Only one word can describe this speaker! WOW! I've had before B&W 601, then 602. After that I've changed to Dynaudio Audience 40, and after that 52se. No one of these speakers before haven't that wide sound stage, details, dynamics and powerfull and controlled bass. Now in my living room I have concerts every day. Only one word, WOW! These speakers worth every cent.

My combo:

Amplifier: modificated Audio analogue Puccini SE
CD player: Sony CDP X-779ES
Interconnects: Audioquest Amazon
Speakers cables: hand made silver cotton insulated cables

1. Dynamics
2. Imaging
3. Clarity
4. Bass
5. Mids and highs are true
6. The importance of playing your original CDs, the detail is so much better than any mp3/compressed format.
7. You learn differences between a excellent produced CD, and a mediocre one
8. The subtle parts of a song you listen to
9. Genres recommended - classical, jazz, opera, anything with an excellent
singing voice.
10. If the performance of ANY instrument is found, you always be listening to
that disc/track, that CD will never gather much dust.

Others would say the lows are it's weakness, however it is by far not
important to me. I have my speakers placed a little closer to the corners of the
room, NOT by choice, because of rest of the objects in the room are fixed.

I have NO problems with the bass, I get sufficient levels.

It took 6 months and 30 stores searching for a set of speakers. I finally was able
to trim it down to three brands. Dali, B&W, and Dynaudio.

Out of the Dyn's I auditioned the Audience 80's, then the salesman hooked up
the Contours 1.8 Mark IIs. They were just on a higher plane altogether. My mind
was set up. I was fortunate to get the store set, which hadn't been used much,
but because it was a demo in the shop, I got a good price for it. I brought it
probably about 1 year before this model was discontinued.

I was shown from these 1.8's new elements, instruments, additional voices
that appear in the music that I listen to, that previously wasn't there through
other brands/models of speakers.

It is clearly the "Strongest" component of my hifi system now. Ok, it is fair to say
that anyway because the rest of my components are not in the same price range.
That is why I need to get a better amp to make my Dyns sing better.

From the feedback I received, it is possible I may have not completely broke them
in, due to my current receiver (Yamaha RX-V1300), not being able to supply
enough juice. I could be wrong. If my Dyn 1.8's have NOT been broken in
yet, I would be stoked when they finally do. I'm sure they are broken in.

I have over 800 CDs, and just about every genre you can think of. I've played
a lot through my Dyns, and I can tell you that these babies just sing !!. The imaging
is absolutely incredible (unless you move into a much higher price range).

Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Emma Shapplin, Zero 7, Dido, Fiona Apple,
anyone who has a spectacular singing voice, you hear their voice as you are
meant to. Totally natural, each of the above artists, you can listen to them all
day and night through these speakers. You will NEVER and I repeat, NEVER
tire listening through them. Listening fatigue does not exist from 1.8's.

I'm assuming you're using at least a half-decent amp/receiver to drive these
babies to take all this information to heart.

I've listened recently to Prince's - When Doves Cry, absolutely astounding.
Abba - The Winner takes it All - this was one of Abba's finest vocal performances
highly recommend you use that as a test for true imaging quality. The 1.8's show
that.

One of my favourite trance/chillout/dance CDs is Above & Beyond - Tri-State
As I write this review, I'm listening to the first track Tri-State, it's a very simple
track, a repeated piano sample, with space sounds, synthesizers, bass, you
just HAVE to listen to this track, the instruments/sounds reach out and grab
you. Perhaps pulling your hears closer to the tweeters if you will ;)

For you trance fans, this album has one of the famous hits of all time,
Air for Life, A&Beyond does a great mix of this one. Nothing overpowering
on these speakers, every note, instrument, sample comes out through them
with great precision, you can say it would sound better than any live performance
you can go to.

One piece of advice, the Dyns Contour 1.8's and other similar floor standing
speakers, do need a GOOD amp that can supply juice to them. It is an
absolute waste to not being able to feed these babies. That is why I am seeking
to get the best amp I can possibly find. If it ends up costing me one of my
limbs, then so be it haha.

If detail, imaging, and clarity is paramount for this price range, get these
babies if you find them. Well this should be an important lesson, of how
important imaging, clarity is with speakers, if you trully seek listening
excellence. Do as I, take at least several months, listen to many brands.

I didn't intend to spend this price range, but after hearing the difference ? It was
worth the wait of 4 more months, to get these.

The equivalent to the 1.8's are the current Contours from the Dynaudio website,
make sure you check it out, and if there's a shop which stocks them, demand
to audition them. Bring a good various selection of different genres of music.
Find out just WHY imaging, detail, clarity is so blissful when it is right.

I live and BREATHE these speakers. At least 300 people have individually
visited my place and all were absolutely impressed/loved my speakers.
If only I had a state of the art Amp to drive these, I'd be in 7th heaven.

If you have further questions about this particular model of Dynaudio Contours,
feel free to send me a message and ask.

