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Dynaudio C-4 or Revel Salon 2

I'm thinking of getting either one of these speakers to use in my current system which includes Innersound Ref 500 (500 watt amp) and Innersound ref preamp. The Innersound components aren't all that well known but I ultimately chose them over my Parasound JC-1/Ayre K1x combo so I feel like my electronics are up to the task. I have a Nottingham Dais table and MHDT Paradisea + DAC fed from a mac mini music server. Cables will likely be addressed after the speakers are chosen.

My room is huge 26x19 and opens into a kitchen and upstairs so needless to say getting overwhelmed with bass won't likely be a problem. Auditioning these in home is out of the question so I'm going to be taking a leap of faith here.

I have had Von Schweikert VR 4SRs, Dunlavy 4s and currently have Dynaudio S3.4 in this room. I've had various other smaller speakers as well. The bass was the best with the Von Schweikerts.

I want a speaker that hits hard and can rock the house. I listen to all kinds of music and even some (gasp) mp3s even. Most listening is not done seated in the sweet spot but just sort of playing music all the time that I am home. So the sound out of the sweet spot is very important not to be dull or lifeless.

I think I have a pretty good grasp on the Dynaudio house sound. I have a set of Audience 42 speakers in my bedroom hooked to a Creek Destiny integrated and the punch I get from those speakers in my bedroom is what I want in my big room. I hear the Dynaudio as slightly laid back. I have bought a set of Revel M20s to see if that might help me get a grip on the Revel sound a little before I take the plunge on one of the two brands.

I have read quite a bit about how the C-4s can overwhelm a room with bass. I don't think this will be a problem for me and is one reason I am thinking of them. But will they do rock good? I really like the looks of the C-4 over the Revel but I have a feeling that the Revel might just be a little more of what I am looking for. Basically a speaker that can put out some big bass, will rock and sounds pretty darn good on anything else too.

If anyone has some opinions on these speakers against each other I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Ryan Stratton
128x128ejlif
extravaganza
373 posts
 
C4 can be harsh if somebody tries listen rock or quick dance-lets say trance music.
contour s5.4 rocks better with such type of music.Because they are less smooth,the cause is diffrent drivers from confidence line.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
Even the harshest sounding speakers can be tamed down with the right components and set up . But would the C-4's sound harsh without such care ?
I've heard them in two different systems and in both cases they were excellent but a bit harsh for my tastes . On the other hand I've heard the Salon's many times and could do nothing but smile .
stricken
43 posts
 
The C-4's are only revealing what is being played, typically rock and trance music are compressed and harsh sounding to start with and the C4 will reveal those issues, but on the other hand the C4 will also be a more rewarding speaker on better recordings.
pause
21 posts
 
On the issue of amplifier power, I've heard the c4's on a 90 watt tube amp and a 350 watt SS amplifier. No contest, the higher powered solid state amplifier delivered superior bass, control and dynamics and sounded better and more detailed on lower volume.

On the other hand the sound of the c4's on the 90 watt amplifier was on the beautiful, musical and languid side with wonderful imaging and timbre but could sound lifeless on some material that I know has a little punch to it.
I think both odokme and rower man make valid points but both are not right with the other being wrong.

Over time, some stridency has left the higher powered amp in the upper volumes, Im quite happy with my switch to the stronger dynamics of solid state but there are times I miss the more beautiful sound of a tube amp.

Maybe I would be happiest with a 200 watt tube amp.
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