Had a fun afternoon listening to speakers

[nz022]

Had a chance to have a listen to the following earlier today:

Dynaudio Special 25

Dynaudio C1

Verity FINN

These were all powered with simple gear. Peachtree Audio Nova 125, and a nondescript Denon cd player.

The Special 25s were very distinct and sounded very detailed.

The C1s were a totally different animal from the Special 25s. Much easier listening and quite captivating for a small monitor design.

The Verity FINN was the shocker of the session. These being towers and not monitors filled the room more effectively.

My preferences were the FINNs by a small margin over the C1s.

Initially my expectations were the following:
Special 25
C1
FINN

[vintage_tube]

The Verity Finn speakers are great and I suggested them as a great match with the MC275 tube amp in another thread.

Sounded like a great time.

Always enjoy a great session.

Best

Bob

[VT Skier]

If they're anything like the Parsifal, they must sound very good.

The nice thing about the C1s is that they're very forgiving of room placement -- they generally sound great without a lot of effort or experience in voicing a speaker within a room. I'm not sure the same can be said of Verity, but a lot will depend on the room itself.

[bakerman]

It's always a treat listening to new gear. I've wondered about those Verity Finns in the past. They get good reviews but are not to be found around my area. Thanks for the comments.

[CDLehner]

Nz022, you now have the wherewithal...to weigh-in on one of the great, Dynaudio debates: Special 25 vs. C1

FWIW, I've had both and preferred the C1 (Sigs) as well; although to be fair to the 25s...a) they are sensitive to equipment upstream. So perhaps your "simple" set-up of Peachtree Audio Nova 125, and a nondescript Denon CD player...wasn't allowing them to shine their true colors. And b) as VT Skier pointed out; C1s are, IMO, much more forgiving of room/placement.

As Special 25 aficionados like to attest to; the can be really special indeed, with exactly the right care.

[nz022]

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Nz022, you now have the wherewithal...to weigh-in on one of the great, Dynaudio debates: Special 25 vs. C1

FWIW, I've had both and preferred the C1 (Sigs) as well; although to be fair to the 25s...a) they are sensitive to equipment upstream. So perhaps your "simple" set-up of Peachtree Audio Nova 125, and a nondescript Denon CD player...wasn't allowing them to shine their true colors. And b) as VT Skier pointed out; C1s are, IMO, much more forgiving of room/placement.

As Special 25 aficionados like to attest to; the can be really special indeed, with exactly the right care.

First of all let me explain the reasoning behind the equipment selected. The shop where these were auditioned is a very high end operation. They were more likely to power this with $30-50K of gear than what I asked for. I realize that most folks would probably be using better gear than used in the audition.

I first listened to the Special 25s and was very impressed with the clarity, resolve, and bass response out of these monitors.

Second up was the C1 and I must say I was taken back at first because they sounded so different from the Special 25s. I expected there to be more similarity in the sound of these two products. The C1s were more laid back and had a more cohesive sound than the Specials. Everything was more in proper balance. I would expect them to be a product that would be easy on the ears during long listening sessions.

The Verity FINNS were selected by the salesperson since he did not have a comparably priced Dynaudio model in house. The FINNS filled the space with more sound and definitely had more meat on the bone than the two monitors.
(That's to be expected from a tower/floorstanding model) They were also the most efficient speakers of the three.

If I needed to make a choice from just these three options; it would be a tough call between the FINNS and the C1s. Not to say that the Specials were last but just different. I could easily live with any of the three and be happy.

[CDLehner]

Originally Posted by nz022

First of all let me explain the reasoning behind the equipment selected. The shop where these were auditioned is a very high end operation. They were more likely to power this with $30-50K of gear than what I asked for. I realize that most folks would probably be using better gear than used in the audition.

Just to be clear; I wasn't criticizing your choice. I figured it was something like that; and for the record...I wouldn't audition speakers with mega-buck gear, if that's not what I had waiting for me at home, either.

So I understand why you did it; just that C1s are probably easier to make sound good...with that modest set-up...than the 25s.

I've gotten so spoiled; I wouldn't even know how to shop-audition anymore.

[sweor]

hello everyone, I have a question maybe off-topic from the thread, but about the speakers in question .. I own two years a pair of Contour S 1.4 (and its stand 4) that sometimes I find it slightly tiring in the high range. From what I read, even with the proper proportions, I find similarities with the characteristics of Special 25S. As I am thinking about a possible upgrade, it seems correct to think at the Confidence C1 apparently softer. Obviously, the financial commitment is important, I would ask your opinion. Thanks

[CDLehner]

Originally Posted by sweor

hello everyone, I have a question maybe off-topic from the thread, but about the speakers in question .. I own two years a pair of Contour S 1.4 (and its stand 4) that sometimes I find it slightly tiring in the high range. From what I read, even with the proper proportions, I find similarities with the characteristics of Special 25S. As I am thinking about a possible upgrade, it seems correct to think at the Confidence C1 apparently softer. Obviously, the financial commitment is important, I would ask your opinion. Thanks

Sweor, let me start by saying...that obviously not everyone will agree with me, or necessarily hear what I hear. That being said...I might be uniquely qualified to answer this question, as I have had Contour S1.4s, Special 25s, and now C1 Sigs in my system...and all within like 2 years time (give or take)

IMO, if you find the S1.4s "tiring"...especially in the highs; I would either look at your gear upstream (and I always hate to lay blame there...but maybe go from SS to tubes or something), or you just need something even smoother than Dyns.

Special 25s are much more bright, than S1.4s; and C1s...while the Esotar2 offers more extended, yet smooth highs...is no less "bright". I just thought of another culprit; how's your room? Perhaps some treatments are in order?

[joeinid]

Welcome sweor,

I have the C1 Sigs and do not find them bright at all and I am very sensitive to brightness. I agree with CD in his post above. What's the rest of your system. Amp/Preamp/Cables/Source?