Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll add these to the listening short-list.
But I see they also dip down to 3.2 ohms, like the LS50 I think.
As mentioned earlier, I listen to many different genres of music, and most of the time relatively loud.
I know this is subjective and depend on the listener, but off the 3 speakers I listed here can anybody tell me one will have the ability to play much louder than the others ?
As far as I recall it, when using the LS50 with my previous UQ2/DAC-V1/NAP 100 system, the speakers could play really loud for my listening room but could also sound a bit shouty (upper midrange much more upfront).
Not that I intend to make my neighbors hate me or damage my hearing but I’d like speakers versatile enough to not distort or sound shouty when pushed hard.
I’d really like to listen to the Special Forty, and among other things, judge whether they’ll be able to cope with mid to high volume. I know some might argue that i’d be better going for a full range floortanders but again not my cup of tea.
The S40’s like juice so the more welly you give them the better they’ll be
Had a pair of Royd Atoms connected to my Naim Atom. Perfect combination. You can pick them up relatively cheaply on the usual sites as I think the new owner of Royd is reducing production. Fab little speakers that will show improvements if you upgrade.
I use scm11 with my nova… great combo
If playing really loud at neighbour-annoying levels is important to you, I wonder if a Nova is appropriate. For the price of a Nova + Kantas + decent speaker cables you could likely pick up a used 272 and pair it with active ATCs. I guess ruling out floorstanders prevents the obvious choice: active 19s. So how about SCM20ASLs? These are effectively 19s in a less pretty box with 250 watts of active amplification strapped to the back and like all active ATCs have massive headroom. I can’t imagine you’d get anywhere near their limit without permanently ruining your hearing.
Roger
You may find this thread useful: Naim and Dynaudio Thread
Dynaudio Contour 20s may be a better option than the S40, and provide sweeter treble than the 805D3s
Well, a bit of an update here.
Went to audition for the very 1st time of my Hi-Fi journey a pair of Dynaudio, it’s a first for me, because apart from when attending shows, never had a chance to listen to any.
listening was through Star and Atom, the dealer at the time had no Nova in store.
Well, I don’t know what to think because the listening session was short (1H30 or so) because my homegirl and I had to catch a train. So the dealer offered to lend me the demo pair for a home-trial.
I don’t have ordered the Nova yet, so these will be used with an Atom.
However, during my listening session at the shop, I did not have any WOW/Jaw-droping moments.
I found the Special Forty to be well balanced, very cohesive and well put together and with a sublime medium. But given all the raves and high praise in the various review, I expected I guess maybe just a tad more bass. Not that the speakers lacked bass, they did not, but I expected it to be even more impressive.
I should specify here that the Fortys were more than a meter from the rear walls and that listening rooms was reallyfairly large with very high ceiling. So I thought that all the reviews that are saying that these would fill even a large rooms, exagereted a bit, it defintely won’t.
But they did fill in at least the half space we were sitting in for the listening session.
I did not think to ask to put them closer to that rear panel and experiments with placement.
Despite that, the speakers made really good music, I mean without sounding too analytic but staying really natural and at the same time, quite revealing of ancillaries as well.
The pairing with the Atom was just good enough to my ears. Then once played through the Star, things get much better, that low-end that seemed to me a little bit shy to me started “showing” itself.
The difference was obvious.
My girlfriend - she’s not into this hobby at all, to say the least, but she got ears and her immediate reaction was “you can hear and sense every nuance and every little sound”, by that I think she meant that the level of detail, imaging and soundstage were way, way better and she nailed it !!
This confirmed pretty much what some in this thread told me earlier: the juicier the amp, the better these speakers sound. Confirmed once more when the dealer offered to hook the Dyns to a really bulky Luxman amp (with large white vu-meters) that sits there (don’t recall its reference but somewhere 5 to 6 times the price of the speakers) just to hear what they were capable of. He used the preamp output of the Star to the Amp and God I wish I never heard it !!!
The dealer told me that he just wanted me to get a vague idea of what the speakers might potenitally sound like when paired with a good amp, like the Nova, even if less powerful than that beast.
So for a start, he generously offered to hand me the speakers this week for a listening session in my own environment to get a better idea of whether they suit my taste or not (that seems common to you in the UK but no so in France) and I should get them by Friday evening.
Even if for the time being I’d be able to play through the Atom only, that should give more insight of what they sound like on a longer period.
@Carlstone: I absolutely love their glossed veneer finish but definitely out of question to have something as huge as these Contour 20 in my apartment. They’re almost twice as large as the Special Forty. I bet they sound good and the dealer had 2 pairs sitting there but I even did not dare to hear them. Just too large for my taste. If going that large, I’d rather go straight for a pair floorstanders, which for now at least I don’t want either.
In terms of size, I just rule out anything larger than the Special Forty (which to me are already pretty large compared versus my current B&W PM1s), for now at least, because if I ever move to another place, that may change as it happened 6 years ago (I used to own some Leema Xone at that time)
I use S40s with a Nova and consider them to be a superb match.
I auditioned the other makes you have mentioned but found the S40s to be more dynamic and engaging.
Funnily enough it was after a second audition that I fully appreciated how good the S40s were. They also improve with time.
Hi John,
Well many thanks for your insight.
