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Dynaudio Contour 20i
Compact? Yes. Compact-sounding? No.
Contour 20i
Hear the difference: the Contour 20i is ready to blow your sonic socks off.
Contour 20i has been designed to surpass every other standmount Contour model we’ve created. And it succeeds.
The Esotar 2i tweeter is a turbocharged version of the much-loved Esotar2. It now features a larger rear chamber for more effective damping, and the inventive Hexis inner dome seen on Confidence, Core and more. Together they flatten the frequency response and reduce unwanted resonances for even clearer, smoother treble.
The woofer has been tweaked, too. It’s still made of our own Magnesium Silicate Polymer (MSP) material, of course, it’s still powered by a lightweight aluminium voice-coil, and it still uses a vented dual-ferrite magnet system – but behind the distinctive black cone lurks an improved spider suspension. This one is made from aramid fibres, and retains the ingenious structural properties from before (the ribs are of varying width to give even finer control over the cone’s excursion). You’d be surprised at the sonic difference such a small change can make…
And because those driver changes provide an inherently flat frequency response, we’ve been able to simplify the crossover too. It’s a thing of beauty, isn’t it? There’s no longer any need for extra impedance-correction circuitry – which means an even more direct signal path. And cleaner sound.
Making a Contour without its signature baffle would be like making a car without wheels. Unthinkable. But there’s always room for improvement – and our designers love to stretch their legs. This baffle is aluminium, and set into the cabinet. Its chamfer is included in the driver’s basket – which not only looks great, but also reduces unwanted high-frequency diffraction effects for clearer treble, and provides a solid foundation for the drivers to do their work. A solid foundation means improved high-volume performance at low frequencies, too (although your neighbours might not thank us for that).
Even the internal damping has been improved – using lessons learned from Evoke and Confidence.
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Professional Reviews 92/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
94/100
Value for Money
91/100
The Contour 20i marries deep, tightly controlled bass with a refined, fatigue-free treble and richly dimensional imaging. What Hi-Fi? highlights its muscular rhythmic composure, while SoundStage Solo admires its balanced, long-session-friendly voice. This is a beautifully built stand-mount that delivers floorstander-like authority without sacrificing subtlety.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptionally controlled, extended bass for a two-way stand-mount, with convincing weight and no bloat when correctly set up.
Smooth, detailed Esotar 2i treble remains refined and non-fatiguing during long listening sessions.
Expansive, well-focused imaging and strong dynamics preserve clarity through dense or loud material.
Superb Danish-made cabinet and finish, with a rigid, well-damped construction.
&
Cons
Rear-ported bass output requires careful placement and an amplifier with good bass control; otherwise lows can become overblown.
Lower treble can sound too prominent in smaller reflective rooms without sidewall absorption.
Low measured sensitivity benefits from capable amplification, particularly for high listening levels.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviews consistently describe a balanced, refined and highly revealing speaker that combines unusually authoritative bass with fine detail, expressive dynamics and a spacious presentation. Its character favours long-session listenability over overt aggression, though room setup can affect the lower treble and bass balance.
Bass
93/100
For a large stand-mount with a 7-inch woofer, reviewers found the bass exceptional: deep, linear and notably tight, reaching to around 40Hz in listening tests. SoundStage Solo called its below-120Hz control unmatched among two-way minimonitors it had heard, while What Hi-Fi? praised weight and punch beyond what the cabinet size suggests; careful placement and a controlled amplifier remain important because output is generous.
Mid
91/100
The midband earns repeated praise for insight, texture, body and natural timbre, with hi-fi+ finding double bass particularly realistic and What Hi-Fi? highlighting class-leading resolution of instrumental strands. There is a little shaping rather than strict neutrality: reviewers note a hint of midrange emphasis, while Erin's Audio Corner heard an upper-mid dip that can slightly soften vocal or brass attack.
Treble
90/100
Most reviewers found the Esotar 2i treble clear, effortless and highly refined, with strong inner detail but no analytical edge. SoundStage Solo described it as liquid and satisfying if slightly polite, while Audiophiliac praised its purity; Erin's Audio Corner found lower treble too prominent in a smaller reflective room, making room acoustics and setup relevant.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
The Contour 20i is repeatedly credited with an expansive, well-focused and convincingly layered soundstage. hi-fi+ heard genuinely three-dimensional depth into recordings, and Audiophiliac described its layering, space and holographic imaging as extraordinary; SoundStage Solo similarly praised depth, while noting more costly beryllium-tweeter designs could extract still more.
Dynamics
93/100
Reviewers found the speaker composed and expressive from delicate passages to large crescendos. What Hi-Fi? reports that it plays loudly without hardening or sounding stressed, while hi-fi+ praised both its exquisite timing and visceral delivery when music turns explosive.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
The cabinet, finish and hardware receive uniformly enthusiastic comments. Reviewers highlight the rigid aluminium-and-MDF baffle, extensive internal bracing, solid-feeling enclosure, high-quality terminals and deep, immaculate finish, while several note that manufacture is carried out in Dynaudio's Danish factory.
Value for Money
91/100
At roughly £4,500 or $5,250-$5,750 per pair, this is a serious premium stand-mount, but reviewers broadly consider the asking price well supported by its performance and finish. What Hi-Fi? calls it a great buy and one of the best options at the price, while Audiophilepure describes a mature, no-compromise two-way that many audiophiles could happily own long term.
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Authorized dealers for Dynaudio Contour 20i
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- AES — in-store — Mitte, Hessen, Germany (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- AMPL’HIFI — online and in-store — Nîmes, Occitanie, France (website)
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