upgrade path from my current speakers? (Dynaudio Special Forty)

Also add:  The resale market for your Special Forty's is very strong.  I'd reach out to some of the retail resale vendors as well as posting.  If you have original box and materials you may get near what you paid for them.

The Special 40 is unique in the lineup.  If you liked the HS you should enjoy the new Confidence floor standing models as they share the same tweeter.  I’m a huge fan of the Esotar3, it strikes the perfect balance of being detailed while never getting shrill or bright. The S40 uses a modified version of the older Esotar2 so perhaps the Contour i series would be a better fit. Either way I’d stick within the Dynaudio family if that’s the sound you prefer.  

Or do what I did and move the S40 to the bedroom and go with an entirely different type of floor stander for some variety. I went Klipsch Forte since nothing fills a big room like horns. If I had the space I would have went with La Scalas + subs. 

I've mentioned this on other threads asking the same questions about what could replace the Dynaudio Special 40 and it may just be the Revival Audio Atalante 3 monitors.

Daniel Edmonds is the owner and designer of all Revival Audio speakers. He designed speaker for Altec Lansing, JMLab-Focal and Dynaudio. As lead engineer at Dynaudio for 7 years he designed: Contour 2016 range, Special 40, Evoke, Confidence 2019, Contour i series 2020 and the Heritage Special. He knows a thing or two about speakers.

Try to audition a pair of Atalante 3s if you can. I bought mine sound/unheard based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews online from all over the world. Dealers had a difficult time keeping inventories in stock when they first came out. Everything is made in house (in France) and the drivers are designed by him and used only in his speakers. He's only been in business since 2021 and his prices can't be beat. For $2500, you can conceivably get a generation or two of improvement and refinement over his earlier designs.

All the best,
Nonoise

thanks all

I've been in touch with a local REL dealer who is going to come over for a consultation, he's recommended one or two small RELs and has suggested he can do the integration

from there will seek to audition further Dyns up the chain including their pro audio gear

I lived with a beautiful pair of Dynaudio Contour 5.4's for several years, but my first love was of Tannoy Dual Concentrics. I bought a pair of 12" HPD's, and had them sent from England.

I sold my Dynaudio's, and built a pair of 150 liter bass-reflex speakers that I love much more than the Dynaudio's. I built them very stout at just around 200 lbs. each with out drivers and crossovers. I'll probably be listening to them on the day I leave this existence.

You might want to give them a listen.

Regards,

Dan