In this review, we will be comparing Special Forty and BRX, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Special Forty and GoldenEar BRX first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Special Forty | GoldenEar BRX |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" MSP | 6" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23k Hz | 40-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 12-1/8" x 8-1/8" x 12-5/16"
308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Special Forty and GoldenEar BRX 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 |
GoldenEar BRX |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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 BRX are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Special FortyGoldenEar BRX
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 |
GoldenEar BRX |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-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 BRX features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Special Forty has a frequency range of 41-23k Hz whereas BRX has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the BRX can go slightly deeper then the Special Forty's min frequency of 41Hz.
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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the BRX which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Special Forty sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BRX's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the GoldenEar BRX 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 5-way post type posts and BRX has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar BRX's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Special Forty and BRX 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 Special Forty's and GoldenEar BRX'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 GoldenEar BRX has external dimensions of 308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm (12-1/8 x 8-1/8 x 12-5/16inch).
Dynaudio Special Forty is 9mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than GoldenEar BRX but it is also 52mm taller.
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 Special Forty is 52mm 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 GoldenEar BRX is approximately 647.9cm2 / 100.4inch2. The Special Forty requires 6% less surface area than the BRX 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 GoldenEar BRX weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the Special Forty 49% heavier than the BRX.
Here is a comparison of how Special Forty and BRX's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar BRX?
Here are the items that come with the BRX:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
607cm2
vs
647cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
41 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two rectangular side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
308mm
vs
360mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1598USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
GoldenEar BRX |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23k Hz |
40-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
308.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Special Forty costs roughly 1.9x what GoldenEar BRX 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 40Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | GoldenEar BRX is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | GoldenEar BRX is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | GoldenEar BRX takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar BRX is cheaper - $1,598 against $2,999, about 47% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Special Forty B GoldenEar BRX
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?
GoldenEar BRX is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Dynaudio Special Forty if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Special Forty the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and GoldenEar BRX for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar BRX is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.