Dynaudio Contour 20 BE standmount speaker Lab Report

Measured on the 28mm Esotar 3 tweeter’s axis, the Contour 20 Black Edition shows a gentle decline in output from 1kHz to the 3.6kHz crossover all the way up to 12kHz above which the treble recovers its ‘bite’ [see Graph 1]. These features largely account for the very acceptable ±2.45dB and ±2.6dB response errors (re. 200Hz-20kHz), although there’s a further 2.2dB modification in response with the grille in place [blue trace, Graph 1]. There’s also a steady decline in treble extension from 33.9kHz, on axis, to 24.1kHz at ±15o off-axis [–6dB re. 10kHz, grey trace, Graph 1].

Furthermore, as the average seated height will, in all likelihood, place the listener slightly above the top of the cabinet, this coincides with a further –3dB notch in output at 4.4kHz [green trace, Graph 1]. So, ideally, you’ll want to keep the Contour 20 BE’s aimed at the listening position, sans grilles.

Pair matching is a very tight 0.5dB (200Hz-20kHz), improving to 0.35dB from 3kHz-20kHz, while sensitivity is higher than the rated 86dB at 86.8dB/1kHz (or 86.2dB from 500Hz-8kHz). Moreover, and despite the modest sensitivity, bass distortion is a low 0.2% (re. 90dB SPL/1m) while an increase in odd harmonics lies behind a (still very fine) 0.45% through the midrange. Bass extension is generous too, the 68Hz (–6dB) roll-off of the 180mm MSP woofer supplemented by the 44Hz port tuning to deliver 41Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz), albeit with a fairly strong quarterwave mode exposed at 612Hz. Neither is this two-way an especially tough load – the ‘high’ 4.8ohm/188Hz minimum impedance joined by ±55° swings in phase angle through the bass to create a very ‘driveable’ 2.16ohm minimum EPDR at 125Hz. PM

ABOVE: Response including nearfield summed driver/port [green], freefield corrected to 1m at 2.83V [yellow], ultrasonic [pink]. L, black; R, red; grille, blue; ±15°, grey

ABOVE: Some resonances associated with quarterwave mode above 600Hz but only low-level modes in treble

Hi-Fi News Measured Specifications:

Sensitivity (SPL/1m/2.83V – 1kHz/Mean/IEC) 86.8dB / 86.2dB / 84.8dB
Impedance modulus: minimum & maximum (20Hz–20kHz) 4.75ohm @ 188Hz
40ohm @ 74Hz
Impedance phase: minimum & maximum (20Hz–20kHz) –57°@ 92Hz
+54° @ 24Hz
Pair matching/Resp. error (200Hz–20kHz) 0.5dB/ ±2.45dB/±2.6dB
LF/HF extension (–6dB ref 200Hz/10kHz) 41Hz / 33.9kHz/34.0kHz
THD 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz (for 90dB SPL/1m) 0.18% / 0.45% / 0.25%
Dimensions (HWD) / Weight (each) 440x215x400mm / 14.6kg
COMPANY INFO
Dynaudio A/S
Denmark
Supplied by: Dynaudio UK Ltd, Cambs
Telephone: 01638 742427
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