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Dynaudio Confidence C1 MKI treble

Hi folks. I recently purchased a pair of Dynaudio C1 MKI’s just because I’ve always wanted to hear them, plus I’ve been wanting to go back to stand mounts in the hopes of having better bass integration with my room. Floor standing speakers’ bass response have not been playing nicely with my room’s acoustics but that’s a different story. I have the C1’s partnered with my PS Audio BHK 250 amp and I positively love the C1’s from midrange and below. I have never had such perfect bass integration in my room before. Very solid meaty sound and the speakers simply vanish, but I can’t get passed how closed in the high end seems.

First question, have others noticed this same quality in the C1’s? I can certainly see it described as smooth and warm but it just seems so rolled off. I was never expecting Focals or klipsch mind you. What have you done to increase the openness? Electronics matching? Or is that just the voicing of the C1’s and the Esotar? I really, really want to love these speakers because they come so close to what I love.

Happy Halloween.
arch2
17 responses Add your response
ddzstereo
83 posts
 
I don't have Dynaudio C1 but do have Dynaudio Mirage (WMTMW configuration) which have the Esotar tweeters.  These are excellent tweeters, amongst the very best.  I have no problem with rolled off highs, in fact I added foam around the baffle for the tweeter enclosure to ensure minimized refractions from that surface.

My first question is whether or not you have broken them in yet, at least 100hrs would be my suggestion.
grislybutter
2,227 posts
 
then why don't you love them?
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,649 posts
 
I heard them when they were pretty new on the market years ago, and thought the very same thing. Treble and air were definitely lacking, and it surprised me because of all of the glowing reviews that I had read. 
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
Why don’t I love them? Because the highs seem rolled off and closed in.

ddzstereo I would typically agree but these are MKI’s from at least 12 years ago. Since I bought them used I’m just assuming break in is complete.
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
My exact sentiment roxy54.
mofojo
2,170 posts
 
I was obsessed with these speakers for years and auditioned them several times. Does the issue get better as the volume goes up? They are for sure not low volume speakers and hit their stride at higher volumes. 
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
Mofojo, yes, they do in fact get better with the music louder. I’ve only had them a few days and I’m really starting to think I need to get acclimated over a period of time. I’m listening to them right now and what they do right they knock my socks off. The BHK amp really has a hold on these C1’s.
tanglewood
43 posts
 
I have had the original C1s since 2009 and I still love them. I've not noticed the issue you are hearing. They do have a well deserved reputation for not sounding as good at low volumes, as was pointed out above.
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
Tanglewood what amps do you use with your dyn’s?
tanglewood
43 posts
 
I use Bryston amps.  I use a 3b sst with my C1's and 7b3 monoblocks for the cf 30's. 
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
Thanks tanglewood. Bryston makes a lot of sense now that you mention it. 
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,108 posts
 
If the speakers are over 15 years old, tweeter ferrofluid could be dried out.
viethluu's avatar
viethluu
89 posts
 
These are soft doom tweeter, what else can you expect? 
arch2 OP
308 posts
 
viethluu, I currently have two other pair of speakers with soft dome tweeters and have owned a number more. That's not the issue. Now what it might boil down to is I'm just not a fan of the Dynaudio sound. Could be as simple as that.
thuhaile
105 posts
 
Confidence mk1 does require to dial up the volume a bit to sound good. I also find that my c1/c4 have more sparkles when pairing with amps on the bright side.
ryder
1,682 posts
 
From the description it appears that the Dynaudio Confidence mk1 sounds even more rolled off in the treble than Harbeth speakers. Although the bass and midrange may sound superb, a single element in the rolled off treble would have ruined everything.

Hopefully you would be able to get it sorted out soon, perhaps with an amp change or something else. Worst case scenario, perhaps the Dynaudios are not the ideal speakers you have wished them to be.

arch2 OP
308 posts
 
I think you're exactly right ryder. Horses for courses. I think the Dyn's just aren't my thing, though pretty darn close.
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