In this review, we will be comparing Special Forty and Confidence 20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Special Forty and Dynaudio Confidence 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Special Forty | Dynaudio Confidence 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" MSP | 7" MSP |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23k Hz | 42-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Weight | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs | 27.00kg / 59.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-3/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-1/16"
360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm | 20-1/2" x 9-3/16" x 16-5/16"
520.0 x 233.0 x 414.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Special Forty and Dynaudio Confidence 20 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 Special Forty |
Dynaudio Confidence 20 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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 Special Forty and Confidence 20 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Special FortyDynaudio Confidence 20
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 Special Forty |
Dynaudio Confidence 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Special Forty features a 1.1" Esotar Forty Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz. On the other hand, the Confidence 20 features a 1.1" Esotar 3 Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2325 Hz.
Frequency Response
Special Forty has a frequency range of 41-23k Hz whereas Confidence 20 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Special Forty can go slightly deeper then the Confidence 20's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Special Forty and Confidence 20 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Special Forty sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Confidence 20's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Confidence 20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Special Forty, 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
Special Forty features Binding post type posts and Confidence 20 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Special Forty has a rear firing port whereas Confidence 20 has a down firing ports.
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 Special Forty's and Dynaudio Confidence 20's external dimensions. Dynaudio Special Forty has external dimensions of 360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm (14-3/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-1/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Confidence 20 has external dimensions of 520.0 x 233.0 x 414.0mm (20-1/2 x 9-3/16 x 16-5/16inch).
Dynaudio Confidence 20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 160mm taller and 107mm deeper than Dynaudio Special Forty.
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.
Dynaudio Confidence 20 needs about 59% more floor or shelf area. Dynaudio Confidence 20 is 107mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Dynaudio Confidence 20 is 160mm 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 Special Forty is approximately 607.9cm2 / 94.2inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Confidence 20 is approximately 964.6cm2 / 149.5inch2. The Special Forty requires 37% less surface area than the Confidence 20 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 Special Forty weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs and the Dynaudio Confidence 20 weighs 27.00kg / 59.4lbs. This makes the Confidence 20 233% heavier than the Special Forty.
Here is a comparison of how Special Forty and Confidence 20's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
360mm
vs
520mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
607cm2
vs
964cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2999USD
vs
13000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
Dynaudio Confidence 20 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23k Hz |
42-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
MSP |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
2325 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
down |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
520.0mm (20.5") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
233.0mm (9.2") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
414.0mm (16.3") |
| Weight |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
27.00kg (59.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Confidence 20 costs roughly 4.3x what Dynaudio Special Forty does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (41Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Dynaudio Confidence 20 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Special Forty is easier to place; Dynaudio Confidence 20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Dynaudio Confidence 20 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Dynaudio Special Forty is cheaper - $2,999 against $13,000, about 77% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Special Forty B Dynaudio Confidence 20
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?
Dynaudio Confidence 20 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 4.3x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Dynaudio Special Forty looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Dynaudio Confidence 20 appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Dynaudio Confidence 20 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Special Forty is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $10,001 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.