Detail sound stage, unreserve bass, very forward high

High too forward and tiring after prolong listening, need careful matching and powerful amp

Well design speaker, which reproduce every details of the recording, but need careful matching of equipment.
Bass is the best I heard from a small speaker,
mid and high is good in reproducing the details and positioning of the performers.

This is a good speaker but need careful matching and powerful amp to perform its best.

High may be too forward for some people....

neutrality, coherence, detail, imaging, build

so-so looks, mini-monitor bass

Auditioned these extensively, including at home, but in the end decided on floorstanders (which I haven't purchased yet). If I'd bought standmounts, these would have been the ones.

Main point here: these things image very well and have a huge stoundstage PROVIDED you give them decent amplification and GOOD HEAVY SPEAKER STANDS--may be spike the stands to the floor if you're on a slab, but I'd go for isolation on a stone block if you have a suspended wood floor. Stand them on anything else (like a table or a sub) and you're bound to be disappointed.

Can't quite bring myself to give them 5 for value, at the price.

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various

Very well built, neutral, big soundstage, good bass for size

Slightly bright mid-treble can sound hard at high volumes

This is a very good all around speaker, and definitely worth its price, even against similarly priced floorstanding speakers.

Bass is plenty deep and powerful for a speaker its size, but a subwoofer is definitely recommended for bass freaks. The 1.3 Mk II also has a dynamic verve that makes it exciting to listen to. But, that doesn't come at the expense of tonality, which for the most part is neutral. Soundstage is plenty big in terms of height, width and depth. Build quality is excellent, and the 1.3 Mk II is conservatively styled, but still aesthetically pleasing with clean, unfussy lines that should make the speaker look good in a wide variety of decors.

Overall, I think the Dynaudio Contour 1.3 Mk II misses 5 stars only because of a slightly bright mid-treble that is not at all objectionable at moderate volumes, but it can sound a little hard at higher volumes.

Compared to the Seas Odin (a DIY speaker kit) with Seas Millennium tweeters, both sound very similar. But, the 1.3 Mk II doesn't quite have the Odin's bass depth (the Odin is a bigger bookshelf speaker with 2 6.5" woofers), doesn't sound quite as intelligible and detailed in the midrange, might have a bigger soundstage and sweat spot, and sounds a little less smooth in the mid-treble. The Odin, if constructed well, is definitely a 5 star overall speaker and a 5+ star value speaker. But, it is a kit, so you have to assemble it yourself.

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Seas Odin with Millennium tweeters

Truthful, fast, Sweet mid

Power hungry

I suggest those currently own these speakers at least run-in 2 years than judge it. Unlike most other speakers which can be almost broken in after playing for 3 to 4 months, These speakers really need time to be seasoned. The longer you play, the better they are, beyond your imagination, at their price.

Truthful, rich mid. Dynamic. Well bal. tonality

Squarish look. No bi-wiring post

I have come across many well known "reference standard" speakers but none can beat dynaudio in term of "realism" and truthfulness. Most of the above listed either beautify or emphasize certain aspect which make the listener tired after some time. Dynaudio has the right tone and scale presenting lifelike music.

Although other minimonitors outbeat these speaker in term of depth(which I think is often exaggerated by many speakers by putting the highs forward sounding, except the legendary 3/5A etc), Dynaudio never sound thin, and always sound balanced and intriguing.

I just love these speakers!

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Proac 1SC,Thiel 2.3, Dana Advance, Bolero Kompakt, Sonus Faber Minima, Dynaudio 1.3(original),etc

Great bass punch and depth for size, speed, sound-staging, neutral with clear expressive midrange

relatively expensive for a small stand-mount. But it is beautifully finished... Needs powerful amp to drive... needs a bit of volume before it sounds its best...

Partnered with

Marantz KI Signature CD
Tag Mclaren Pre Amp
Rotel Power Amp
Van Den Hull Interconnects
Chord Company Speaker Cable

Fabulous small speaker which performs with neutrality and insight - sounding distinctly different when partnered with different equipment.

Beware if you listen mostly to poorly recorded pop and mainstream music. Try these speakers out with a decent modern recording - such as Diana Krall's Love Scenes or Sting's All This Time - and you won't be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

Dynaudio Contour 1.1 mkII, Dynaudio Audience 52, JBL Xti80

Crystal clear details, amazing imaging, good dynamics for size, sweet vocals

Needs good isolation, placement

After listening to many different speakers I decided on the Dyns and have been very happy over the long term. I recently placed shot-filled stands on concrete patio slabs because of wood floor over basement with stunning results. For better sounds try placing 4' from rear wall.

I compared these speakers to many others and found them so much more musical and enthralling with vocals/acoustics and jazz. Pricey but magical.

System:
Plinius 8200
Arcam Alpha 9
Harmonic Tech. cables

Very natural highs, and you will never get tired of the highs. Uncolored Mid,
very authorative mid-bass.

May sound "overly-dynamic" compare to other classic bookshelf, good/easy to partner with SS, not really suitable for tube amp.

The bass response will not disappoint you however do not expect very enchanting mid-band like those from UK classic. The highs is state-of-the-art considering these dome tweeter - I prefer it over those from Focal.

Highly recommend for those who loves standmounter which produces dynamic bass, uncolored mid and extremely transparent high.

Similar Products Used:

Focal JMlab, Harbeth P3,Rogers LS3/5A LE,Celestion SL-700, ATC SCM-XX, Proac R1SC.

Clafrity, transparency, high dynamic & adequate bass response

too expensive in Taiwan

They really need a powerful amplifier.
If you don't have it, don't even think about it.
Previously, I use Marantz PM-17SA as my power amp. The sound is very "dry" & in lack of bass & mid-range.
However, now they go along well with my power amp "Anthem Amp2". I am very pleased to have them.

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Tannoy

Imaging, bass, soundstage

None

I tried a pair of 1.3mkII on a weekend demo and loved them. I'm not sure they are that much better than the smaller 1.1, but they are exceptionally clear with an open and accurate soundstage, etc. I also tried them up against my old standby Harbeth LS3/5a monitors based on Dennis' earlier comment. The LS3/5a is still the hands-down winner for vocals and overall imaging but it has been discontinued. Also, the 1.3 has more "real" bass than any iteration of the venerable LS3/5a.

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Multiple pro and "audiophile" monitors.