New Dynaudio Heritage Special..?..!

Not my experience with these or the Excite line I own...probably also system dependent.  I think Dyns like current...

Just got in a pair myself...hands down the best monitors I have heard.  Speed, transparency, coherence -- there is just something addictive about listening to them...one more song...the Steve Huff video is spot on.  If this is your cup of tea, you need not look further.

Funny, I'd prefer the Heritage Specials in the Special 40 box...all a matter of taste ;)

Better parts, better sound...the still new to me Heritage Specials are just great.  If you are inclined, get them...

Of course, Huff makes his money on camera reviews, not audio reviews (and is very open about this).  To equate him with Uncle Kevvy at Upscale is a bit much!  I would say Steve is giving his honest impressions - you can choose whether those impressions match up well with your tastes.

I've heard the Special 40s - these are clearly speakers voiced for a bit of fun - I can see why Huff likes them as he also has some Klipsch Heresy's.  Both have a fun sound.  The Heritage Specials are much more of an audiophile speaker and on a whole different level the S40s...speed of great drivers and first-order crossovers with great parts.  So much to like!

Seems like this thread is turning into a make fun of Steve Huff thread.

As an owner of the Heritage Specials, if anyone has any specific questions I can answer, please ask.

@bgchiu  - I've heard a good number of monitors - most of the Dynaudio line and several at different price levels from the major brands such as Mission, Elac, and Klipsch.  A few high-end more exclusive brands at dealers that are impressive at first and then...maybe too much of a good thing?  Also several professional powered speakers.

If you want a V-curve, that is not these speakers.  They are basically flat, maybe a little mid-range centric.  Very, very good tone.  Very fast tweeter and woofer - resolution is excellent.  Music that can congest a lesser speaker is well resolved on the Heritage Specials.   Bass is fast; the speakers can give some punch when the track calls for it.  Some music may sound a little thin and you wonder about the bass, then you hear it on the next track.  This makes you realize some of the perceived bass on the previous track was perhaps slower woofers on your old speakers. Treble is not fatiguing - took at least 20 hours to break in though.  These speakers are going to expose what is driving them - if there is harshness in the chain, that is going to come through. The flip side is that if by V-curve you mean you want to hear everything, these will do that without the typical penalty.

They are extremely addictive with the speed and tone - you just want to keep listening.  Driver coherence is excellent as well. Really, it is the 'just one more song' addictive nature to these speakers that is special. I've had them long enough now to know this is not just novelty but are just really satisfying.

I just placed them in my big room system tonight - they've been in my office system.  In the big room (20'x30') they play loud enough and imaging is great - and this without me playing much with placement.  Just put them where my other speakers go and wow, it just works. Speakers disappear with the right track and soundstage extends beyond the speakers.

If you like Dynaudios, I suspect you will like these.  For me they are perfect.

@bgchiu  - enjoy the demo!  Be sure to give yourself time - when I first listened to them, I thought "this is different."  The speed makes things sound a little different in a way that is hard to describe at first.  Also, note that I bought the Dynaudio Stand 20s with the speakers.  A natural combination. 

@bgchui - pretty darn good with low listening levels!  The resolution they have is an asset here.  I generally listen at moderate volumes (I always find dealers do demos way too loud!); when I turn down from there to very soft the music I get still induces toe-tapping.  Lacks a little punch at very low levels, but that is true of speakers in general.  

I have my HS pair in a small room, at one end of the long wall.  The left speaker is about 2' from the side wall, the right is basically open by comparison.  I have absorber panels for the early reflections from the left speaker. (Some additional base traps and other absorption/reflection - nothing too much.)  Imaging is fine - speakers disappear and good depth.  Sound extends beyond the speakers.  This is, of course, going to also depend on your upstream components - me, two ss monoblocks, tube hybrid preamp.

I don't use them with a sub - not needed in my room.  I think they would integrate well with a good sub though.  I've heard both the S40 and HS.  The Heritage Specials are in a different league, although the S40 might appear to be a bit more fun at quick listen.

Not sure I'd recommend either upgrade path - if you love the S40s, why upgrade?  The HS is IMHO a better speaker, but a different sounding one.  Still a Dynaudio, but a more refined/laid-back vibe.  

I haven't heard the Benchmark, but it is a powerful amp. Thinks would probably improve by doing monos in a pair, but again, not sure what you are trying to improve?  If you love the sound of the S40s and the amp, I'd look at spending money on sources, power, acoustics before adding an amp or changing the speakers.

@ianrmack - Congrats!  Do share your observations when they have settled in.