Customer Service

Customer service of the shop was extremely excellent. The salesman bent
over backwards to help me out. Did not pressure me into buying anything, he
let me listen as long as I wanted through the many speakers that were set up.
Just as any hifi professional should do, NOT pressure you.

He organised delivery which was all taken care of, and he supplied a great
set of AudioQuest CV-3 speaker cables.

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GH Loudspeakers. These 1.8's were definately a step-up. IMHO I would not
be able to locate anything better for what I paid for.

Marantz shelf speakers.

Great detail, excellent imaging.

Lacks lows, when compared to three-way Dynaudios...

Upgraded to these from Audience 80's. These do not have the bottom end that Audience 80's have. Slightly better detail does not make up for chopped of bottom end.

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Dyn Audience 80's, Contour 2.5T's, Contour 3.3's. Auditioned many. Dyn's are my favorite.

Dynamics
Bass
Clarity
mids and highs are true and perfectly integrated
everything!!

They lack the intensity on the very lowest notes of the pipe organ like all smaller speakers, but they reach lower with more impact than any other of this size that I have heard.

I recently purchased these speakers secnd hand, and I am still in the process of listening to all of my cds to find what I had been missing. I can't believe the sound that these small towers are able to conjer. My wife who could not be any less interested in my audio equipment could immediately tell the difference between these and my last pair. She now for the first time believes that better equipment can make music sound completely different. Anyway, these are the finest speakers I have had the pleasure to audition, and I have heard many costing several time their price. The tonal quality, frequency response, and dynamics are outstanding. Dynamic phrases are lacking the compression and distortion so common with small speakers. Sheets of sound are layered with clarity, and full of ambience and air. I can discern much more about recording environment than I ever thought possible. I can appreciate the tibre of instruments playing lower frequencies more than every. Kick drums, orchestral bass, string bass, electric bass are in no way fluffed into a high Q mass of low frequency nonsense. I mean this to say that I LOVE THE BASS QUALITY!!!! These things image in an amazing way.

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Various KEF, QUAD, INFINITY, MB QUART, A/D/S/, PSB, PARADIGM

Really brings out the authenticity of an excellent recorded CD. Some CDs are poor quality, these speakers will tell you that. More volume does these speakers more justice. Keep them at least 50 cms away from any wall if you intend to get great results. A good singing voice will be more appreciated with the 1.8 Mk IIs. Andrea Bocelli, Hayley Westenra, Sarah Brightman, Evanescence's - Hello, and My Immortal, just incredible. It's as if Amy Lee was singing live 10 metres from you. Everyone who've I've invited to listen to these babies, absolutely loves them as well. This is the best investment in any Hi Fi equipment I've ever made. Going to be very hard to top this.

I don't have components that get the maximum potential out of these speakers. Really need a high-end CD player, but I have no idea what to purchase :( These speakers can handle if you can raise the volume but you would need a very excellent amp. I fortunately do not find volume and bass that important to me. I was raised on having slight extra treble, and I appreciate 'clarity' the most. So I guess I can get away with using the Yamaha RX-V1300 receiver for the time-being. I have yet to find any noticable weaknesses.

I took 3 months, and over 30 stores of painstaking listening to find what I was looking for. My ears told me straight away that the Dynaudio brand was right for me. I didn't have 20 grand for Dalis, but the Contour 1.8 Mk II's are a way step up from the Audience series. To this day I still can't wait to get home from work, just to put my favourite music through these babies. It's definately no longer going to be the weakest component of my system. I have a Yamaha RX-V1300 does the trick, I'm sure my speakers would do better with a more powerful amp. For now I have no dedicated CD player. My DVD player is pefect for my DVD needs, but it's not good for CD play. What I would like is advice for an high end CD player. I have already reviewed some Cambridge CD players, but I am more happy so far with the NAD C 542 but more so with the NAD C 541i. I have read many reviews that the Cyrus CD6 and CD8i are absolutely fantastic, won many reviews from reputable magazines. The bad part of it is that I live in Western Australia, and there are no shops that sell Cyrus. I would have to take the chance of buying one from another state, because I'm sure I would not be able to return it if I'm not happy. The CD 8 costs $3100. That's a lot of money for a component that just plays CDs. That's not including the other additions that you can get with it. Has ANYONE out there ever tried out a Cyrus CD player ? is it really that good ? I will pay the extra if it's worth it. When I buy something, I do it properly, that's why I spent as much as I did for the Dynaudios. Any other 1.8 Mark II owners who could also recomment the ideal CD player, that would be appreciated. Maybe recommend a new Amp that would be great also. In WA, we have a limited range of brands :(

pure music

Need a little more amp power than many other speakers

Actually, I do not remember axactly when I bought them. But when I first heard them I was pretty convinced that I had to have them. Then I compared them to their smalles brothers, the 1.3, and I opted for the floor standers. At first I was really impressed, but when I changed amplification from h/k to Rega, the differences in stage, resolution, detail and above all: music were just great. But when I switched from cheap speaker cables to the recommended OCOS-cables, I had to re-think all I ever was so sure about in cable-voodoo, that all cables do teh same job and so on. The OCOS is a MUST for these speakers. I understand they do not make the contour anymore. So friends, be wise, get a pair of these wonderful speakers buying second-hand at Ebay or wherever, connect them with high-quality equipment using OCOS-cables and know that your search has ended here --- at least in this price region. You can still re-sell them and lose no money, but you won't part from them. Jazz, Classic, whatever... I just love them!

