ProAc DT8 / D20R or Dynaudio Evoke Speakers?

[Witterings]

I currently have a pair of Focal Aria 926's which are lovely and very detailed speakers but for me are a tad bright and could do with some more low end / bass. With the setup I have I can't permanently add a sub (did test with one and it made a difference) so am looking at alternatives.

The research I've done it's come down to the choice of the ProAc DT8's / D20R or alternatively Dynuadio Evoke 30's / 50's.

My rooms 15 x 26 feet and reasonably furnished / carpeted and my amp's an Arcam SA30 which is relatively neutral.

I'm really looking for a richer / warmer sound with better lower end which I prefer to be tight / punchy but I also still love detail. As often as not I'm listening to one instrument that might have a particularly strong performance and picking up on things like quiet / subtle bass nuances going on on the background.

If anybody can help me with how any of these speakers fit the charateristics I'm looking for, I'm particularily interested in how the DT8's compare to the D20R's as I think I'm leaning in that direction. Concerns with each would be, I wonder if the Ribbons on the 20's may give a brightness I'm trying to stay away from and have heard the bass on the DT8's can be too much / boomy.

The Dynaudios seem to fit the sound characteristics I'm after but have heard they can be fussier on pairing and placement.

Any insight anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Amormusic]

Here's my ramblings if any help. DT8 and D20R on there.

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/listening-day.105216/

 

[Witterings]

Here's my ramblings if any help. DT8 and D20R on there.

https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/listening-day.105216/

Seems like yu did some fairly extensive auditioning but I'm guessin didn't go with ProAc in the end .... what did you choose?

 

[Amormusic]

Seems like yu did some fairly extensive auditioning but I'm guessin didn't go with ProAc in the end .... what did you choose?

None of those. I have ART Alnico 8 Signature speakers.

 

[TIU]

Amphion Argon 3S £2k. Ample bass from a standmount.

 

[hifinutt]

one of the guys on the dynaudio owners thread just loves the evoke !!!

and yes as TUI says the amphion 3 s have plenty of bass .

https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/dynaudio.97978/page-2

i demo`ed both thye d20r and dt8 . i didnt buy them !!!

 

[Friendly Ghost]

I used to own the Focal 906's and auditioned some speakers recently. I likes the Proacs best because they seemed to do nothing wrong on any of the music I played.
There we're more spectacular performers (B&W) or more detailed (Spendor) but I kept coming back to the goldilocks Proacs.
I ended up with the D30SR, because my room can easily accomodatie and I wanted to avoid the cost of a future upgrade.

I did not audition the Dynaudios, but they are highly regarded as well.

Are you in the possibility to audition?

 

[Jezzer]

None of those. I have ART Alnico 8 Signature speakers.

Interesting that you felt indifferent to the Focal Kanta 1s but you didn’t say why. I have these and think they’re excellent.

It’s also interesting that few people recommend Dynaudio speakers these days. I remember when quite a few people on this very forum (me included) had a few pairs. They’re a damn fine brand. ProAc and Harbeth seem in vogue with this current crop of Wammers.

 

[Witterings]

Are you in the possibility to audition?

I kind of am, although it's time out of work where the guilt trip sets in and I've had long term issues with my car so I need to borrow the bosses who needs it to get t work and back and also to take the dogs for a walk.
To say it's difficult is an understatement and hence why I'm trying to research as I can't just go trawling from one shop to another, if I find what I think may tick the boxes I'll certainly try and demo.
Also I'm the worst at going from one speaker to another with even a minute's break in between, I've bought a speaker switch for home so I can instantly switch and I also find long term listening I tend to pick out the bits I like and the bits I find hard to live with.
What prompted my decision to change, I'd decided to stay with the Focals but the other night I was playing quite a few female artists like Tracy Chapman / Joan Armitrading in a row and after an hour it just seemed every track morphed from one to another and had become tiresome / didn't want to listen to anymore ... whilst I've heard the expression and thought it'd be much more instant but isn't, I now guess is probably what's referred to as "fatigue"

 

[Friendly Ghost]

I kind of am, although it's time out of work where the guilt trip sets in and I've had long term issues with my car so I need to borrow the bosses who needs it to get t work and back and also to take the dogs for a walk.
To say it's difficult is an understatement and hence why I'm trying to research as I can't just go trawling from one shop to another, if I find what I think may tick the boxes I'll certainly try and demo.
Also I'm the worst at going from one speaker to another with even a minute's break in between, I've bought a speaker switch for home so I can instantly switch and I also find long term listening I tend to pick out the bits I like and the bits I find hard to live with.
What prompted my decision to change, I'd decided to stay with the Focals but the other night I was playing quite a few female artists like Tracy Chapman / Joan Armitrading in a row and after an hour it just seemed every track morphed from one to another and had become tiresome / didn't want to listen to anymore ... whilst I've heard the expression and thought it'd be much more instant but isn't, I now guess is probably what's referred to as "fatigue"

No judgement here. It first took me three years of reading and lusting before even starting to audition at a number of dealers. When I finally was at a good point financially with no specific needs in the house or the children, I jumped at the opportunity.
Even though the process was at times frustrating, I'm glad I auditioned as much as I could. I hadn't really had the opportunity to hear different speakers, so did not know what I liked.
Still happy with my choice, considering the given limitations.

