Dynaudio Special 40 vs KEF LS50 Meta / sound test

[@emrahdemir5636]

I used both speakers, both are great, Dynaudio played a little better when we compared them, they are not at the same price level anyway, I think the competitor of the meta is the evoke series.

[@QuickTimeTech]

dynaudio immerses you in music. i love my old emit and i'll wish to buy s40 someday.

[@cremersalex]

If you want your bass to resonate and boom, that's the place to put your speakers.

[@arnehoffmeister9573]

WOW! This video made clear that the S40 is something special especially for Rock and Metal music. It sounds so full, warm but nonetheless very detailed in the mid-range. I own a pair myself and hearing this makes me feel confident I have made the right decision!

[@myronhelton4441]

Dynaudio makes the Kef sound sick.

[@34332]

For me the Meta takes the cake in precision, percussion, snares, voices and spaciousness. I's so much more exact. The Dyna's are at times more seductive, warmer, more bass extension when called for. Can't escape the impression they romanticize the sound, trading some transparancy and articulation. Given the price-difference, I would opt for the Meta's and a sub (based on this comparison ofcourse). Thumbs up (again) for the effort and quality of this sample.

[@davidcarr2216]

Agree

[@davidcarr2216]

What's your setup now Mike ? I'm still on Wiis plus KC62 which I'm keeping for a while.

[@34332]

@@davidcarr2216 Hi David! I run the Focal 936 K2's, Coda 8 poweramp (loaner) and Crown 2502. The Focals where traded in by a customer and had some light chip damage. Got a nice deal from the dealer trading the R200s and Wharfedale 12.4s. The only thing I dislike are the yellow cones, but that's subjective I suppose. Fronts help 😄 Quite happy with how they sound. Not sure if I remember correct, but didn't you run the Audiolab?

[@davidcarr2216]

@@34332 Yes, got an 8300A with an SMSL DAC. I've been listening to a few demos on KZbin of the 826's and they do sound really good and great value or that level of performance, especially when compared to the rest of the Focal range. There's a nearly new pair for sale near me but they're just two big for my space.

[@34332]

@@davidcarr2216 Some reviewers say the K2s have less of the 'Focal sound', in terms of 'bright', being more neutral. The 936 K2 also need a large room, for sure, to pop. At the moment I'm messing around with a MiniDSP Flex and Dirac. Quite amazing what DSP can do, to a certain limit ofcourse. Yes, the 8300a is a nice one, steps above the 6000a 👌

[@karlskooter3493]

both are great you can never go wrong but i like S40 it is much full bodied sound and puts much weight to your tracks...

[@WilliamMiebach]

Both pairs sound really good with this amp. For me the SP40's clearly win it with their weightier, more textualy expressive sound,. Also the SP40s finish is gorgeous. They're quite a bit more expensive, of course. The LS50's, Meta or not were never my cup of tea, but I have give them their do.

[@daudiophile]

Dynaaudio more laid back and very nice speakers. The Meta Mo Betta more clarity. Own Dynaaudio Contour 20 and as beautiful sounding as they are you get 2-3rd row seat where as with Kefs you get front stage and clarity is more evident. Amp pairing will make a big difference on how each speaker responds. All great choices as we all listen differently. Cheers!

[@francois3684]

The Dynaudio give you more instrument separation, delicacy, respect of timber, more air between instrument - You hear music….the Kefs are just good speakers, a bit two dimensional.

[@Audfile]

Sure

[@RainerStier-hs2gw]

wow, golden ears even here on youtube videos.

[@Freedom89984]

The Dyns are very overpriced, they should cost no more than the Meta’s

[@arnehoffmeister9573]

Fully confirmed by my listening

[@higobatman]

The 40s have more refinement and sound smoother and with more bass. The sound is warmer, charming, delicate, silky. But the difference in value between the boxes is far from worth it. To me they are worth a maximum of $500 dollars more than the KEF LS50 Meta. But the Evoke 20 are the best value for money boxes of all of them. I think only the Buchardt Audio S400 MKII are better value for money than the Evoke 20. I prefer the warmer, more treble sound of the Marantz Model 30 over the Hegel H190.

[@josephalvinalmedatv8]

Unfortunately not just $500 more but 2 x the price of Meta.

