In this review, we will be comparing Contour 20i and Kanta No.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Contour 20i and Focal Kanta No.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Contour 20i | Focal Kanta No.1 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" MSP | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-23k Hz | 46-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.00kg / 30.8lbs | 13.05kg / 28.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 24-28" x 9-1/4" x 15-7/16"
609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Contour 20i and Focal Kanta No.1 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 |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
| 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
Both Contour 20i and Kanta No.1 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Contour 20iFocal Kanta No.1
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 |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Kanta No.1 features a 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
Contour 20i has a frequency range of 39-23k Hz whereas Kanta No.1 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Contour 20i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kanta No.1's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Kanta No.1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Contour 20i can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Contour 20i sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Kanta No.1's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Contour 20i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 Kanta No.1 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.1's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Contour 20i and Kanta No.1 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 Focal Kanta No.1'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 Focal Kanta No.1 has external dimensions of 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm (24-28inch x 9-1/4inch x 15-7/16inch).
Focal Kanta No.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13.6mm wider, 169.6mm taller and 33mm deeper than Dynaudio Contour 20i.
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.
Focal Kanta No.1 needs about 16% more floor or shelf area. Focal Kanta No.1 is 33mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Kanta No.1 is 170mm 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 Focal Kanta No.1 is approximately 898.4cm2 / 139.3inch2. The Contour 20i requires 14% less surface area than the Kanta No.1 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Dynaudio Contour 20i weighs 14.00kg / 30.8lbs and the Focal Kanta No.1 weighs 13.05kg / 28.7lbs. This makes the Contour 20i 7% heavier than the Kanta No.1.
Here is a comparison of how Contour 20i and Kanta No.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.1?
Here are the items that come with the Kanta No.1:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Port plug
- 4 Slicone pads
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
440mm
vs
609mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
774cm2
vs
898cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5750USD
vs
7998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-23k Hz |
46-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200 Hz |
2400 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
440.0mm (17.3") |
609.6mm (24") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
228.6mm (9") |
| Depth |
360.0mm (14.2") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
14.00kg (30.8lbs) |
13.05kg (28.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Dynaudio Contour 20i digs deeper - 39Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Kanta No.1 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Kanta No.1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Contour 20i is easier to place; Focal Kanta No.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Dynaudio Contour 20i is cheaper - $5,750 against $7,998, about 28% less. |
A Dynaudio Contour 20i B Focal Kanta No.1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Focal Kanta No.1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 39% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Dynaudio Contour 20i looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Focal Kanta No.1 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Contour 20i the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Focal Kanta No.1 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.