 

[hifinutt]

Interesting that you felt indifferent to the Focal Kanta 1s but you didn’t say why. I have these and think they’re excellent.

It’s also interesting that few people recommend Dynaudio speakers these days. I remember when quite a few people on this very forum (me included) had a few pairs. They’re a damn fine brand. ProAc and Harbeth seem in vogue with this current crop of Wammers.

gosh i see tons of people recommending dynaudio speakers !! especially the special editions

 

[hifinutt]

strangely i nearly got a pair of special 40 recently but at less than half the price some Alchris AR 6 arrived which are roughly the same size and so far me likey !!!

 

[Jezzer]

strangely i nearly got a pair of special 40 recently but at less than half the price some Alchris AR 6 arrived which are roughly the same size and so far me likey !!!

Please do share your thoughts in due course sir!

 

[hifinutt]

thanks jezzer . been posting a few thoughts in alchris owners thread . this is one quote

I am quite surprised by them . they are not as fiercly resolving as the shl5plus nor as BIG sounding as the taus [ surprise surprise !!] but i found the shl5plus hard to get on sometimes , So immediately these sound just right , not too forward , not too soft . they are very coherant with instruments well differentiated . playing electronica and classical and vocals is pretty good . I find them non fatiguing and they make you want to tap your toes . very musical and timbre of instruments is just right . I am rather impressed so far . they are not permanent speakers because saving for something else but you know what Alan has come up with a cracking bit of kit in the AR6 .

 

[Jezzer]

thanks jezzer . been posting a few thoughts in alchris owners thread . this is one quote

I am quite surprised by them . they are not as fiercly resolving as the shl5plus nor as BIG sounding as the taus [ surprise surprise !!] but i found the shl5plus hard to get on sometimes , So immediately these sound just right , not too forward , not too soft . they are very coherant with instruments well differentiated . playing electronica and classical and vocals is pretty good . I find them non fatiguing and they make you want to tap your toes . very musical and timbre of instruments is just right . I am rather impressed so far . they are not permanent speakers because saving for something else but you know what Alan has come up with a cracking bit of kit in the AR6 .

Thanks. I’ll go and have a look. I wonder how they compare with ProAc D2s..

 

[hifinutt]

ah those D2 are magical . would have liked a pair but just under 3k for dome pair compared to 950 for the alchris ar 6 its going to have to wait . one hifi show i went back about 6 times to hear the d2 . my favourite proac

 

[Lawrence001]

I had a pair of the Dynaudio Contour bookshelves 1.3 I think? They were great across the frequency range but somehow didn't get me emotionally. Or reviews said the same. I'm not sure what it is about speakers that measure well in terms of FR etc but still don't sound as good as others, maybe it's other things like polar response, soundstage etc.

 

[Wenge1]

ah those D2 are magical . would have liked a pair but just under 3k for dome pair compared to 950 for the alchris ar 6 its going to have to wait . one hifi show i went back about 6 times to hear the d2 . my favourite proac

I had a pair of Pro Ac D2's for around 5 years. Lovely stand mount speakers and IMHO great value too.

 

[hifinutt]

I had a pair of the Dynaudio Contour bookshelves 1.3 I think? They were great across the frequency range but somehow didn't get me emotionally. Or reviews said the same. I'm not sure what it is about speakers that measure well in terms of FR etc but still don't sound as good as others, maybe it's other things like polar response, soundstage etc.

Yes its hard to pin that down .certainly the ar6 do give that sense of musicality and emotion .i dont think they have quite the bass of tha amphion 3s with their rear passive radiator but they are extremely balanced and linear in presentation and certainly fill a fairly big room with a wall of sound

 

[Jezzer]

I had a pair of the Dynaudio Contour bookshelves 1.3 I think? They were great across the frequency range but somehow didn't get me emotionally. Or reviews said the same. I'm not sure what it is about speakers that measure well in terms of FR etc but still don't sound as good as others, maybe it's other things like polar response, soundstage etc.

I also had a pair of 1.3mk2s… and 1.8mk2s and 1.1s. Had the 1.3s for the longest - over 6 years. I thought they were excellent but they needed a livelier amp to get them going - such as a Krell KAV400xi.