In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Dynaudio. Dynaudio Contour 20i is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Contour 30i is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Contour 20i and Dynaudio Contour 30i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Contour 20i | Dynaudio Contour 30i |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" MSP | 2 x 7" MSP |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-23k Hz | 32-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Weight | 14.00kg / 30.8lbs | 31.40kg / 69.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17-5/16" x 8-7/16" x 14-3/16"
440.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm | 44-7/8" x 8-7/16" x 14-3/16"
1140.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm |
|---|
Contour 20i and Contour 30i are members of Dynaudio's Contour i series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Dynaudio Contour i Series
History
What size room are the Dynaudio Contour 20i and Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
Dynaudio Contour 30i |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Contour 20i is a 2-way design whereas the Contour 30i is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Dynaudio Contour 20iDynaudio Contour 30i
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
Dynaudio Contour 30i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
Contour 20i features a 1.1" Esotar 2i Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz. On the other hand, the Contour 30i features a 1.1" Esotar 2i Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 7" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at (300)/2200 Hz.
Frequency Response
Contour 20i has a frequency range of 39-23k Hz whereas Contour 30i has a frequency range of 32-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Contour 30i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Contour 20i's min frequency of 39Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Contour 20i and Contour 30i have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Contour 20i sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Contour 30i's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Contour 30i a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Contour 20i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Contour 20i and the Contour 20i can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Contour 20i features Binding post type posts and Contour 30i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Contour 20i and Contour 30i have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Dynaudio Contour 20i's and Dynaudio Contour 30i's external dimensions. Dynaudio Contour 20i has external dimensions of 440.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm (17-5/16 x 8-7/16 x 14-3/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Contour 30i has external dimensions of 1140.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm (44-7/8 x 8-7/16 x 14-3/16inch).
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Dynaudio Contour 30i is 700mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Dynaudio Contour 20i is approximately 774.0cm2 / 120.0inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Contour 30i is approximately 774.0cm2 / 120.0inch2.