multiple-layer high-density baffle yields extremely low-resonance and de-couples the loudspeaker drivers from the cabinet itself. Despite the slim dimensions of the cabinet, this innovative design concept allows for the integration of substantially larger bass driver than otherwise would be possible."

And I have a video of Confidence baffles being machined, and there's nary an aluminum chip to be seen...

Here's a photo showing the C1 wood baffle, the aluminum plate with tweeter mounted, and the mid/bass driver:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18533537#post18533537

And one of the similarly constructed C2:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18537641#post18537641

Not looking for an argument, but I don't think we're wrong.

I suspect that in your quote the "multiple-layer high-density baffle" is the aluminum plate mounted on the front of these speakers.

Here's the first definition of "speaker baffle" that pops up on google:

A baffle is the surface or structure on which the speakers or drivers are mounted. Its purpose is to prevent the front and rear sound waves from interfering with each other and causing cancellation. A speaker baffle can be made of wood, metal or other materials.

On the Contour and from photos, the C1, the tweeter and the mid-woofers are mounted to aluminum plate, which is what I think is technically the baffle. Yes, there is a MDF box behind it.

Have a good weekend.