Craft and CONTRASTThis bookshelf speaker polarises opinion – its striking acoustic baffl e creates an aesthetic tension with the slim cabinet. The sound of the Confi dence C1 Signature is however beyond any doubt sublime: with this special edi-tion model Dynaudio is taking the art of minimalist speaker design to new heights.

Loudspeaker compact box38

What you associate with Dynaudio is neat, no-frills design. Since 2002, however, the Confi dence range has been causing a stir within the Dane’s product portfolio with its very individu-al look. While the hi-fi scene was quick to agree about the excellence of its sound, its appearance divides the fan community. And yet the proudly moun-ted front that is typical of the range is there for largely technical reasons: pri-marily, the front plate is designed to be physically disconnected from the actual cabinet in order to avoid the structure-borne sound, produced mainly by the bass/mid-range driver, exciting the ca-binet. It also produces greater freedom in terms of the size and shape of the front, which in turn minimises any edge refl ections. As a side-effect, this also enables extremely slim cabinets to be created. For Wilfried Ehrenholz, the CEO of this tradition-steeped company, the Confi dence C1 and C2 are among his personal favourites. Reason enough for him to squeeze yet another drop of acou-stic quality from this range. One quick brainstorming session with his develop-ment team – and the Signature Edition was born.

At the time of this test, the only availa-ble loudspeaker from the enhanced Confi dence range was the Confi dence C1 Signature. That was very fortunate, I have to say, as in addition to large ribbon loudspeakers I have been a fan for many years of small two-way speakers – espe-cially ones that are technically fully maxed out. If, as I do, you assume that a full-range chassis represents the opti-mum in terms of holographic reproduc-tion (although sadly I know none that is tonally perfect), then the two-way spea-ker is the next best thing. Put somewhat simply: you need in principle to fi nd a good wide-bandwidth speaker and spru-ce up the high-frequency range with a tweeter. Although the effort involved in developing a good two-way speaker (with, indeed, the additional tweeter) is much more, it can certainly be worth it. However, lots of parameters have got to be right.

by Michael Jansen

The tweeter sits inside a solid aluminium front, 10 millimetres thick. The pole piece hole with an elaborately shaped reverse channel allows excellent absorption of that part of the sound that is emitted to the rear.

Finding the frequency for the optimum crossover point from the bass/mid-range driver to the tweeter can on its own take months. These days there is fortunately a wealth of computer assistance that even at the concept stage indicates the fre-quency band within which a chassis feels most at home. In other words, the fre-quency response measured on axis and the directivity pattern should be largely constant within this range, any distortion be at a low level and the electrical and physical performance show suffi cient potential. That admittedly puts signifi cant limitations on the driver´s possible ope-rating range – and yet there remains immeasurable leeway. Do 1,700 hertz represent the optimum transfer frequen-cy, or is 1,850 perhaps better? Is a slope of six decibels enough, or does a steeper 18 decibels per octave sound better?

While it is extremely diffi cult here to reach your goal, this is a thrilling phase that is like detective work and accompa-nied by countless listening tests. And, of course, in the case of the Confi dence C1 this work had already been done – it was thus to be all the more diffi cult to fi nd new approaches in this regard. While decades of experience in making lou-dspeakers and therefore knowledge of appropriate set screws help enormously, this fi ne tuning certainly remained a chal-lenge even for Wilfried Ehrenholz and his team.

Naturally the modifi cations that give extra wings to the Confi dence range, which in any case plays at a very high standard, were not major. As was already the case with the Dynaudio Sapphire and the Consequence Ultimate Edition it is in the case of the enhanced Confi dence

The bass/mid-range diaphragm is stuck in a centred position within an aluminium die-cast basket. Typi-cal Dynaudio features include the shallow diaphragm shape and the intricate stays that hold the drive system in place.

The gauze structure combined with a deadening coating ensures excellent high-frequency reproduction from

Dynaudio’s tweeter domes.

“Music lets us expe-rience a lot more than

the pure sound of an instrument.”

Wilfried Ehrenholz, CEO Dynaudio

>

also the sum of many small details that ultimately make up the advance in acou-stic performance: the slightly modifi ed coating of the Esotar 2 gauze dome, a refi nement of the crossover fi lters using new metal fi lm resistors in the high-fre-quency range, better ceramic resistors, inductors and capacitors and new inter-nal wiring.

In the Confi dence C1 Signature the crossover fi lters are housed in the

Loudspeaker compact box40

The diagram: The diagram:Frequency response Harmonic distortion

Just minimal deviations from the ideal linear transfer function are a guarantee of perfect neutrality. The depth of the bass at the expense of effi ciency is more than impressive. That also means, however, that the speaker likes powerful amplifi ers.

At medium to high volume levels the distortion characteristics, espe-cially in the mid-frequency range, are exemplary. It is only at around 100 decibels SPL that distortion starts to rise – however, only in the bass and thus in a frequency range in which our hearing reacts less critically.

