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Dynaudio Contour i Family – New tweeter, improved woofer and more…

No, it is not an upgrade that had to be done, but rather an upgrade that one wants to do, says Dynaudio A/S about the now announced “changing of the guard” of the Dynaudio Contour by the new Dynaudio Contour. Above all, new tweeters, improved woofers, and several other innovations based on materials and technologies from the Dynaudio Confidence series should distinguish the new product family.


In 2016, Dynaudio A/S introduced the current generation of the so-called Dynaudio Contour Series, a product line that was first introduced in 1986 and since then has been widely acclaimed and highly successful on the market. The range is still able to compete in a highly competitive market, so there is no reason to change it, but Dynaudio A/S does and now presents the Dynaudio Contour i Series, an upgrade of the previous range.

“We revised the Contour not because we had to, but because we wanted to.This is simply what happens when you leave the Dynaudio developers alone with a loudspeaker – they will improve it. We have so many innovations in the Confidence series that we really wanted to bring to the Contour. We’re thrilled with the results.”

Otto Jørgensen, Product Manager at Dynaudio A/S in Skanderborg

At first glance, you won’t be able to see so many differences between the previous models and the latest generation, even if there are one or two details that are also new. But more about that later. The really great innovations that set the Dynaudio Contour i apart from the previous Dynaudio Contour are to be found inside the latest generation of loudspeaker systems.

  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 16
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 15
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 14
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 13
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 12
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 11
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 10
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 09
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 08
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 07
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 06
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 05
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 04
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 03
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 02
  • Dynaudio Contour i Series 01

Dynaudio A/S itself describes the upgrade as serious, even going so far as to speak of completely revised models. When irresistible new acoustic technologies emerge from Dynaudio Labs – as was the case with the brand new Confidence series – the developers simply cannot be held back from applying them to other model series, and this is exactly what led to a completely redesigned interior of the new Dynaudio Contour i models.

The new Dynaudio Contour i family consists of four models: Dynaudio Contour 20i, Dynaudio Contour 30i and Dynaudio Contour 60i, plus the Dynaudio Contour 25Ci centre speaker, which once again provides flexibility for both stereo and surround solutions.

One of the most important innovations is the new tweeter, which is now used in the Dynaudio Contour i model generation. This is the new Dynaudio Esotar 2i tweeter, which, according to Dynaudio A/S, is equipped with the ingenious Hexis Dome to further minimise resonance. The drive unit has also been improved compared to previous models, since a stronger neodymium magnet is now used, as well as a larger rear absorption chamber. All in all, this results in particularly low distortion values and an even frequency response.

The Dynaudio Contour 20i, Dynaudio Contour 30i, and Dynaudio Contour 25Ci models use low/midrange drivers with a new Nomex centering spider, a development originally developed for the Dynaudio Special Forty and also used in the Dynaudio Confidence models.

According to Dynaudio A/S, the woofers as a whole are largely based on those of the previous Dynaudio Contour models from 2016, but the aforementioned innovation in the centre spider alone has already resulted in a significant improvement in sound quality, as numerous listening comparisons in Dynaudio Labs have shown.

For the largest model in the series, the Dynaudio Contour 60i, the developers have opted for completely redesigned woofers, which are characterised by a new, larger magnet system and a new voice coil with glass fibre coil former. These are also technical features that were gained during the development of the Dynaudio Confidence series, but also during the development of the Dynaudio Sub 6 subwoofer. According to Dynaudio A/S, this results in an even more clearly defined low bass and a greater dynamic range.

The mid-range driver of the Dynaudio Contour 60i has not been changed at least not in terms of the driver itself compared to the previous generation from 2016, but it is now located in a completely new resonance-optimised chamber, based on experience gained during the development of the Dynaudio Core series. After all, the Dynaudio Core series is a reference loudspeaker system in the studio, not the worst basis for guaranteeing the best results in the HiFi segment…

Naturally, the measures described so far for the new models also required the crossovers of all Dynaudio Contour i loudspeaker systems to be adjusted, albeit in different ways. For the Dynaudio Contour 20i, Dynaudio Contour 30i and Dynaudio Contour 25Ci models, the existing crossover has been optimised accordingly, in order to control the improved low/midrange driver and the Dynaudio Esotar 2i tweeter in the best possible way, thus ensuring an even more even frequency response. As with the Dynaudio Confidence Series, the individual drivers have been optimised in such a way that additional impedance linearisation is not necessary, thus allowing a very puristic design of the crossover.

With the Dynaudio Contour 60i, due to the new bass driver, the crossover had to be completely redesigned. Dynaudio A/S states that thanks to the lower resonance midrange chamber and the Nomex material of the woofer, the crossover frequency was raised to 300 Hz, resulting in an even more even frequency response.

Another new feature of all models is the use of a completely new damping system inside the loudspeaker systems, which is based on the experience of Dynaudio Evoke and Dynaudio Confidence.

