I have owned C5 numerous times, I bought both new and used but sold them all at the end. It's one of the few speakers that I truly loved and wanted to love forever. It's not perfect, but it does many things so well you can live with the short coming.
Many people say ATC has the best midrange driver because of that large 3" dome. I haven't heard ATC, but I am sure Dynaudio Esotar dome can match ATC performance. No crossover at critical frequency range means more to be heard and that the strength of C5, midrange is pure, clean, detail, and transparent. The isobaric woofer designed gives a super fast and detail bass that I haven't heard from any other speakers. I read comments like big woofers can't catch up with ribbon or Be drivers all the time, more companies should learn from C5 design - give better bass, not more bass.
but problem with C5, the low sensitivity made me sold them. you need giant amps to drive them to proper volume, and they don't go much louder after that before bass drivers bottom out. for low sensitivity speakers, C5 has very good micro dynamic. but law of physic, you don't get macro dynamic like higher sensitivity speakers.
if you live in a smaller space, C5 is a near perfect speakers if you don't listen super loud. if you have decent size room, say >12'x12', C5 might not be for you. they don't image as well as speakers with midrange cone either, so nearfield in a smaller room still means somewhat diffused sound.
Many people say ATC has the best midrange driver because of that large 3" dome. I haven't heard ATC, but I am sure Dynaudio Esotar dome can match ATC performance. No crossover at critical frequency range means more to be heard and that the strength of C5, midrange is pure, clean, detail, and transparent. The isobaric woofer designed gives a super fast and detail bass that I haven't heard from any other speakers. I read comments like big woofers can't catch up with ribbon or Be drivers all the time, more companies should learn from C5 design - give better bass, not more bass.
but problem with C5, the low sensitivity made me sold them. you need giant amps to drive them to proper volume, and they don't go much louder after that before bass drivers bottom out. for low sensitivity speakers, C5 has very good micro dynamic. but law of physic, you don't get macro dynamic like higher sensitivity speakers.
if you live in a smaller space, C5 is a near perfect speakers if you don't listen super loud. if you have decent size room, say >12'x12', C5 might not be for you. they don't image as well as speakers with midrange cone either, so nearfield in a smaller room still means somewhat diffused sound.