hba

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Firstly, I should start this review saying "excuse me". Excuse me because when I posted a review in this website some months ago describing the Dynaudio´s 1.3SE performance ( the model I had recently purchased ) I pointed out in general words I was disappointed by the Special Twenty Five performance, comparing to 1.3SE and even with the older model 1.3MKII.
I keep saying that the 1.3MKII and mainly the 1.3Se are just excellents speakers , but, frankling speaking, I guess I commited a big mistake concerning the special 25th and I will explain the reasons why.
At that time I compared the 25th to 1.3se in a friends´room, with different set-ups, we did not pay too much attention to speaker´s position as well as stands position when placing the 25th, keeping almost the same position as when listening to 1.3SE. That´s, in my opinion, THE BIG MISTAKE. Some months later, I decided to test the 25th in my own listening room in order to take away all possible remain doubts. Starting the listening test, I felt the sound was more focused and neutral than I previously thought. After more that 2 hours changing the stands position, I found out the "optimum" position to my listening room ( 1 m from behind walls, 55cm from side walls and only 2.5m to the sweet spot - I have a small room. None toe-in ). The tweeters should be a little bit above yours ears´ level and the speakers stands should be a very heavy ones. What´s the result ? Just incredible sound. The bass extension is amazing, the transparence is really outstanding ( you can almost touch the music ), the soundstage is really good and, which let me really impressed, was the size of instrument and voices, matching big speakers levels. Summarizing, It is a benchmarking bookshelf, very sensitive to set-ups and placement. Take care on that, otherwise the result can disappoint you and you can not get what these exquisite speakers can offer you due to its high resolution.

Strengths:
high resolution, bass extension, soundstage, high extension, etc,,,

Weaknesses:
Very sentitive to set-up matching and stands´position

Similar Products Used:
Dynaudio C1 and Sonus Faber Guarnieri - the ones I know....

docOlmo

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.55 of 5, 22.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4050.00 from used

Summary:
I have used my modest hi-fi for 8 years until my CD player broke down. Bought a used Meridian 508.24 and at the same time saw a need to change bigger speakers. Tried a used pair of Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home, but gave back after 10 days after deciding I was too used with the natural sound of Dynaudio drivers of my old BBC-designed Harbeth LS5/12a. So happened that a (hardly used) Dynaudio Special Twenty-Five was out for sale. Very, very natural timbre and tone of acoustic instruments (acoustic, classical guitar), brass instruments, indian classical instruments. Very detailed. If you own a Taylor 912 guitar with its "ringing" tone, you will appreciate these speakers because of its similarity. Michelle Shocked's electric guitar and electrifying voice in "Stillborn" comes out clean without glare at very loud levels. The high-pitch jazz clarinet of Kenny Davern is simply wonderful coming out from the Special 25. Soprano Kathleen Battle competing duet with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is another good test for the speakers. Most important to me is low level/volume listening which produces no loss of information and still very dynamic--as I listen to music very late at night when the ambient noise and power supply is most quiet. Absolutely fatigue-free.

Strengths:
Natural sound, no coloration. Very satisfying listening at low volume (which means you need pure Class A amplication).

Weaknesses:
So far, none.

Similar Products Used:
Harbeth LS5/12a BBC monitor