Dynaudio C1 II owners - how loud can you go?

Thanks all. I'll be swapping out some components and cables in the coming weeks and will report back with findings. I'll give Dynaudio a call if it still occurs after eliminating all other sources and see what they have to say.

I did email Jeff at Toneaudio and he responded thinking it's the amp clipping. I honestly don't think I'm pushing these speakers too hard. When this "issue" happens, I have it loud but it's not anywhere near what I'd call crazy or ear bleeding. My room is around 13x16x9 - so I'd think these speakers could pressurize the space without any trouble based on reviews and your comments. I've had much cheaper speakers at much louder volumes. For what I paid for these speakers, I'd expect so much more.

Derek, I have C1, not the II, they are driven by Octave V110. Do not expect them can be played loud, if you listening to Jazz, yes, you can play them louder, if you listen to some high dynamic music, don't play them too loud, you could damage them! unless you feed them with a amp have 1000W. Original C1 can be played louder than the C1 II, But C1 II sounds better at lower volume than C1. Xti16 has compared C1 and C1 II Sig side by side in his house, driven by Octave se75, he said C1 II bottomed out earlier than C1. But C1 needed to play a bit louder to come alive.

+1 TLS... almost certain

A couple of years ago another member had a similar symptom. But he described it as a screech/scratching sound in the mids (vocals). He also had a V70SE (by that time I upgraded to the V110). He contacted Dynaudio and they thought it was a problem with his V70SE. They gave him a sweet deal on a new V110. When it arrived same problem. He said he took the C1's to his local dealer who confirmed the speakers caused it. Turns out both woofers coils had swollen up and were rubbing. This only happened at high volumes with bass heavy tracks and affected mostly female vocals.

If that is the case what you can try is with the system off push the woofer drivers by hand and both listen and feel for smooth movement. If you hear a scratchy sound or feel uneven movement the coils could have swollen.

That person bought his C1's used and really had no idea how the original owner used/abused them. I never found out if he had them repaired or just gave up on them.

To me it sounds like the woofers are bottoming out. When I had either the original C1's or MKII/Sig the bottoming out was a POP kind of sound. I personally heard that and made sure I never turned it up that loud again. It also happened with music that was very compressed.

I have a Nova pre / 220 amp combo and if it has similar power to your Nova 220se, 11 o'clock is pretty loud...

I've got Monitor Audio GX50's that have the same 86db sensitivity rating as your Dyns and I don't turn it up past 10 and usually listen at 8 or 9...

how big is your room?