[@andrewcopley6454]

I had had both and loved both, but the S40 is superior. Smooth, yet detailed sound, not at all syrupy or coloured, excellent sound stage and imaging & great bass extension for a stand mount. The Dynaudio sound doesn't grab you at once, it's a slow burner but you'll soon be hooked. . At first I thought they were a bit polite when I swapped from the LS50 to the S40 but it didn't take long for me to be seduced by then. They cost as mulch as 3 times the cost of the Meta's. Are they 3 times better? Not in a million years. But that's Hifi. But they're definitely better to my ears, in my room with my kit. But I could live with either if I had to.

[@StrAtoS14200]

Gros merci pour ce comparatif !!!!

[@josephalvinalmedatv8]

I find the metas more lifelike, airier, more articulate detailed highs, more transparent, more incisive, punchier. Dyns are smoother, darker, warmer tone but rolled off highs overall somewhat muted. Better separation, imaging on Metas. Thats just based on this video after first impression few mins of listening. If you factor price the dyns cost twice dont sound 2x better. Ill buy the metas.

[@34332]

+1

[@andrewcopley6454]

I've owned both the LS50 Meta and S40 and the 'separation and imaging' is much better on the S40, that's one of their many strong points.

[@josephalvinalmedatv8]

@@andrewcopley6454 yeah hard to judge based on video recordings. Real life is different story.

[@markobalorie5104]

Another great one George....for me its the Meta.

[@kingsleyazubine485]

You nailed it 💯 inside out #BIGUP 👍 👍

[@psthreeee]

Nice sound Meta , Nice sound S40.... but I don't have neither...... but I do have Kef ls50... very nice sound still

[@Alkaizer8]

Dynaudio sound punchier with more bass, kef more details but weaker bass. If you like bass, more punchy at your face speaker get dynaudio 40. If u just want great sound clarity with so much details but low bass get kef. If you want best of two worlds, get kef and pair it with a good subwoofer.

[@bresng]

Hi George, I just upgraded my Hegel H95 to Primare I25 Prisma. A lot of improvement in sound quality in many areas. Please make comparison video about those amps if you can.

[@philthomas8351]

The 40's sound fine - little extra bass, but the cost is high. Like the Meta's and own Kef 150s - great for desktop speakers.

[@djaje]

the dynaudio sounds more natural in the voices and warmer have a warmer sound overall

[@skchang168]

Both are great speakers. With BF deal, LS 50 Meta can be had for $999 brand new. You would not even find any used pair of Dynaudio S40 for less than $2000. LS50 Meta is a much better deal for most people in terms of C/P. Most don't need that subtle differences in sound but can use the money saved to upgrade other components.

[@davidcarr2216]

Thank you for the demo. Been waiting a long time for this comparison. Accuracy vs colouration ?

[@34332]

Think so too.

[@mproductionsmusik]

Dyn bass is way tighter and punchy, the speakers in general are more natural sounding and also as more details in the top end.

[@audiojunior174]

Dynaudio, 20% mais de qualidade pelo dobro do preço... e assim caminha o Hi-Fi...!

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

20% menos qualidade e ainda mais cara...

[@andrew-o5i]

the 40s sound best , i had the metas and sold after a while , now using monitor audio gold 100 , they are sublime with my roksan attessa...........

[@pimpin94553]

Can I get the name of the first song being played? The acoustic one. Thank you.

[@lukasbd4]

For me the KEFs sound somehow quite "compressed" compared to the Dynaudios

[@reimondful]

Dynaudio 1👍

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

Tem preços iguais?

[@richarddegannes2928]

Hi George, In your humble opinion, which for you is the better speaker and value for money? Are these speakers playing with a subwoofer? TIA

[@georgedomse]

Sorry, I can't tell you - this is my principle :) What they do in my room, in my system to my ears means absolutely zero for you and your application. There was no subwoofer playing in the video - my room has a quite heavy bass bump, that's what you hear.

[@higobatman]

These 40s in this finish are beautiful. I'm curious to see the differences between the 40s VS Evoke 20 and Hegel H95 VS Hegel H190. I don't like the cost benefit of these 40s. For a sound as refined, smooth and with more bass as the 40s you have the MA Gold 100 5G that cost less than them.

[@bijupoonoor3641]

Dynaudio grate👍

[@agent4704]

powered klipsch the sixes or passive kef ls50 meta ? :)

[@psysword]

Prefer the dynaudio vocals but musical separation is Kef all the way.

[@kupriyan_mix5506]

Гарний тест, одразу видно, що у автора гарний смак як в музиці так і в апаратурі, послухати би їх в живу🤔

[@TheFibtastic]

I had the original LS50s and have S40s. No comparison….the Dynaudios are in another league. I can’t comment on the Meta update, though.

