OzzieAudiophile

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.40 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4000.00 from Douglas HiFi

Summary:
It took 6 months and 30 stores searching for a set of speakers. I finally was able
to trim it down to three brands. Dali, B&W, and Dynaudio.

Out of the Dyn's I auditioned the Audience 80's, then the salesman hooked up
the Contours 1.8 Mark IIs. They were just on a higher plane altogether. My mind
was set up. I was fortunate to get the store set, which hadn't been used much,
but because it was a demo in the shop, I got a good price for it. I brought it
probably about 1 year before this model was discontinued.

I was shown from these 1.8's new elements, instruments, additional voices
that appear in the music that I listen to, that previously wasn't there through
other brands/models of speakers.

It is clearly the "Strongest" component of my hifi system now. Ok, it is fair to say
that anyway because the rest of my components are not in the same price range.
That is why I need to get a better amp to make my Dyns sing better.

From the feedback I received, it is possible I may have not completely broke them
in, due to my current receiver (Yamaha RX-V1300), not being able to supply
enough juice. I could be wrong. If my Dyn 1.8's have NOT been broken in
yet, I would be stoked when they finally do. I'm sure they are broken in.

I have over 800 CDs, and just about every genre you can think of. I've played
a lot through my Dyns, and I can tell you that these babies just sing !!. The imaging
is absolutely incredible (unless you move into a much higher price range).

Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Emma Shapplin, Zero 7, Dido, Fiona Apple,
anyone who has a spectacular singing voice, you hear their voice as you are
meant to. Totally natural, each of the above artists, you can listen to them all
day and night through these speakers. You will NEVER and I repeat, NEVER
tire listening through them. Listening fatigue does not exist from 1.8's.

I'm assuming you're using at least a half-decent amp/receiver to drive these
babies to take all this information to heart.

I've listened recently to Prince's - When Doves Cry, absolutely astounding.
Abba - The Winner takes it All - this was one of Abba's finest vocal performances
highly recommend you use that as a test for true imaging quality. The 1.8's show
that.

One of my favourite trance/chillout/dance CDs is Above & Beyond - Tri-State
As I write this review, I'm listening to the first track Tri-State, it's a very simple
track, a repeated piano sample, with space sounds, synthesizers, bass, you
just HAVE to listen to this track, the instruments/sounds reach out and grab
you. Perhaps pulling your hears closer to the tweeters if you will ;)

For you trance fans, this album has one of the famous hits of all time,
Air for Life, A&Beyond does a great mix of this one. Nothing overpowering
on these speakers, every note, instrument, sample comes out through them
with great precision, you can say it would sound better than any live performance
you can go to.

One piece of advice, the Dyns Contour 1.8's and other similar floor standing
speakers, do need a GOOD amp that can supply juice to them. It is an
absolute waste to not being able to feed these babies. That is why I am seeking
to get the best amp I can possibly find. If it ends up costing me one of my
limbs, then so be it haha.

If detail, imaging, and clarity is paramount for this price range, get these
babies if you find them. Well this should be an important lesson, of how
important imaging, clarity is with speakers, if you trully seek listening
excellence. Do as I, take at least several months, listen to many brands.

I didn't intend to spend this price range, but after hearing the difference ? It was
worth the wait of 4 more months, to get these.

The equivalent to the 1.8's are the current Contours from the Dynaudio website,
make sure you check it out, and if there's a shop which stocks them, demand
to audition them. Bring a good various selection of different genres of music.
Find out just WHY imaging, detail, clarity is so blissful when it is right.

I live and BREATHE these speakers. At least 300 people have individually
visited my place and all were absolutely impressed/loved my speakers.
If only I had a state of the art Amp to drive these, I'd be in 7th heaven.

If you have further questions about this particular model of Dynaudio Contours,
feel free to send me a message and ask.

Strengths:
1. Dynamics
2. Imaging
3. Clarity
4. Bass
5. Mids and highs are true
6. The importance of playing your original CDs, the detail is so much better than any mp3/compressed format.
7. You learn differences between a excellent produced CD, and a mediocre one
8. The subtle parts of a song you listen to
9. Genres recommended - classical, jazz, opera, anything with an excellent
singing voice.
10. If the performance of ANY instrument is found, you always be listening to
that disc/track, that CD will never gather much dust.

Weaknesses:
Others would say the lows are it's weakness, however it is by far not
important to me. I have my speakers placed a little closer to the corners of the
room, NOT by choice, because of rest of the objects in the room are fixed.

I have NO problems with the bass, I get sufficient levels.

Similar Products Used:
GH Loudspeakers. These 1.8's were definately a step-up. IMHO I would not
be able to locate anything better for what I paid for.

Marantz shelf speakers.

ckazanci

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Upgraded to these from Audience 80's. These do not have the bottom end that Audience 80's have. Slightly better detail does not make up for chopped of bottom end.

Strengths:
Great detail, excellent imaging.

Weaknesses:
Lacks lows, when compared to three-way Dynaudios...

