Munich 2024

As it has done in previous years, Dynaudio opted for a huge ground floor foyer area that, in addition to a huge, divided space in which to exhibit new and forthcoming models, offered a large meeting room for distributors and press. Ably assisted by Michael “Mike” Manousselis and John Quick of Dynaudio North America, I spent a dizzying half hour or so receiving an overview of four forthcoming models.

First to draw our attention was the new Confidence 20A (20,000 euros), an active version of Dynaudio’s flagship standmount. T 20A offers a plethora of controls and adjustments, accessible on the rear of its attached stand (which also contains the Pascal amplifier and digital and analog connections). Dynaudio’s press release confidently states, “All the listener needs to do is plug in their pre-amp (or use a source with a volume control), and they’re good to go.”

DSP options allow listeners to configure room-boundary compensation filters, input sensitivity, tonal balance, and more. The speaker processes signals up to 192kHz, and sample-rate conversion is defeatable. The active Confidence 20A is set to ship to dealers and customers in November. Perhaps I’ll end up with a pair for review.

In a small demo room, I had the opportunity to hear the Confidence 20A in action. Given my experience with the Pascal amplifier modules in the Dynaudio Focus 10s—speakers that continue to astound me with their clarity and beauty as they fill our tall living room and dining area with sound—I wasn't surprised to hear even finer sound from this more expensive loudspeaker’s.

On Michel Godard and Gavino Murgia’s “Roma,” the sound was warm, alive, and framed by an appealing quantity of air. Playing The Teskey Brothers’ “Crying Shame” at high volume, the Confidence 20A showed itself capable of copious, well-controlled bass. Finally, a familiar track from the Reference Recordings version of John Rutter’s Requiem demonstrated how clearly the speaker could depict the voices of a full chorus and a superb soprano soloist.

Next up, the Contour 20 Black Edition ($8000/pair), which will come in “mirror-like Black High Gloss finish,” is a “super premium” version of the Contour 20 ($5700/pair). The Contour 20 Black Edition upgrades the Contour 20’s Esotar 2i tweeter to the top-tier Esotar 3. It also includes an upgraded woofer with improved motor and spider designs, a “much simplified” crossover with Mundorf components, improved internal wiring, and more.

In another area, I spied a prototype of The Bookshelf ($TBD), a joint project between Dynaudio and Keiji Ashizawa Design of Tokyo and Karimoku of Japan. Some people refer to its melding of Japanese and Danish minimalist aesthetics “Japandi.” The limited edition speaker’s cabinet is built from Japanese oak, sustainably sourced in northern Japan. When it’s completed, The Bookshelf will include Dynaudio’s Esotar 3 tweeter and the same mid/bass driver as in the flagship Confidence 20 standmount.

Finally, I was led to a handsome new member of Dynaudio’s Heritage Collection, the Contour Legacy ($14,000/pair). Only 1000 numbered pairs are expected to be made. Based on the discontinued Contour 1.8, the Contour Legacy includes an Esotar 3 tweeter and dual, improved 7" woofers derived from the Evidence range. The finish is sustainable American walnut, and the appeal to Dynaudio afficionados, and I am one, is great.