[@georgedomse]

Still the same situation. The Metas are better than the originals, but the SP40 are way ahead.

[@RichCow-xe1bz]

The metas sound tighter. More previse, digital almost... the dynaudio sound more relaxed and old school. Ith fantastic though

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

Geralmente o povo prefere os que apresentam mais graves.

[@francktrapy6735]

dynaudio feutré ,chaude,timbré, matiere, ,kef plus precise,clair, plus vif

[@Gpray75]

Im sory (i didn't see in the comments) but what are you driving these with? I love these comparison videos. Hope your back soon 👊

[@georgedomse]

All the associated equipment is right at the beginning of the video :)

[@Gpray75]

@@georgedomse omg, how the hell did I miss that ( I was driving lol) Sorry brother 🙏

[@respondent5226]

What is the best book shelf you have ever heard of?

[@georgedomse]

Hard to say. I did not have the KEF R3's here, yet, but I'd love to. The 'most audiophile' moniker goes to the Dynaudio Special 40's (which I actually preferred over the Contour 20i!), 2nd would be the KEF LS50 Meta, with the Dynaudio Evoke 10 being a strong 3rd. I did not like the Triangle's, nor the Focal Aria 906. I listened to the KEF Reference 1's in another system, and they sounded amazing. I guess that would be the best I ever heard - but that was not in my own system.

[@respondent5226]

@@georgedomse thanks sir

[@jerryminus7252]

Yeah, S40 sounds better. I have tried to stray away from KEF in the past only to come back home to mama KEF again. Try for yourself. Not mentioning how KEF are better at lower volumes as well when you need just to chill out and listen how good KEF really are...:) Thanks for an excellent demo; like duelling banjos.

[@georgedomse]

I love the Metas, and wonder how the R3 would sound in comaprison. Didn't take the plunge yet, though.

[@jerryminus7252]

@@georgedomse R3 anytime. Amazing performance. Dynamics. Vocals. Instruments. Bass. Driven by Hegel, Rega Elicit m5, Yamaha A-S2200...ha!

[@jerryminus7252]

The name is Reference 3 or Blade?

[@georgedomse]

@@jerryminus7252 just the simple R3, the successor of the R300. Maybe someday, when I get bored of the SP40's.

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

Muitos querem tirar a Kef do podium mas está bem difícil.

[@Lion-mf7jz]

У KEF более "искусственный" звук. Колонки на самом деле слишком вылеляют инструменты, голоса создавая тем самым эффект более чистого и реального звука. На самом деле композиции вживую звучат несколько иначе. Отсюда ощущение искуственного звука. Dynaudio считаю передают более реальный звук 👍

[@francktrapy6735]

kef sont excellent pour le prix 1300 e et forty 3200 e

[@Jil8840]

Dynaudio is much better. Better stereo image.

[@purcelmotanul3911]

Hi ! How do you find sp40 performant at low listening volume ?

[@georgedomse]

I like it a lot. I never listen above 70 dB average, and we watch movies through them in the evenings at whisper quiet volumes. really good. Having said that, you will need a quality amp with a lot of power to get their best, especially at low volumes.

[@purcelmotanul3911]

@@georgedomse i currently have yamaha as1200. Yamaha specs suggest it should be fine , but i don t have the possibility to try both toghether.

[@Altered.Frequency]

@@georgedomse thanks alot for your comparison videos and specifically the info about listening at low volume as I prefer to also listen at very low volume. Do you think AVRs like Denon X2800H would have enough power for the sp40 or the Evoke 20? Or do they require a more powerful AVR like the Dnon X4800H or maybe even something more powerful?

[@georgedomse]

@@Altered.Frequency can't say for certain, I never owned any AVR's. Do keep in mind though, the SP40's are not really home cinema speakers, their strength is in stereo listening, especially jazz/blues/orchestral and some soft rock music. That is where they shine. You can of course use them for movies (just as I used to do), but in that case an amp of quality is a must to maintain vocal clarity. In this case, it is not the wattage that matters (anything above 60W/channel will do), it is the amps current capability. If those Denons do have a lot of current on tap, you'll have a nice, warm yet detailed movie performance.

[@Altered.Frequency]

@@georgedomse thanks for the detailed reply. I only inted to use 2 speakers, even for movies. What do you use to play TrueHD/Atmos sound in movies? Some sort of receiver is usually needed to convert the Atmos sound into Stereo.. Or do you only stream movies and the streaming app automatically selects the stereo track, instead of Atmos etc.?

[@danielmo6738]

Volume is setting in a same dB?

