Replacements for Dynaudio Floorstanders


Hi there.

My current system is made up of the following: Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk IIs, Krell 300il, Benchmark USB DAC, and a laptop with lossless music.

I'm looking to introduce a little warmth in my system, seeing as the Dyn/Krell/DAC combo has miles of resolution, but doesn't offer much in the way of engagement. I'm considering selling my Dynaudios for a warmer pair of speakers that I hope to find on Audiogon. $4k is my limit. My thinking is a used pair of B&W Nautilus 802s or 803s. What other suggestions would folks have, in terms of speakers that have similar resolution to Dynaudio's stuff, but offers more warmth and darkness? One outside consideration of mine is a pair of Mirage OMD-28s. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
velociti

Showing 6 responses by pubul57

Not sure what you will end up doing. But as a general rule, choose the speaker you love first, then find the right amp to make them sing. I think the Dynaudio 1.8 is a very fine, first-rate speaker, act accordingly. The Krell is a fine piece of gear too, but if you want a warm sound with it, I think you would need a speaker that is essentially inaccurate to the source and I'm not sure that is the way to go down the road as you build further upon what you have.
You're right on both points, they are all inaccurate and one
must seek the sound they prefer, but some are more accurate
then others and those that are will not be warm with Krell
because the more accurate the speaker the more it resolves
the characteristics of what proceeds them in the chain. If a
speaker can manage to make Krell sound warm, I would say the
inaccuracy is significant.

Have you ever heard your speakers sound great, in another
system or with another amp where you really liked the sound,
and with the warmth you are looking for? For example, they
would sound quite different (better in my view) with a Pass
XA series amp, or their integrated, just examples of SS amps
with some degree of "warmth". The Dynaudio brand in general
will tend to sound like what proceeds them as they tend to
be more accurate than most and a clearer window to what is
on the "other side" (I think they are very desirable
speakers).

There is also the issue of warmth versus bloom where we use
the same words to mean different things or different things
to say one thing we have in mind. For example, a tube amp
like the Music Reference RM200 (or an older RM9) would
certainly give you bloom, but little of the type of warmth
that I think might be what you did not like about your
testing of tube amps - they do differ quite a bit, tube amps
that is, but what they do provide is the addictive bloom
that tube lovers love - they don't all love warmth (which
can be pejorative depending what one has in mind when using
the word).
What seems clear through the thread is that few think changing the from the Dynaudio is the right first step,
A fuller-range, warmer speaker would be a Vandersteen 2 or 3, and good values.
Good recommendations and it can help, but I think the essential character of the Benchmark combined with Krell and Dynaudio trio is never going to be warm. OP also wants to keep the electronics and change the speaker anyway. I do think Vandersteen might be a good option with the electronics, and certainly more full range, especially the 3A Signatures.