Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Dynaudio Special 40 Bookshelf Speakers

Top positive review

Perfection!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019

I owned a pair of KEF LS50 but although these speakers sound great I did not feel 100% satisfied so I decided to buy these Dynaudio and I feel that my search has ended with these speakers that sound excellent, they are my desktop speakers , if you have a large room I recommend you buy some floorstand speakers.

15 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

JohnVF

Overrated and frustrating speakers.

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2021

I have been trying to figure these things out for a couple of months in two different rooms with three different very-high-quality amplification setups. They will occasionally impress but overall I'm extremely disappointed in them. They sound rolled off unless pointed right at you, but that narrows the soundstage...and I don't like bright speakers. They just come across as lifeless and boring. Imaging is indistinct unless they're pulled a ridiculously far distance out into the room, negating the space savings a small monitor gives you. The can deliver a good amount of bass for their size but they won't fool you that they're bigger than they are, unless you're used to the small standmounts of a few decades ago. The Kef LS-50, while not perfect, was a far better and easier to deal with speaker in my systems at 1/2 the price, and there are other options as well that can just carry a tune better and without the fuss (Reference 3A de Capo).

Speaking of which, no, they can't carry a tune. I have respected Dynaudio speakers I have heard in the past and these have been well reviewed but honestly I do not understand it. I can't think of a time I've been more let down by an audio purchase.

One person found this helpful

6 total ratings, 6 with reviews

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From the United States

JohnVF

Overrated and frustrating speakers.

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2021

One person found this helpful

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Carlos Ramirez

Perfection!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

15 people found this helpful

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Liang-Jang Chiang

Not a good value for sound.

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Though the sound is very clear ,it sounds narrow and thin ( easily tested by vinyl records). It cost me 3676 USD ( 2999+shipment &tax). If you wound spend this price, I strongly advise you to buy floor standing speakers . I give up all bookshelf speakers.( Jan 20 2019).

17 people found this helpful

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SHR

These ARE a Giant Killer

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019

I am a music lover. I am passionate about 2 channel music. Over the last 25 years I have gone overboard with spending insane amounts of money searching for the perfect sound. $10k systems to $40k systems. I have went through so much gear (and also review HiFi gear) over the years and have discovered a. few pieces I could not live without. Today I have a system that I enjoy more than any in my life, and these speakers are a part of it.

Off the bat, do not buy these and pair with a big box store receiver. If you do, you will be dissapointed. These need current much more than they need power as to me these speakers sounded their best with Class A amplifiers like my Luxman 590 AXII. That combo only brings 60 Watts per channel but massive current and drives these speakers better than a 200WPC amp I had here that cost about the same as the Luxman.

I also have and am powering a set of these with a 40 WPC Octave tube amp and wow, mind blowing good because this amp has current and is stable to 2 ohms.

When I powered these with a little $599 PS Audio Sprout 100 the sound shrunk though did give great layering and details. These need a nice amp, class A will sound the best followed by class A/B. I'd avoid class D here if you want to hear what these should sound like. Also do not skimp on cables as when I upgraded to my fave cables the sound got amazingly better.

So I will talk about these in the context of being powered correctly, and using good cables. When you do this there is nothing near this price that gets close. These are able to get to 95% of the magic and sound of a set of $16,000 monitor speakers I used to own. These sound better than any floor stander I have had through my room, no matter the cost. These speakers are the most balanced I have heard as nothing is exaggerated. The bass lays out a solid foundation yet never ever booms or sounds "one note".

The midrange is magic and for voices it is haunting at times. The treble is sweet, and extended yet never ever bright or harsh (unless you pair these with the wrong amp). They play loud and fill a room with a wall of sound that you can walk into and point out the instruments floating in space.

These are very special, and magical in the right setup. Anyone who has a bad experience with these either has the wrong amp powering them or needs to set them up in a better room ; )

I have heard bookshelf sized speakers from $299 to $22,000 in my room. These surpass all but two and those are both over $20,000. Even so, these get about 95% there for under $3000. Dynaudio speakers are beautiful and at this level leave nothing to be desired.

I have nothing bad to say about them, at all. They offer up pleasing room filling big sound that is detailed, rich, loaded with air and could not fatigue your ears if you wanted them to. These sound like true high end. My review is online if you google it ; )

These are so good, I want two pair. I have had both colors for review and both are stunning. Red for those who want color and to make a statement and grey for those who like more neutrality. I am listening right now with a grey set and a 40 WPC Octave tube Integrated and this drives them almost as nicely as the Luxman, though not quite. Even so, more power than I could need from this amp and it's a wonderful match.

Avoid receivers. Use the right stands. Position them away from walls if you can and feed them current. The source and cables do mater so do not skimp and use $5 cables! Do this and you will see these as a possible end game speaker for your space.

I use them in a 20X30 room now (living room) and they are just so pleasing and make me want to keep listening all day.

Amazing and they are a true giant killer in the realm of bookshelf monitor style speakers. Get a set while you can as these are limited I believe as all special editions are. The past Special 25's are still lusted after today by many as are the Sapphires, another SPECIAL edition Dynaudio. These will be looked back upon 10 years from now in the same way. A true deal in HiFi right here, no need to spend more. Trust me.

30 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

These are incredible Speakers

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2019

The Guy who gave a three star review is all wet. Did he give them the recommended break in period? I have a Rega Planar 2 turntable with a Ortophone Bronze cartridge, a NAD 1020 preamp, a rebuilt Dynaco Stereo 70 Tube Amp. The speakers blew away my previous ones( B&W) 602 floorstanding speakers. Pay no attention to him. He didn’t mention anything about what his other equipment. That could be part of his Problem. Anyway I highly recommend The Dynaudio Special 40’s.

30 people found this helpful

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Jim

Best Standamounts at 5 k or less

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019

I listened to these speakers and I have to say I am amazed .
Very Refined , clarity at low listening levels ,superb treble and air.
They are smooth yet don't lose the clarity.

I have replaced my Kef Ls50's with them which are great speakers for the money.

15 people found this helpful

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Dynaudio Special 40 Bookshelf Speakers - Pair (Grey Birch High Gloss)

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Dynaudio Special 40 Bookshelf Speakers - Pair (Grey Birch High Gloss)

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