The most dynamic & transparent bookshelf


I get it when I hear some speakers like Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary, they are musical, detailed, but not on extreme dynamic, it can go pretty low and loud, but still lack a bit more powerful punch. My next aim for powerful speakers, will be something near perfect immune to distortions, must be extreme dynamic, go very loud and does not make the sound quality collapsed, also I insist to stick with bookshelf size, few options in my mind:

Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 (with NrT upgrade, worth?)
Mark&Daniel Ruby
Dynaudio DM 2/8
Proac Response D2
Soundfield Audio Monitor 1

For Dynaudio and Mark&Daniel, I have concern on power and drive efficiency, though I'm using a Class D Audio SDS-400C power amp, it work damn good with my Denton (warm + transparent gear goes really well). My considerations based on factors in this order: price, near full range dynamic, neutral and transparent sonic quality, availability (as I'm from Malaysia, not easy to achieve those speakers), and last your opinions? Any other recommendations? Once again, I'm not looking for speakers with colorations, must extremely dynamic, dead neatral and transparent without snake oil!
wim1983
I think you are in good shape with that amp except with teh most inefficient speakers going VERY loud, ie possibly ear damaging.

If there is a model that would fit into your space, if it were me, I'd go with my old standby, OHM Acoustics. Most I am familiar with are floorstanders but they have adapted teh design into some bookshelf models of late that I am less familiar with. You'd have to contact them via ohmspeakers.com.

I can say that all their Walsh models are designed to sound similar and that sound that I know well matches what you are looking for well. I power my smaller OHMS with similar power amps to yours with excellent results.

They are about as neutral and uncolored as they come IMHO.

I like and own Dynaudio as well. Mine are Dynaudio Contour 1.3 mkII. These could be harder to drive and actual sound probably varies more from model to model though all share similar traits and the line is top notch in general.

I also very much like Goldenear Aeon3 as a smaller "bookshelf" speaker. These are very balanced and neutral top to bottom with absolutely no edge on teh top end. If tehy have a limitation is is probably dynamics at higher volumes, in that they are not very big, but very good for teh price.
"Zd542: Yes, it's hard but I think Proac Response D2 suit me well, dead neutral and amazing bass range, for your info, I'm driving my speakers using no hype technology products like JDS Labs ODAC, Blue Jeans cables, and Class D Audio power amplifier, no preamp/ CD player / phono etc..."

I didn't realize you actually heard the ProAc's. So many people just go by reviews and opinions, I sometimes forget there's still a few of us that demo gear before we buy it. Its really hard to mess up with a pair of ProAc's. One of my favorite speakers. For SS amps, Ayre, Pass and Rowland was the best match. For tubes, Quicksilver, ARC and VAC.
Mapman: Yes, Goldenear Ao3, Ohm Walsh Bookshelf, they are in my shortlist as well, I'm very tempted to go for the OHM. Can give more impressions how they sound? I see that the frequency response is very impressive, 32-20K range, WOW, that's seem a lot power and dynamic. Can you confirm the OHM can be drive with very high dynamic? How diffcult are they to position and sensitive to placement? Did you try some extreme stress test on volume and distortions?
Zd542: Argh, I have to say that audition is not available here in Malaysia for many state of the art speakers, as there are too many in USA, with good return policy. Also, it can be very fishy and tricky when you do audition, with today Internet still there are more than a lot of info there for me to evaluate and judge, though questionable in most aspects, but that's the only way to search for a reference level bookshelf speakers. So I have to be very careful in all considerations. Proac Response D2 is available in Malaysia, but the price is very high indeed, way over my budget, while the design can be a bit traditional, so better value invenstment, I'll opt for more moderm design speakers if possible. Any other recommendations?