Dynaudio Focus XD

First off these are completely different speakers. I think the best deal here is the KEF though, the KEF speakers when set up properly will really make you smile. It might take a better Dynaudio speaker to compete. At $2500 new the KEFs are a real bargain.


Matt M

I'm very interested as well. My wife doesn't like audio equipment or huge speaker cables. This could be a nice compromise.

The new B&W Formation has a pair of bookshelf speakers and a sub available. 

I'd like to give the B&W and Dynaudio xd's a listen.

Matt,

Have you heard the xd first hand? The way I imagine they sound is the Dynaudio is big, bold, bassy and easy to listen to. Kef would be very detailed, leaner sound than the Dyns, possibly fatiguing after some time. Like I said this is just from listening to other products from both these companies in the past. 

I’d go dyn’s all day.  I had LS50w, my brother and 2 of my friends have them as well, all based on my recommendations.  I’ll go into more detail later but I had Xeo’s and overall, preferred them over the LS50w.  I’ll explain more later

The idea of a full range active is very appealling like the 60xd. Seems you can get lightly loved ones for 5-6k. Just wonder how they would sound compared to the higher end Contours and Confidence speakers with good amplification. The Active ATCs look nice but they want a lot for them even the older ones. 

The Kefs are super finicky and feel like they could, and they can, break at any time.  They do sound amazing and look beautiful but that app is crap and the 1 year warranty on the electronics is scary.  The Dyns have a much better warranty and they feel like they won’t break.  They sound really good too!  I’d take Xeo 20’s over the LS50W.  The XD’s would be even better.  The idea of buying a hub and then linking Xeo’s 2 in other parts of your home is a would be cool too.    
I preferred my Xeo 5’s over the LS50w just based on the remote control, build quality and the way they connect.  I never had one issue with the Dyn’s but the LS50’s had quite a few...

I have a pair of XD400. Very pleased with their performance. The sound signature is low bass and powerful sound, easy to listen to. I had  XEO 4, 5 and 6 before. They sound pleasing but miss the power and drive of the XD series. 
I also have a costly set up with Dynaudio Sapphires. Their sound is based on the clarity of the midrange. They will give you more insight into a big orchestra and their individual instruments. They don‘t have the slam of the 400XD. 
The 400 XD can get lost in bigger rooms, you would need the 600XD or 60XD.

Yes the XD is costly but it comes with powerful amplification and you can save the preamplifier and the DAC and cables. No more upgrading  and trying to match components. 

I was considering swapping the Sapphires for 600XD but they are very special speakers, limited edition and outstanding quality.

The Quality of the XD is also Dynaudio like. I use COAX cables to transmit the signal. I found wireless not very reliable.

Conclusion: Active speakers is the way to go these days. For AV I use Sonos.

I've been running the Focus XD400 since 2015. I was intrigued by the potential for:

1. Bypassing the usual standalone DAC-Preamp-Amp component links in my audio chain

2. Keeping everything within 24/192 digital realm right up to the analog handoff at the driver

3. A wireless connection to the speakers

4. Super-facile signal switching between both trad rack gear (home audio) and my Roli pad and keys setup (making and writing my own music). 

5. In short, radically overhauling as many Hi-end traditions and tropes as I could

The result has been a system that greatly simplifies music reproduction and the overhead usually associated with hi-end fidelity. I've been thrilled with a level of reproduction — and gorgeous music —that puts me much, much closer to that "master tape" level of fidelity. My sources, btw, are a modified Mac mini (Roon controlling my digital library) driving an Audiobyte Hydra (for an absolutely pristine digital signal), Apple TV, and a great, hulking, older model Panasonic Elite cd/sacd/blu ray spinner.

I'd really encourage you to learn more about the tech story behind the XD line. Digital amps, digital crossovers, hi-res wireless signals, it's fascinating. But what counts is the music, and these make gorgeous, wonderful, enveloping, powerful music. 

A few years ago I added a pair of XD 20s as surrounds, also connecting wireless, via their own Dynaudio digital hub/transceiver. Mind melter. Holy cow. Fantastic. 

Then I went the next step, adding a traditional Dynaudio center channel speaker, power by an amazing Parasound amp, and an Emotiva processor. I can switch between music mode (purer signal path to either one or two stereo pairs of speakers), and home theatre mode simply and quickly, with superb, thrilling results. 

It's been a while (2014) since I carefully considered powered options from KEF, Genelec, and a bunch of other great brands, but from that earlier dive into the powered driver world, I think what Dynaudio is doing with processing, with digital, with individual long-throw drivers is just head and shoulders above. 

The build quality of the Focus XDs is exceptional. The look is clean and lean, quite beautiful to my eye, as the narrow profile of the speakers totally belies the body-shaking power of which they're capable.