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How much difference between Dynaudio C1 & Contour 1.3SE?

I own a Coutour 1.3SE for a couple of years. I am now considering upgrade plan. Dyna's C1 is one of my planning choice. I used to listen to classical music with the tendency of thick sound (not fat or chaos in bass.). Does anyone has good experience and able to share his knowledge with me? My amp. is Audio Research SP-3 Pre (tube) and the Accuphase A47. Tks in advance.
faust168
xti16
1,495 posts
 
I wouldn't say the C1 is more polite but more resolving. As far as the S25 it was a specialty speaker and with a more forward/lively sound. C2 is still a 2 way and really a pair of C1's in a larger cabinet with the DCC
faust168 OP
42 posts
 

Dear xti,

The 2nd hand S25 is US$3,500 and the C1 is 4,500.  I am afraid that the smaller cabinet may influence it's bass performance which will cause the shortage in instrument's body & shape or even the soundstage.

andrex99
12 posts
 
C1 design is more modern and made to create that big soundstage.
Also, unless you have a 2 times larger than average living, C1 will
give you plenty bass.
But you will not keep the C1 for it's bass qualities only.


xti16
1,495 posts
 
faust168
The S25 is a specialty speaker. It will be a punchier/livelier sound. IMO the C1 is a more refined sound. To me the S25 - Sapphire and Consequence UE sound killer for about the first 1/2 hr. After that I personally start to get fatigued. Some will say the C1 is too laid back but I could listen to mine for days on end. Just depends what your preferences are. The driver for the C1 was derived from the Evidence Temptation and the S25 came from the Evidence Master. So the S25 is a larger driver. Personally I think the C1 is a more evenly balanced sound. Two very different presentations yet retaining that Dyn house sound. 

That said the original C1 had 1 drawback IMO. The sound only gets better as you turn up the volume. So when the MKII/Sig was announced I bought a pair of Sig's without hearing them (I really wanted the Mocca cabinet). To my surprise they didn't need to be turned up as much to sound their best. Platinums hold that same trait.

I haven't heard the new Contour's but the way some folks have described it may be more like a blend of both the S25 and the C1 sound. Do you have a local Dyn dealer? I would highly recommend demoing the C1 Platinum vs the Contour20. Heck bring your 1.3's to get a better feel for the differences.
faust168 OP
42 posts
 
Xti: Tks. for your detail explanation. According to the dicsussion in the audio board here in Taipei, some regards that S25 has more tendency toward audio performance and the 1.3SE has more music smell.  That is the description from the discussion here. I will try to find chance to hear the C1, but the new one is quite expensive here. Even the 2nd hand C1, it costs about US$4,000 and the C1 signature costs US$6000 here in Taipei. They are imported from U.S.A. by the audio trade merchandizer not the distributor. The distributor price is beyond reached.  
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