Naim and Dynaudio Thread

Some advice on a speaker upgrade would be really helpful. Currently:
Unitiqute 2/Nap100/DM2/7 (10 yrs old now)
Never had floorstanders, and love Dynaudio sound. Plan would be speakers first, then Naim kit when funds allow.

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Donā€™t want to compare Hegel to Naim or any other amplifiers but IMO, the size of the power amp transformer will be directly proportional to the amount and quality of bass. In other words, a larger the power supply will give better results.

Did you choose dynaudio confidence 20 or did you choose something else?

I think the Emit range are well regarded amongst new Dynaudios but of course it all depends on your budget.

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Yes I agree but of course you do not get the punch you get from Naim amps with Hegel so it is a compromise and I do miss that sometimes which is why Iā€™ve just bought a UQ 1 for a second system.

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Did you find the Nap100 helped?

So far Ive just stayed with my contour 60. I figured I really need floorstanding for my main system. Still have special 40 for a smaller budget system, but i think the confidence 20 is to expensive.

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Yes is the answer, just for a bit more control particularly when cranked up. There is more depth to the sound. Noticed it with vinyl more than anything, wider soundstage particularly with jazz for some reason. The single box is good, but the power amp just seems to give the speakers what they need.

I confirm that. I had the Emits before I turned to Naim. When coupled with a modest amp (a TEAC in my case, 2x40W middle of the road) they almost sound V-shaped in frequency response. Not so anymore (or at least a lot less) when coupled with a Uniti unit. I do have to admit that the dynamics and slight forwardness donā€™t make for easy background listening. As I use them in my VERY small lockdown office, I regularly have to switch the music off as itā€™s really ā€˜presentā€™ and I canā€™t concentrate well, even at low volume.

There is a pair of special 25ā€™s up for sale (in the U.S) . I was awfully tempted, but I am holding out for Heritage Special, which are a good bit more and to my eye not as nice looking. Hopefully, the sound is an improvement and since much of my listening is at low levels - Iā€™ve read several times that the HS does a very good job of it. Which is not always the case with Dynaudios and usually isnā€™t

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Thatā€™s quite a temptation ā€¦ special 25 donā€™t come Up very often

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If I thought they were good at low level listening, I think Iā€™d grab them, but I have heard that the Hs are, so Iā€™m waiting

well the Heritage are, to my ears, in my home, but also driven off a Chord Dave/282/HCDR/250DRā€¦

Since you have the same amplifierā€¦

The Heritage completely blew my Focus 260 away, wish I could afford them.

Itā€™s only when I tested the Heritage that I realised how much my electronics had outgrown the Focus260ā€¦ and how much the F260 is holding back my system.

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Iā€™m still waiting for a pair, but I also wish I could afford them

Iā€™m waiting too for my Heritage.

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The Special 25s are very good at low level listening. They are way more efficient at 88dB vs. 85dB, they have a 20cm cone vs. 18cm and have a larger box.

A Nait2 can easily drive Special 25s.

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I donā€™t think itā€™s a matter of power or efficiency that determines how a speaker sounds at low levels. Dynaudio has for a long time had a sort of ā€œinformalā€ reputation for needing some volume to sound their best and from hearing various models over the years, I would agree. On a different board, about the HS some one who owns a pair of special 25 and has also tried the HS did state that he also felt that the HS was a better choice for lower volume listening. Itā€™s all academic as I plan to stick to my original plan and buy a pair of HS when they become available.

Dynaudios donā€™t need volume to sound good good, they need current from a great amp to get a grip on controlling them well.

I played my Confidence Platinum C2 for a year with a 250DR and I thought they sounded great. They did. But when I upgraded to a 300DR they sounded so much better that it was like I bought new better speakers. It was quite the Wow! moment.

However what I also noticed right away is how much better they perform at low to moderate volume. When I mentioned that to my dealer, they said they expected I would experience that, saying while it seems counterintuitive, when Dyns are presented with a higher current amp not only do they sound better at high volune, but they shine that much more at lower volumes. This ended up best for me. I find myself playing them at somewhat lower volume than before with greater satisfaction.

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I have not heard HS but I do own S25s and imo they sound very good at low listening levels compared to ProAc, Rogers, Kef and others I have owned excepted JBLs.

Dynaudio loudspeakers have a simple phase accurate first order crossover. They can get away with that because they make very high quality tweeters and the mid/woofers do have a natural roll off.

They are not designed to be efficient so the more muscular the amplifier, the bigger they sound because they can take the power without distorting or blowing up. There is no magic, a 3dB more efficient speaker will deliver a sound pressure equivalent to doubling the amplifier power.

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I should be picking up a Unitiqute 96/44 model next week to pair with some Dynaudio Audience 52 speakers in a second system has anyone used this pairing?

They are currently being driven by a Linx Nebula which I really enjoy but the heat which the Linx gives off freaks my other half out a bit and also the streaming/radio capabilities of the Qute is a real bonus too.