Dynaudio Confi dence C1 Signature Edition List price: €7,300Guarantee period: 10 yearsDimensions WxHxD (cm): 20 x 44.5 x 43Weight: 10.9kg (each)Finish: Genuine wood veneerMaple with Mocca orBordeaux stain, piano fi nishConnections:Single wiring

Distribution: Dynaudio International GmbHOhepark 2D-21224 RosengartenGermanyTelephone: +49 (0)4108 41800Internet: www.dynaudio.com

The ceramic fi lm resistors feature minimal distortion, temperature consistency and low tolerance levels.

Dynaudio’s aluminium voice coil is wound around a carrier made of Kapton that is resistant to high temperature.

Test DiscChristian Willisohn: Hold On

With this hybrid CD/SACD even bad speakers sound good – and good ones fantastic. This recording was made in Scotland at a farm that has been converted into a concert hall.

AUDIOphile Charakter

AUDIOphile Potential

RecommendationFor those who love fi ne detail-ness and richness of colours – sub bass included – in a book-shelf speaker but can live wi-thout extreme SPL.

Effortlesslyspacious and soft

Grippinglyemotional and

dynamic

Immediacy high resolution

Neutral andauthentic

The writerMichaelJansen

At 17 built a Kilpschorn as a kit, at 25 constructed a ‘4Pi’ ribbon tweeter and at 40 made his dream come true: bu-ying a pair of Apogee Scintilla and Diva speakers in an auction on eBay – which to this day remain part of the equip-ment fan’s standard audio system.

solid base. This is ideally screwed to the optional Dynaudio stand in order to po-sition this gem at ear height. Externally too there are differences to the standard version: only the Signature comes in smart curled maple. Whether stained in dark brown ‘Mocca’ or dark red ‘Bor-deaux’, the veneers refi ned in this way and given a high-gloss varnish are a tre-at for the eye.

You can happily experiment a bit with the set-up. Vertical alignment especially should be neatly sounded out. Thanks to spikes on the speaker stands, however, this is easy to accomplish. An imaginary vertical line on the front of the speaker, starting from the tweeter, should aim at approximately ear height – then the shares of sound from the two drivers combine perfectly to form one whole and the Confi dence C1 Signature sounds as if cast from a single mould. A slight inward angling towards the listener also does the Dynaudio good. However it remains a matter of taste whether you prefer narrower, precise acoustic map-ping or a more spacious, slightly di-stanced stage.

Experience shows that the quality of a loudspeaker is revealed within the fi rst few seconds of a listening test. In this respect the Dynaudio is not superfi cially spectacular, but simply authentic. I have also not yet heard any other loudspeaker in this format that can go so audibly low without electronic assistance. This is thanks to the deep bass refl ex tuning. While that is certainly at the expense of effi ciency, somewhat over 81 Decibel SPL, measured at a distance of one me-tre and input voltage of 2 volts, is still a very standard level. Although the Con-fi dence thus also likes strong source si-gnals, the output of an Accuphase E 560 was already enough to show its potenti-al.

Peaks of more than 81dB on the large VU meters were no rarity – albeit that the Dynaudios were not presented with anything that was easy to digest. First the little, compact speakers were malt-reated with Peter Weniger’s electric bass – with music spectra, therefore, that have previously stretched even fl oor-standing speakers to the limit. As well as any air-fl ow noises and other artefacts, such as

any lack of airtightness on the driver or loose screws, this record reveals above all the limits of the potential bass dyna-mics. If you consider that in each instance here it is just a bass/mid-range driver of around 16 centimetres that takes care of the low frequency part, you really are very surprised at how much depth and volume the small Dynaudios deliver.

Naturally there are limits here too, but they are not until you reach exalted par-ty-level volumes. Even more impressive is their ability in terms of holographic representation of good live recordings – for me, next to tonally correct rende-ring, the benchmark for reproduction quality. Thérèse Juel with ‘Tiden Bara Gar’ is one such recording, where both the instrumentation and the recording room have been very credibly cap-tured.

You notice the live character right from the start of the piece through the atte-nuation of the acoustic bass with its ty-pical concert hall reverberation. It is fantastic how wonderfully the atmos-phere has been conveyed and how faith-fully the bass, the guitars and even the

bongos have been reproduced. Another fi rst-class recording is ‘Hold On’ by Chri-stian Willisohn. The grand piano, with its complex harmonic spectrum and extra-ordinary keynote range, is a diffi cult in-strument for credible reproduction. But it is no problem for the CI Signature! It is hard to believe that such small speakers can reproduce such a mighty instrument so authentically. Willisohn’s voice is also transported clearly and articulately wi-thout any tonal weaknesses.

Good, small two-way speakers do a lot of things right. The Dynaudio Contour 1.3, around 15 years ago my reference speaker in this category, already coupled authenticity with depth in incomparable fashion. However, I have never before heard any two-way speaker play so com-pletely and comprehensively in band-width as the Confi dence C1 Signature. With this gem it is superfl uous to ask whether subwoofers are needed – let alone fl oor-standing speakers. It com-mands the entire musical spectrum and is able to paint acoustic images before the jury like hardly any other compact loudspeaker.