As with all loudspeaker series developed in recent years, the new Dynaudio Contour i series had to prove itself for many, many hours in the listening rooms of Dynaudio Labs, after it had been optimised in the unique measuring room of Dynaudio A/S, the Jupiter.

The Dynaudio Contour 20i is designed as a two-way bass reflex system, and as a bookshelf speaker it is the most compact model of the new model generation. It uses an 18 cm MSP woofer in combination with a 28 mm Dynaudio Esotar2i tweeter. According to the manufacturer, this allows a frequency range between 39 Hz and 23 kHz to be reproduced, with the crossover, a 2nd order filter, intervening at 2.2 kHz. The loudspeaker system is designed with an impedance of 4 Ohm and a sensitivity of 86 dB for amplifiers with a nominal output of 180 Watts. With dimensions of 215 x 440 x 360 mm or 215 x 44 x 396 mm including the speaker grill and feet, the Dynaudio Contour 20i weighs 14 kg.

Even the Dynaudio Contour 30i is designed as an impressive floorstanding loudspeaker with a 2 1/2-way bass reflex system. It uses two 18 cm MSP woofers in combination with a 28 mm Dynaudio Esotar2i tweeter. The crossover here is designed for 300 Hz or 2.2 kHz and a frequency range between 32 Hz and 23 kHz can be reproduced. The impedance is specified at 4 Ohm, the sensitivity at 87 dB. The manufacturer specifies the nominal power of an amplifier for the speaker as 300 Watts. The dimensions of the speaker are 215 x 1,140 x 360 mm and 300 x 1,169 x 403 mm, respectively. The second specification includes the speaker grille and feet. This speaker weighs an impressive 31.4 kg.

The Dynaudio Contour 60 i is a three-way bass reflex floorstanding loudspeaker system and is the flagship of the new model series. Its dimensions of 255 x 1,330 x 420 mm (323 x 1,359 x 454 mm) without the grille and feet clearly demonstrate this. This speaker weighs no less than 54.3 kg. The developers combined two 23 cm MSP woofers with a 15 cm MSP mid-range driver and the 28 mm Dynaudio Esotar2i tweeter to produce a frequency range between 28 Hz and 23 kHz. The crossover network starts at 300 Hz and 4.5 kHz. With an impedance of 4 Ohm and a sensitivity of 88 dB, this speaker is designed for amplifiers with a power output of 390 Watts.

The Dynaudio Contour 25Ci is the centre speaker of the series, so it can be used in home cinema without any problems. Naturally, it is similar to a bookshelf speaker system, but here the Dynaudio Esotar2i tweeter (28 mm diameter) is combined with two 18 cm MSP woofers. By the way, the centre is also designed as a 2 1/2 way bass reflex system, with the corresponding opening at the rear – as with all models, by the way. The Dynaudio Contour 25Ci is designed with an impedance of 4 Ohms and a sensitivity for amplifiers with a power output of 300 Watts. The frequency response is 35 Hz to 23 kHz, with the crossover effective at 300 Hz or 2.2 kHz. There should be enough room for this centre speaker under the TV or under the screen in the home cinema, as the dimensions are specified as 750 x 250 x 396 mm, including an elegant stand and speaker grill. This speaker also demands a great deal of the furniture’s load-bearing capacity, as it weighs a proud 24 kg.

We have mentioned it in the introduction, even if at first glance the differences on the outside are not too serious, there are nevertheless new things to announce. For example, the cabinet surface has been improved and the new Dynaudio Contour i is available in three versions. The first is the walnut version with open wood veneer for an even more natural grain and corresponding touch quality. Grey Oak High Gloss is an oak veneer version with a particularly fascinating dark grey colouring and improved high-gloss finish, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. The improved high-gloss lacquering is of course also available in the design variant Black High Gloss, which is intended to offer a particularly deep black.

Dynaudio A/S reports that production of the new model series has already begun in Skanderborg, Denmark, and that the new Dynaudio Contour i series will be available at dealerships in the near future.

Dynaudio A/S is offering a recommended retail price of € 4,500 for the new model, and thus the Dynaudio Contour 20i. The Dynaudio Contour 30i model has a recommended retail price of € 7,000, and the Dynaudio Contour 60i model is priced at € 9,000. The Dynaudio Contour 25Ci is priced at € 3,250.

Getting to the point

Dynaudio A/S itself describes the upgrade as serious, even going so far as to speak of completely revised models. When irresistible new acoustic technologies emerge from Dynaudio Labs – as was the case with the brand new Confidence series – the developers simply cannot be held back from applying them to other model series, and this is exactly what led to a completely redesigned interior of the new Dynaudio Contour i models.

Manufacturer:Dynaudio A/S
Distribution:Dynaudio Germany GmbH
Price:Dynaudio Contour 20i € 4.500,-
Dynaudio Contour 30i € 7.000,-
Dynaudio Contour 60i € 9.000,-
Dynaudio Contour 25Ci € 3.250,-
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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