[@georgedomse]

Always.

[@malibustacy3606]

I have my submission for my review but I'm having a problem making sense of what I wrote..."Followed Melanie successfully again, she was wearing my favorite pink sweater, looked much cuter than yesterday, I may have gotten Poison Ivy from hanging out in the bushes for so long, make a doctor appointment."

[@francktrapy6735]

les forty sont meilleur dans le timbre ,douceur ,et meta ls dans la transparence

[@francktrapy6735]

avec un top sub kef je prefere a choisir kef

[@factrefute4427]

TO ME THE LS50 IS THE BETTER OVER ALL.

[@igorszavaruevs8189]

Very good. 40.

[@DJMikeron]

Dynaudio are 3 times the price and just a tick better

[@higobatman]

I think the bass will go over the top with the first version of the S400. They are more comparable to the 40s. The second generation ones have already evolved and are more competitors of the Dynaudio Heritage and ATC SCM19V2. I think you will like the Evoke 20 better over the S400 MKI, 40s, Evoke 10, MA Gold 100 5G and KEF LS50 Meta. Only the S400 MKII and ATC SCM12 Pro and SCM 19 V2 may please you more than the Evoke 20. Perhaps the Elac Vela BS403 and Sonus Faber Sonetto 2 will also please you more than the Evoke 20. For your environment that has more emphasis on bass the ATC SCM12Pro and SCM19V2 will look great. They are sealed boxes. The Revel Performa 3 M105 is also an excellent choice for your environment.

[@georgecav]

S40 sounds alive and a lot more real . The KEFs are accurate but lack any sense of having the musicians there with you. They are not my kind of sound.

[@shuckylad]

Kef we’re poor with the Qotsa.

[@higobatman]

Up to 2000 Euros I find it difficult for any box to beat the Bucharted S400 MKII. If you can get the Elac Vela BS403 for the same price, it's a good fight. But overall the S400 MKII will still be superior. The ATC SCM 12 Pro and SCM 19 V2 are also excellent boxes. In terms of integrated up to 3000 Euros I like the Marantz Model 30, Arcam SA30 and Cambridge Evo 150.

[@georgedomse]

I have an SK400 MK1 incoming. I wonder what it will sound like.

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

Kef Wins!

[@CI_4C]

That’s weird, they both sounded like the speakers I used to listen to this video 😂.

[@georgedomse]

It's generally not a wise idea to try to judge anything when using speakers. Headphones, my man. :)

[@thomasreaves302]

Dynaudios all day long,but you're not comparing apples to apples with such a price difference.

[@georgedomse]

yeah, I don't care.

[@Quattro5081]

Wow, the SP40 has much bigger bass, and I have the metas!

[@georgedomse]

The SP40 are suited for much bigger rooms. The Metas performed awesome in my small living room, but the SP40's just have that sweet, sweet midrange... honestly, both are great speakers.

[@karsiyakali6067]

100% Dynaudio

[@teokon5165]

The kefs are more balanced

[@francktrapy6735]

ls meta je note 8 ,forty 9 ,qualilté prix gagnant ls meta

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

A kef e quase metade do tamanho das dyns kkk

[@LeonardoRibeiroUFRJ_CCS]

Definitivamente esta linha da Dynaudio foi um fiasco!

[@arturb5152]

I like how KEF LS50 Meta sounds on vocals but Dynaudio Special 40 have better controlled base and richer sound 🙂

[@sc0or]

Dynaudio seems to be a characterless speakers. Play good, but do not create some mood.

[@josephalvinalmedatv8]

Dyns just sound dark and dull than metas

[@skumflum7511]

The S40 without a doubt

[@joshuawang5859]

LS50 is a pair of good speakers, good for long time listening, but too much overpriced, won’t pay over $500 for them

[@jidaypay9Set4]

LS 50 meta 9.989. / Dynaudio 7.8

[@renemagritte7536]

Кеф это британский маркетинговый высер в чистом виде, начиная от маркетинга заканчивая звуком , рассчитанный на тупое поколение айфонщиков, кто только думает что он "знает" хороший звук. А сами кефы имеют синтетическое зажатое и примитивное звучание.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Dynaudio wins

[@genesis667]

Not much difference between the two...

[@andrew-o5i]

Dynaudio Special 40 are better . owned ls 50 meta for 2 years and thought they were good till bought monitor audio gold speakers ........

[@emanuelelonghin6097]

quello spiacevole effetto ovattato continuo di tutti i kef

[@stephenbrown9998]

Dyna richer sound