Dynaudio Contour 1.8 (1990–1998)
The Dynaudio Contour 1.8 was introduced in 1990 as the entry-level floorstander in Dynaudio's Contour line, and it became one of the company's most successful models. It's a 2-way bass reflex design. The drivers are a 28mm soft dome tweeter and a 15cm woofer with Dynaudio's own MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone material, crossed over at 2.5 kHz with a first-order filter. The cabinet is internally braced and heavily damped.
The specs: frequency response of 35 Hz - 22 kHz ±3 dB, 4-ohm nominal impedance, 87 dB/W/m sensitivity, and 150W IEC power handling. A HiFI-Stereo listing from 1998 also recorded a similar configuration for a comparable floorstander, with a crossover point of 2 kHz, a frequency response of 45 Hz - 22 kHz ±3 dB, and 85 dB sensitivity (HiFI-Stereo, 1998, p.168). Dimensions were 920 × 250 × 260 mm (H×W×D) and each speaker weighed 19 kg. The original price was $1,800 per pair, though at least one source records $1,500. It sat below the Contour 2.8 in the lineup and was later followed by the Contour 1.8 Mk II.
Owner accounts are consistent. They describe a revealing, neutral speaker that wants decent amplification. One long-term owner on AudioReview said they'd kept a pair for 20 years and they still sounded incredible, with solid imaging and deep bass for their size. Another called them the best speakers they'd ever owned, praised their neutrality, and warned they don't flatter bad recordings. "They need a good amp" comes up again and again: weak receivers give thin, harsh sound, while quality amplification makes them sing. One owner found them slightly forward in the upper midrange in a bright room and fixed that with tube amplification. A Dagogo reviewer called the Contour 1.8 "a classic loudspeaker that remains competitive with many contemporary designs," and added that it plays bigger than its size suggests.
On the used market, the 1.8 Mk I typically changes hands for $500 - $800 depending on condition. Check two things when buying. The woofer foam surrounds are prone to rot (replacement surrounds are available from Dynaudio service), and the soft dome tweeters can be pushed in and may need replacement. Dynaudio Denmark still carries parts for the 1.8, though the woofers themselves are long discontinued.
- Type: 2-way bass reflex floorstanding loudspeaker
- Drivers: 28mm soft dome tweeter, 15cm MSP woofer
- Crossover: first-order, 2.5 kHz
- Frequency response: 35 Hz – 22 kHz ±3 dB
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Sensitivity: 87 dB/W/m
- Power handling: 150W IEC
- Dimensions: 920 × 250 × 260 mm (H×W×D)
- Weight: 19 kg
- Original price: $1,800/pair
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