Similar Products Used:
Dyn Audience 80's, Contour 2.5T's, Contour 3.3's. Auditioned many. Dyn's are my favorite.

Hifitruth

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
I recently purchased these speakers secnd hand, and I am still in the process of listening to all of my cds to find what I had been missing. I can't believe the sound that these small towers are able to conjer. My wife who could not be any less interested in my audio equipment could immediately tell the difference between these and my last pair. She now for the first time believes that better equipment can make music sound completely different. Anyway, these are the finest speakers I have had the pleasure to audition, and I have heard many costing several time their price. The tonal quality, frequency response, and dynamics are outstanding. Dynamic phrases are lacking the compression and distortion so common with small speakers. Sheets of sound are layered with clarity, and full of ambience and air. I can discern much more about recording environment than I ever thought possible. I can appreciate the tibre of instruments playing lower frequencies more than every. Kick drums, orchestral bass, string bass, electric bass are in no way fluffed into a high Q mass of low frequency nonsense. I mean this to say that I LOVE THE BASS QUALITY!!!! These things image in an amazing way.

Strengths:
Dynamics
Bass
Clarity
mids and highs are true and perfectly integrated
everything!!

Weaknesses:
They lack the intensity on the very lowest notes of the pipe organ like all smaller speakers, but they reach lower with more impact than any other of this size that I have heard.

Similar Products Used:
Various KEF, QUAD, INFINITY, MB QUART, A/D/S/, PSB, PARADIGM

OzzieAudiophile

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4000.00 from Western Australia

Summary:
I took 3 months, and over 30 stores of painstaking listening to find what I was looking for. My ears told me straight away that the Dynaudio brand was right for me. I didn't have 20 grand for Dalis, but the Contour 1.8 Mk II's are a way step up from the Audience series. To this day I still can't wait to get home from work, just to put my favourite music through these babies. It's definately no longer going to be the weakest component of my system. I have a Yamaha RX-V1300 does the trick, I'm sure my speakers would do better with a more powerful amp. For now I have no dedicated CD player. My DVD player is pefect for my DVD needs, but it's not good for CD play. What I would like is advice for an high end CD player. I have already reviewed some Cambridge CD players, but I am more happy so far with the NAD C 542 but more so with the NAD C 541i. I have read many reviews that the Cyrus CD6 and CD8i are absolutely fantastic, won many reviews from reputable magazines. The bad part of it is that I live in Western Australia, and there are no shops that sell Cyrus. I would have to take the chance of buying one from another state, because I'm sure I would not be able to return it if I'm not happy. The CD 8 costs $3100. That's a lot of money for a component that just plays CDs. That's not including the other additions that you can get with it. Has ANYONE out there ever tried out a Cyrus CD player ? is it really that good ? I will pay the extra if it's worth it. When I buy something, I do it properly, that's why I spent as much as I did for the Dynaudios. Any other 1.8 Mark II owners who could also recomment the ideal CD player, that would be appreciated. Maybe recommend a new Amp that would be great also. In WA, we have a limited range of brands :(

Strengths:
Really brings out the authenticity of an excellent recorded CD. Some CDs are poor quality, these speakers will tell you that. More volume does these speakers more justice. Keep them at least 50 cms away from any wall if you intend to get great results. A good singing voice will be more appreciated with the 1.8 Mk IIs. Andrea Bocelli, Hayley Westenra, Sarah Brightman, Evanescence's - Hello, and My Immortal, just incredible. It's as if Amy Lee was singing live 10 metres from you. Everyone who've I've invited to listen to these babies, absolutely loves them as well. This is the best investment in any Hi Fi equipment I've ever made. Going to be very hard to top this.

Weaknesses:
I don't have components that get the maximum potential out of these speakers. Really need a high-end CD player, but I have no idea what to purchase :( These speakers can handle if you can raise the volume but you would need a very excellent amp. I fortunately do not find volume and bass that important to me. I was raised on having slight extra treble, and I appreciate 'clarity' the most. So I guess I can get away with using the Yamaha RX-V1300 receiver for the time-being. I have yet to find any noticable weaknesses.

reinhard_kb

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from a small hifi store i

Summary:
Actually, I do not remember axactly when I bought them. But when I first heard them I was pretty convinced that I had to have them. Then I compared them to their smalles brothers, the 1.3, and I opted for the floor standers. At first I was really impressed, but when I changed amplification from h/k to Rega, the differences in stage, resolution, detail and above all: music were just great. But when I switched from cheap speaker cables to the recommended OCOS-cables, I had to re-think all I ever was so sure about in cable-voodoo, that all cables do teh same job and so on. The OCOS is a MUST for these speakers. I understand they do not make the contour anymore. So friends, be wise, get a pair of these wonderful speakers buying second-hand at Ebay or wherever, connect them with high-quality equipment using OCOS-cables and know that your search has ended here --- at least in this price region. You can still re-sell them and lose no money, but you won't part from them. Jazz, Classic, whatever... I just love them!

Strengths:
pure music

Weaknesses:
Need a little more amp power than many other speakers

Similar Products Used:
Used to have small JBL's