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Dynaudio Audience 52 vs 52 SE

Has anyone had the chance to compare these two speakers? I really enjoyed listening to the Dynaudio Audience 52 at a dealer, but they did not have an Audience 52 SE for comparison. I have found one review online that seems somewhat troubling:

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/dynaudio52sep1.php

I think this guy is crazy, or perhaps his Onix A120 Mk.II integrated amplifier has a problem. Maybe the volume knob goes to 11! Has anyone heard of strong bass problems with this speaker? When I listened to the 52 in the shop, I played some pretty aggressive rock songs with strong bass and had no problems. I will never listen to hip-hop, so building-destroying bass is not a concern for me. Good, strong, tunefull bass that can handle good rock music (bass guitar, drums, some synthesizer) as well as sound good with jazz string bass and various symphonic instruments is what interests me. The 52 SE seems to have the same mid/bass driver as the 52, but it has a different crossover to accommodate a more sophisticated tweeter. The specs list the 52 SE frequency response as 45 Hz - 26 kHz +- 3 dB, and the normal 52 as having a frequency response of 52 Hz - 24 kHz +- 3 dB.
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goatwuss
877 posts
 
Davt - Typical dynaudios measure like in this chart if the Aud. 80:

http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/dynaudio_audience80/

80hz - 300hz or so is around or a little under/above 4 ohms. The bass and upper bass in this range places the hardest stress on the amplifier of the freq range. You're right, this isn't the hardest load in the world... but it's certainly not the easiest either. I wouldn't say as a pro of this speaker "easy load" because that is just not true. Relative to apogees - yes. But relative to a speaker that actually does have an easy load like a Zu Druid - no.

http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/zucable_druid/

Though the dynaudios will work with something like a 40wpc PP tube amp, I have found that they sound their best with high-current amplification like a sim or plinius.

Regardless - not to get caught on a tangent, I think we're on the same page anyway.
rob80b's avatar
rob80b
9 posts
 
Just came across this post so I thought I'd add my own info on the topic for future reference.
In regards to the Dyn's bottoming out, there are a number of references to this.
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=speakers&n=123725&highlight=dynaudio+popping&r=&session=
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1122652021&openflup&1&4#1
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=speakers&n=174606&highlight=contour+1+3mkii+bryston&r=&session=
See review 13 of 46
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/dynaudiousa/PRD_119447_1594crx.aspx#review0
plus a few more, I did not look too hard.
I believe all the models mentioned, the 52se's, 1.3's, 1.8 and the 3.4's use the same or simliar driver.
The reason I know is that I have the 1.3MKII's and can get them to pop (bottom out) at loud volume with fast deep bass if they are run full range.
I'm running them with a Teac VRDS-20, Bryston pre and 3BST.
Crossed over with my Velodyne I can run them as loud as I want without strain in my 15 x 25 room.
minbean
34 posts
 
My 52 SE bottoms out at loud and fast bass to make 'KWAK' noise but it is only when volume level is pretty high.

I think nothing really wrong with the speakers but it happens when the condition is given.

Despite the phenomenon, I still like 52 SE speakers a lot.
mynameisnoname
6 posts
 
I've had the Audience 42's and a set of Contour 1.1 and the little 42's are giant killers.
pjr801's avatar
pjr801
192 posts
 
Had both the 52se and 52 at home on loan. A few friends came round and compared.No contest the 52se was superior in every audio area. They both looked great and were really good speakers. Even though this is years old I added to it just in case someone looks it up.
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