Testing The Dynaudio Confidence 60 Floorstanding Speakers

Dynaudio Confidence 60 Floorstanding Speakers Review

The Danish brand Dynaudio will be familiar to most audio and hi-fi enthusiasts. If you’re considering purchasing the Dynaudio Confidence 60 high-end floorstanding speakers, you’ll need deep pockets—these speakers certainly don’t come cheap. Positioned firmly within the premium price category, this model might be out of reach for many, but if you are fortunate enough to afford them, you definitely won’t be disappointed.

Design and Features

This beautifully crafted speaker weighs 66.2 kg, has a sensitivity rating of 87 dB, and an impedance of 4 Ohms. Its frequency response ranges from 22 Hz to 22 kHz. The Confidence 60 is a three-way bass-reflex speaker, available in multiple attractive finishes: Blonde Wood, Raven Wood High Gloss, Midnight High Gloss, Smoke High Gloss, and Ruby Wood High Gloss.

Thanks to the newly developed Esotar3 soft-dome tweeter, airflow has been significantly optimised, further enhanced by a larger rear chamber. Unlike its predecessor, which utilised two tweeters, the Confidence 60 employs just one. At Dynaudio’s Jupiter testing facility, their unique Dynaudio Directivity Control (DDC) technology was refined even further, contributing to exceptional audio accuracy.

The company’s engineers can rightly be proud of their specially developed DDC lens, essentially an aluminium baffle. The MDF baffle used in the previous model has now been replaced by a composite material that is both strong and lightweight. Thanks to the advanced Neo Tec subwoofer, Dynaudio’s proprietary MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) drivers, and the new multi-layer fiberglass voice coil, sound reproduction has significantly improved, while resonances have been virtually eliminated. The sturdy enclosure effectively reduces unwanted vibrations.

These newly designed drivers further optimise airflow. The Esotar3 tweeter, a three-way system featuring neodymium magnets, also incorporates an internal dome known as Hexis, specifically designed to minimise resonances. High-performance neodymium magnets along with aluminium and copper voice coils guarantee flawless sound quality.

The Confidence Series, which originally launched in the 1990s, currently includes several models: the Confidence 20, 30, 50, and now the latest, the Confidence 60.

It can be said that the Confidence 60 is the most advanced passive speaker of the similar category of products available on the market. Previously, we were lucky enough to test the C60’s predecessor, the Confidence 50, where the upper and lower frequency responses were ideal, with a slight decline at the top of the middle and lower ranges. With the C60, even these small flaws have been eliminated, and the low mid and bass frequencies are henceforth transmitted by the Danish speaker extremely accurately and flawlessly.

Spatial isolation further reduces resonance and improves performance. The speaker stands on a steel plate and comes with metal discs that magnetically stick to the screws and of course the spikes are also worth mounting for greater stability. The largest speaker in the Confidence series is the 60, with a stunningly elegant, eye-catching exterior design. Thanks to the professionally tuned reflex aperture, the speaker is able to transmit all kinds of music content in perfect quality and reproduces low-range sounds flawlessly.

Sound test

We tested these magnificent speakers in a newly built attic apartment featuring a professionally designed home theatre room, complete with acoustic treatments on the walls and ceiling—though these treatments were not entirely flawless. Our test units of the Confidence 60 speakers came in an attractive Ruby Wood High Gloss finish and were paired with a Marantz amplifier and a Velodyne subwoofer.

We began our testing session with the 2014 crime drama The Gambler, starring Mark Wahlberg. To be honest, we were eager to experience the largest speaker from this Danish brand, as our expectations were understandably high. The Dynaudio speakers provided decent sound quality, but we quickly noticed some shortcomings in soundstage spaciousness and finer details. At times, the bass sounded overly aggressive and growling.

Next, we tried the musical Footloose, evaluating not only the clarity of dialogues but also the performance on music tracks. Unfortunately, we found the dynamics somewhat lacking, and the bass tones lacked realistic purity.

Listening to Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, we observed that the mid and high frequencies were pleasantly balanced and clear. However, we once again noticed issues in the lower frequency range, revealing occasional inaccuracies and lack of refinement.

Verdict

The Confidence 60 is a premium quality speaker that stands out as a decorative home accessory in any interior. Not only does the exterior design reveal the maximalism of the designers, the use of components and modern, advanced technologies, all prove that the designers tried to bring out the best of them. Due to its size, we would recommend it mostly for larger or medium rooms. Unfortunately, we identified flaws of sound spaciousness and in connection with three-dimensional sounding, the basses did not always performed perfectly either, but the middle and high ranges were harmonious, clear, distortion-free, even when testing the speakers during screenings or when playing music. Whether you want to use them for a home cinema or listening to music, the speakers cope with the task for both. The stereo sound was adequate. For the sound errors we heard, the not yet fully optimal acoustics are maybe to be blamed for, but frankly, this very expensive and beautiful device did not provide what we have expected from it. The best sound, of course, can only be achieved if the acoustics of the room is properly designed, whether it is used to watch movies or listen to music. Acoustics can be improved with sound-absorbing and diffuser panels.

But of course the price and size of the speakers are conditional of the size of the room, as the speakers are only able to deliver expected performance if matched with the environment and its acoustic abilities. It is clear that Dynaudio has taken nearly 16 years to create the most perfect sound and the most beautiful design.