bass reproduction, clearity

som resonances in higher middle, especially by the voice of rebecca pidgeon :-)

I´m listening to this speakers since the year 1991 (!) and I´m very impressed of this speakers. So I don´t have the permission to by any ohter Speaker to get a better sound impression.
In the last year, I changend the components of the crossover to the best coils and capacitors, available today and build the crossover outside of the speaker cabinet. The sondquality increased from the deep bass to the highest in a incredible way. I don´t want to miss this new crossover any further. So the quality of this speakers rises up to systems in the highest priceclasses of compact speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Scan Speak Monitor "Studio 24"

These are kit speakers; you can order the enclosures for an additional $200, or build your own if you have access to a table saw. I've had these for a few weeks now, and they're just starting to break in. The longer I listen to them, the more I like them. They are very natural, laid back speakers; they use a textile dome tweeter, so if you're looking for that sizzly metal-dome sound, these are not for you. If you've got a small room with bare walls, this is actually a good thing; it minimizes high frequency reflections. Also, since they only have 5" woofers (two per enclosure, one above and below the tweeter) they aren't exactly a great rock speaker. Since I like the loud obnoxious stuff, I've paired these with an ACI Titan powered sub, and the bass is just fine now. OK, so much for what they don't do.
What they have in aces is a great sound stage. With sizzly speakers, you can definitely tell the music is coming from a point source, and sizzly speakers have a pretty small sweet spot; you don't get that from these guys. My own perception of what happens with these speakers is that since they don't over-emphasize the high-end frequencies, they don't over-emphasize the positional information coming from the tweeters; the sound is very smooth and natural; if you close your eyes, the speaker tends to just disappear. They have a nice large sweet-spot, and are also very non-fatiguing at higher volumes with no harshness at all.

Technically the woofers are kind of interesting; the cones are 4 1/2", but the voice coil is 3" and it's paired with a large magnet (each driver weighs over 2 lbs), so you don't get any weird resonances from the cones. Also they are very quick speakers; make sure to use a suitably quick sub with these guys; cheap HT subs can't keep up. These guys require a long break-in period; they have poly cones with a tough rubber surround. They sound like hell at first, but after a few weeks of exercise, the surrounds and the spiders start to loosen up and they really start to perform.

I'm listening to them on a shitty Sony amp, but I've got a Van Alstine hybrid tube/MOSFET amp and preamp coming next week ( the amps are on the web at http://www.avahifi.com ). Once I get them hooked up, I'll post a review of the amp here as well.

I'm giving the Geminis a 4; they need a sub, and they could use a little more top-end. But I think they are well worth a grand. Easily.

I must say that this kit is so much better than anything at or near the price it makes me laugh. I bought this kit from Madisound about a month after I heard them at a store in Michigan. I think Dynaudio makes the best speakers/drivers in the world with the exception of Skaaning (which was started by the same man who started Dynaudio and Skaaning only makes two drivers.) These drivers are extremely fast and dynamic. The bass from Dynaudio speakers is incredible and completely seperates them from everybody else in the industry. It is so precise and powerful that it makes you realize that the low notes coming out of other speakers just aren't right. The bass response of the Gemini's is no exception. It is a force to be reckoned with. I kid you not that you will not believe it when you hear it. I am a professional bass player.(classical) I know what bass is supposed to sound like. The Gemini's do just this.
Everything else about the speaker is just as fantastic. Especially their fantastic top end that simply does not fatigue even after hours and hours of listening. The tweeter used in this speaker is my favorite, next to Dynaudio's ultra expensive Esotar T-330. The tweeter used in this speaker was derived from the Esotar and uses the same voice coil.
The midrange is also pure and natural. These speakers don't add a bunch of crud to the sound. Voices sound realistic and in the room. Harmonics of stringed instruments and brass instruments are kept in tact. On top of this, they have an uncanny ability to preserve the sound of the hall or venue of the performance.
These speakers are an absolute steal!!! Get a pair and enjoy the music!! I don't understand why Jesse S. doesn't think the bass is powerful. Maybe he built the cabinets wrong or wired the woofers out of phase?!
One last thing. These things love lots of power. I have cranked them using 600 watt amps at ear splitting levels without so much as a whimper from them. The other good thing is that they sound fantastic on 40 watt per channel integrated amps as well!!

P.S. I have built several Dynaudio kits and speakers, and they are all fantastic. I you have the time to build a Dynaudio kit, you will have a $2000-$4000 sounding speaker for one tenth the cost!

The Dynaudio Gemini "kit" is more than just someentry level example of what Dynaudio products are
capable of. This is the first speaker line that
really impressed me with that "you are there"
quality in the midrange(smooth and detailed).
Although Dynaudio claims bass extension only
around 50 hz, the bass is more impressive and
satisfying than systems claiming lower response
due to the bass detail and power. A with all high
end speakers they do demand quality electronics to
drive them.
I built the kit with cabinets from Madisound for
around $1100/pair. If you have no experience with
kits they may be a challenge for a first timer. The
drivers include the Esotec 15W-75 and the Esotec D260
tweeter in MTM or D'Appolito configuration which
essentially provides a large soundstage. The cabinets
from Madisound were excelent quality as well as the
crossover electronics. I believe it very difficult to
find a commercially built speaker to compete with this
sound quality in this "price range". Yes, Paradigm,
Kefs, B&W, etc..........Go listen to Dynaudios if you
have,nt already bought your next pair of speakers. Then
consider the "kit" option.

