Dynaudio Focus XD


Looking for owners of Dynaudio Focus XD speakers. What are your impressions? Do they compare to the higher end pasaive models? Focus 20XD vs KEF LS50W? Can't find a whole lot of reviews for them. Seems they go for pretty good prices used especially the bigger ones.

mofojo

Showing 1 response by jmaharry

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.