May I ask what speakers did you have before the S40s and what may be the “minus”/drawback points of the S40s if you find they have any at all?
One thing that mu friend and I agree upon is that they sound “natural”, don’t know how to put that but…they sound natural when played through a Star. Which makes me think that the Atom won’t be the best amp to drive them.
The S40s definitely sound better driven by the Nova rather than the Atom. I used to own B&W speakers with an Arcam 2:1 system.
Then I bought a Mu- So which has led to a Nova.
Like you I found the S40s neutral but also more dynamic when the volume was upped. My room measures 5m x7m and played at 40 to 45 they sound very involving. Pumped up to 60 they still sound detailed and very good. They struck me as having a better all round sound than anything else I listened to up to the £4K mark.
Interesting indeed, that you came from a B&W speakers.
Did you hear the 805 D3 ? if yes how would it compare Vs. the S40s.
Always difficult to sort truth from the “I don’t stock it so it’s sh*t” when it comes to a dealer judging a speaker and its all a very subjective thing, but the dealer I went to observed that the 805 D3 had a shortened low-end. I found that weird.
Also, I must confess that so far, I had so far never consider having Dynaudio no matter the range or price, it may sound silly but that’s down to aesthetic appeal only. They just seemed to me so much understated. I know one shall not judge just from appearance when it comes to speakers. But at the time I was buying the PM1s, first thing that stroke me was how gorgeous they look before even hearing them. Once I heard them, I absolutely loved how they sound. As explained earlier, beauty is in the eye of the owner but aesthetic is as important to me as how it sounds.
So something just did not appeal to me when I looked at Dynaudio’s ranges, be it the recent releases or the older speakers, I guess this explains why I did not give them a shot until last week end.
I know it may sound wrong but I also consider speakers as furniture and it has to sound and looks beautiful. In this regard, I found the S40s more attractive than previous Dynaudio’s design, even though still understated. That’s a personal opinion though, so no offense to the ones who love that design
In my opinion the S40’s are over hyped, I had a pair with a Nova and they disappointed me after a few weeks. I suspect a beefier amp might have helped though. My advice would be to home audition other speakers too before you decide and don’t be swayed by looks alone. Obviously a lot depends on your room and musical tastes aswell
Absolutely, and I just get a call from the dealer, would pick the S40s on friday eve’.
“Overhype” is the problem with all these online reviews, there’s too much information available.
We’ll see what happens with the Atom, but my quest to replace the beloved PM1s just starts it seems. I don’t want to make a mistake I’ll regret. And in the meantime, the PM1s are still singing beautifully.
I owned the special 40’s when they first came out, had them for about six months (grey) . I used them with 272/Xpsdr/250DR, and they did their job OK, but like a few have mentioned, the did not really WOW me. I did not consider them an end game speaker, more of a stepping stone, so I moved on. I ended up with Sopra 1’s next, which cost a lot more, and were considerably better. I have since moved on from them, still searching for the perfect fit for me and my gear/room. I also used to own Dyn Focus 160’s and C1’s, and really am interested in the new Dyn Confidence 20’s. I am eagerly awaiting the reviews to start coming out on the C20’s, in the meantime I am just gradually upgrading my electronics.
Hi I’m enjoying my 805D3 with my Nova. When I bought them I had a small Listening room and speaker were a little too near the wall, have since moved to a larger house and can give them more space and they sound better.
I wouldn’t change them.
I initially wanted floor standing speakers but my wife didn’t like them she fell in love with these and although we’re more money I wasn’t going to complain.
Maybe try auditioning subs with them but not sure can see a Hifi dealer visit in future.
I am rather surprised that there hasnt been numerous posts on here to warn you against the B&Ws. It seems to be the general opinion in this forum that B&W speakers are too bright for Naim. In fact the least liked two brands on here are the B&W and Focal.
Sorry to hijack this thread a little… I am looking to review a Nova with Klipsch Forte III speakers. I have a nova driving very old Audiovectors and need to upgrade.
Am I wasting my time looking for a dealer with some klipsch speakers? Anyone heard this combination.
It’s only because of the rave reviews of the Forte and the fact that they apparently behave well at low volumes.
@ThomasD - how did you go with the Nova + Forte III’s? I’m considering an NDX+SN2+Forte III combo but struggling to find any posts on recent Naim gear with recent Klipsch gear to see if it is worth considering.
Hi Dunc,
Sorry I have not had a chance yet… But you have prompted me to find a dealer. I want to check them out. Please let me know how you get on.
Well, I personally love the 805D3 B&Ws on Naim gear. But quite frankly these speakers are too good for the likes of the Nova. I have a set of Prestige Edition 805D3s connected to my system (NDX2/252/SCDR/300DR) and they sound absolutely superb.
The balance between the diamond tweeter and the continuum main driver is so well judged. Situated on their correct stands, properly positioned and properly powered with a big hearted amp and hi quality source these things can really sing.
The highs are real, the mids, especially in vocals, sax, piano etc are so emotional, forward but not unrealistically so. The timing imparted by a big Naim amp is so impressive.
And the bass… well I do not know why anyone thinks that a subwoofer is needed for the 805D3 if they are properly positioned and driven properly… the sub bass is again real with beautifully judged weight.
This is a 5K speaker that needs / demands much better than a 4K integrated frankly.