Imaging, detail, power handling, upper bass

sometimes too bright on some material

I just sold my beloved Geminis to build a larger pair with more bass potential. Two days ago, after selling but not delivering my Geminis, I bought a Counterpoint tube/solid state amp and hooked it up to hear the difference, if any, that electronics makes. I'm floored! The Geminis opened up in detail like a much more high end speaker. Much closer to a Maggie or a Martin Logan than I thought they could ever be. If anyone tells you that electronics don't make any difference, don't believe it. I've thought that for more than twenty years of listening and have just been enlightened. Try it, especially if yours sound a little too bright.

I've been living with the Gemini's for about 4 months and added better electronics. My current rig is:
I'm running:

Preamp: Van Alstine Fet Valve EC
Amp: Van Alstine Fet Valve 550 Hc
CD: Cambridge Audio CD6
Spkrs: Dynaudio Gemini with Philip Bamberg/BESL GDR xover
Sub: ACI Titan

Phil's website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1511/beslhome.htm

I just bought all this equipment last fall and have been waiting for my bank account to recover. I've been intending to upgrade cables since I've just been using pvc zip cord (yuck) for the last few months, but haven't been willing to cough up the bucks for the boutique grade cables just yet.

I saw a post in the cables review section about using Cat5 UTP Networking cables for audio. I'm a software guy, so I know that Cat5 has 8 strands of 24 gauge pure copper wire and will transmit square waves up through the megahertz range; it just makes sense that they'll deal with audio range frequencies with no problem. In addition, twisted pair cable is good at rejecting interference since it uses 4 twisted pairs per cable for a total of 8 strands.

I just installed Cat5 on my system a couple of days ago. They sound sooooo much better than the crummy zip cord. The Gemini's (more specifically, the Gemini's with Phil Bamberg's GDR xover) have great imaging and female vocals have incredible structure. The cables opened up the sound and gave the vocals more air. I'm very impressed that such a cheap upgrade can make such a big difference.

The addition of the new crossover, amp, and cables have completely cleared up the high end problems I mentioned in my previous post; it's obvious the problems were all upstream and not the speakers. I now unreservedly give these guys a 5.

Just a quick update to my review below. Have upgraded to Adcom GTP-450 and GFA-5500. The speakers have broken in. Five stars all the way (same to be said for the electronics, in my opinion). Go for it - I've demoed them for several friends with the same verdict overall - a great set of speakers - and a good value.

About the most accurate and transparent sounding speakers,rivaling much more expensive loudspeakers. Everybody who listens to them is impressed.

Need ample power to drive these speakers as they drop to a minimal impedance of 3 ohms.

For the money you can't go wrong. You get probably the best drivers in the industry. a well constructed set of cabinets and they are great to listen to, as long as you use well constructed stands of proper heeight{24 in.} I used 12 gauge monster for internal wiring and opted to use 1 1/2 inch eggcrate foam instead of the supplied foam. All in all a great speaker.

Similar Products Used:

POLK RT55, Paradigm etc.

Open sound stage, surprising bass extension, great value, I am very impressed with these speakers. They just keep getting better with time and use (break in I guess). I'd say their sound is the smoothest of the speakers I have owned.

Haven't found any yet - except now I need to upgrade my electronics. I'm finding all kinds of new sounds in my recordings (they've always been there - just never heard them before) and some of my "favorites" are actually poor recordings!

Excellent value - I consider these a bargain at the price. Kits are available at around $1,050 - I saved a little by shopping around for the components - but not enough to make it worthwhile. My cabinets and crossovers are those offered by Madisound - the cabinets are great - very good quality. The crossover's work very well (at least to my ears). I understand there are "better" ones out there (BESL Gemini done right for example) but I don't know that I can tell the difference at this time. Planned upgrades are to replace amplification with Adcom or Rotel components. They are simple to assemble, a joy to listen to and have brought my love of music to life again. My listening (living) room is approximately 15 x 15 (triangular) with average furnishing/carpet, FWIW. The Synergy 10.5's these replaced were certainly much more efficient - more "in your face" but certainly no where near as accurate and clean as these are. I have not adjusted the tone controls at all (evrything is neutral) and have actually turned my subwoofer off...these are very good speakers...highly recommend.

Similar Products Used:

past owership (in order of most recent first): Klipsch Synergy 10.5's, Klipsch KG2.5's, Altec 205's, Polk Monitor 7, Monitor 10B, and Monitor 5's, Infinity Kappa's (forget the model number - dual 10" drivers with emit tweeter and polydome midrange)...