Trading Dynaudio Contour s5.4's for ???


I have a pair of Dynaudio Contour s5.4 that aren't working out for me. While I love the clear, liquid highs, I find the midrange (especially lower mids) very weak. Vocals are always a little too recessed for my taste and instruments like piano, sax, guitar sound too thin to my ears.

I've tried different amps (own Bryston, Simaudio Moon W5, Mark Levinson 431) and I'm guessing the speaker is just too analytical for me.

A while back I tried Revel Performa F50's and thought they were decent (although low end wasn't as articulate as I'd like) and very recently tried Dali Helicon 400/800. I'm wondering if anyone can suggest something that's close to Dynaudio's but perhaps just a tad warmer.

Thanks!
Ian
madfloyd

Showing 1 response by ghunter

There are no tube pres that I know of that have a built-in DAC. Given the design ethos of most tube-oriented companies, building in a DAC is as likely as Yasser Arafat returning from the grave and converting to Judaism. Some may offer separate tubed DACs, but to integrate them would seem to deviate from the sonic purity they strive to achieve.

I like the idea of you trying some other cable options and perhaps a good tube pre in the mix before trading the speakers. I've heard them driven by that limited edition Musical Fidelity tube gear and they were beautifully rich and warm. I've also heard them with solid state Musical Fidelity and they sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard. My sense is that they're very dependant on the signal you're feeding them, but not a weak link.