85 dB 90 dB 95 dB 100 dB

20 Hz 50 Hz 100 Hz 200 Hz 500 Hz 1 kHz 2 kHz 5 kHz50 dB

60 dB

70 dB

80 dB

90 dB

100 dB

110 dBDynaudio Confidence C1 Signature Pegel- & Klirrverlauf

axial 10*hoch 30*seitl.

Impedanzverlauf

10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 40 kHz50 dB

60 dB

70 dB

80 dB

90 dB

100 dB

16 Ohm

8 Ohm

4 Ohm

2 Ohm

1 Ohm

Dynaudio Confidence C1 Signature Frequenzgang

>

Loudspeaker compact box42

Making historyDynaudio has always set the bar for the competition very high – not only in terms of sound, but also in production quality.

Special editions are just as much a tradition at Dynau-dio as top quality compact speakers:the two culminated in the legendary Special One (left). The Confi dence 5 (right) was the forefather of the current range and a technological pioneer par excel-lence.

Thanks to DDC any irritating, de-layed refl ections are minimised and reproduc-tion quality is thus appreciably improved.

Conventional lou-dspeakers emit the sound more broad-ly in the vertical plane, which – due to early refl ections – makes it impossi-ble to place sounds precisely.

Dynaudio’s domain since day one: in-house cabinet pro-duction. The Danes set industry standards in this disci-pline with their quality.

C2 and C4 complete the Confi -dence Signature range. The look and feel draws on the 2002 models.

Since Dynaudio was formed in 1977, one principle has had top priority for company boss Wilfried Ehrenholz and his team: quality. That starts with the low number of bought-in parts and continues with the driver and cabinets made in house. The speaker makers from the Danish town of Skanderborg are thus not reliant on any cabinet or chassis sup-pliers. The big advantage of this is that they can develop chassis that match their own ideas – one major reason for Dynaudio’s success.

From the outset, the Danes built the common cones somewhat differently from the competition. Depending on chassis size, they use not the usual 25 or 38-millimetre voice coils but coils of 75 or 100 millimetres. That makes it possible to place the magnets inside the coil, which improves the magnetic fi eld sym-metry and exploits the energy potential to the maximum. The main advantage, however, is in the fact that the lightweight aluminium voice coil’s transmission of force to the diaphragm takes place roughly centrally, which improves the oscillation characteristics. Another plus point of the large voice coil is the better dissipation of heat to the benefi t of an appreciably higher electrical rating.

The bass/mid-range diaphragms themselves are also in-house develop-ments. Serving as the material here is a magnesium silicate polymer, which brings with it low net weight, high dimensional stability and especially low resonance levels. The loudspeaker basket made of die-cast aluminium is very resistant to torsion and thus allows a delicate design that lets the diaphragm oscillate unhin-dered and free of any refl ection. In the high-frequency sector too the Danes have always gone their own way.

Back in 1977, silk fabric was already the material of choice. It is lightweight, easy to shape and has a high inner dam-ping quality. With the aluminium voice coil mounted in magnetic oil not only is physical attenuation improved, but also heat dissipation. The oil’s strong damping also reduces the Q of the fundamental resonance, which enables a simpler elec-trical and above all deeper connection of the tweeter. Thanks to the driver trans-

mission functions already optimised du-ring development, all that is then needed when it comes to fcrossover layout are just simple, top-quality phase-coherence fi lters. Additional impedance linearisati-on also makes the work easier for the attached amplifi er.

That is why engineers in sound studios use not only absorbers and diffusers on the walls, but also like to use ‘monitors’, i.e. speakers that emit the sound in a

slightly directional way. Infl uences from the room are thus largely eliminated and only the ‘pure’ recordings remain audi-ble. With Dynaudio’s DDC (incorporated from Confi dence 2 upwards), this tech-nology is now being made accessible to music lovers at home as well.

Now the Confi dence range is also available as a Signature Edition – iden-tifi able among other features by the type

plate on the back that sports the signet of the company boss himself.

In terms of cabinet quality Dynaudio has always been fi rst class. Their own joinery with cutting edge CNC machines and specially trained staff enable the company to build complex loudspeaker housings in top manufacturing quality. The Confi dence range is a fi ne

example of these classic Dynaudio qua-lities. At the heart of this range, however, there is also a technology that is global-ly one of a kind: DDC (Dynaudio Direc-tivity Control) – the result of high-level requirements in the professional sec-tor.

Building upon a perfectly symmetric arrangement with – depending on spea-ker model – two bass drivers, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters, Dynau-dio developed loudspeakers that reduce both fl oor and ceiling refl ections by up to 75 percent. It is well known, especially in the pro sector, that room infl uences can signifi cantly impair play-back quality. >

Section History44