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Used to have small JBL's

Neutral, tuneful, quick

Low Impedance, low Sensitivity, Low Muscle (lacks width and breadth)

I really liked my mk.2s. I bought it to be used for use with an Arcam CD92 CD Player, ARC LS16 Mk.2 Pre, Levinson 23.5, 2 SL1200 M2 Turntables and a Behringer Mixer for my Livingroom/Lounge where I entertain. I opted for Dynaudios because of their bullet proof qualities. i needed a speaker that could convey jazz and classical while being able to survive the onslought of House and Trance. Unfortunately they proved to be just too small for the job as the room is quite large at 25 ft by 15 feet and my being accustomed to my much larger Revel F30s in my HT which can take you for a hell of a ride at as low as 78dB. I'm sure I'd have kept them if I had a room more suited to them. I could hear all the good stuff but in a room that large it just couldn't "Move" me emotionally. They did however have the qualities of a true hi-end speaker. Excellent tonal qualities, that dynaudio taut bass, great soundstaging and great extension despite its diminutive size. It is no wonder that the 1.8 has proved to be one of if not the most long lived Dynaudio designs. It is truly a classic. They have a new home now at my cousin's place where he enjoys them everyday. I'm not so sad though since I have the 5.4s on order. For anybody with a small to medium sized room and a high current power amp. Highly Recommended.

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Veritas 2.4, F30s, Maggie SMGc, B&W CDM1 and 2, Contour 3.4

Tight FULL bass, great mids, great craftmenship.

None, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe too much bass if not positioned correctly and ports are left open.

In 2001 I finally decided to upgrade my stereo system which was 15 years old and in need of revamping. I finally decided to give the Dyn 1.8MK 2's a listen due to my Dynaudio friend who was raving about these babies - he has the 2.8's. SO glad I did - I like tight, deep bass, crystal clear highs and mids and these seemed to have all the above. Of course I had to keep within the confines of my living space, so when I listened to the 3.0's I felt they were way too much for my room size. They are being driven by a Bryston 3BST and Bryston BP-20 preamp. I certainly agree that you cannot drive these with some crappy Adcom, Marantz mid level stuff, they will sound awful. In fact, the more you drive them the sweeter they sound. I am in the process of moving into the bigger amp category - Classe perhaps. For the price, I do not think you can find a better speaker. I listened to Theils, B&W and Sonus Fabers and some others I cannot recall, but since I listen to a myriad of music, the Dynaudio's seemed to be the best for all categories - especially hard, heavy rock -which I love - STP, Audioslave, Godsmack, Soundgarden, Rob Zombie. MK II's are Highly recommended - give them a listen!

High quality parts,high quality sound.

Needs high current amp inefficient

Satisfing loudspeakers.Dynaudio have produced an exeptionally performing speaker relative to cost. It is easy to listen to these for long periods without thinking about the sound of the speaker, music just comes out. That said, the 1.8s can be sensitive to poor electronics feeding them. Any change in equipment in the audio chain will change the listening experience somewhat more than other speakers of a similar price. Most importantly is amplifier partnering. In order for the speakers to really come alive an amplifier of reasonably current delivery is essential. Impressive results came with Plinius's SA250 and is satisfactory with McCormack's DNA-1, anything lighter than the McCormack's 185W would lose alot of dynamics and slam. The sound stage produced is good in most setup positions. The manufacturers recommendation is one metre from the front wall and sides. Having no material between the speakers is ideal but of course not always practical. The 1.8's will perform well in many room environments but the tradeoffs from bad placement are going to be exprienced with any speaker. At lower listening levels the sound produced is less dynamic, but this is the case with all speakers of this size and manufacture. Warm, sterile, slow, fast, these audio terms don't apply.The produced sound does have a signature Dynaudio taste to it but it is neutral in the sense that it lets so much of the associated equipment's qualities come through. Aesthetically no masterpiece, but it seems to be built for build quality, rather than build beauty, within pricing constraints. The mirror imaged vineer is attractive but the boxiness apperance could be boring to some tastes.

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various

I recently upgraded my electronics to Krell. I needed a speaker with good dynamics and detail. When I listened to Dynaudio, I knew I found a winner. They’re very revealing and neutral. You’ll marvel at the soundstage that they produce. The first order crossover really do some magic. I enjoy music now more then I ever did. I can’t find anything in this price range that even comes close. They are not that placement sensitive as other speakers that I’ve worked with and the finish is beautiful. The bass is very tight, just like my wife’s wedding dress from 3 years ago.