DYNAUDIO 5706937430778 Contour 30 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Owner’s Manual

Contour
Owner’s manual

Hello
Welcome to Dynaudio Contour.
You’re going to love your new speakers…
close your eyes and see.

Introduction

Every Dynaudio speaker is packed with advanced acoustic technology. We’ve spent decades on intense research and development programs and upheld the highest standards of production quality – all so you can hear your favorite recordings exactly as their artists want you to experience them. We strive for nothing less than delivering the absolute truth in your music.
Dynaudio is one of the very few companies that can realize such loudspeaker concepts. That’s because we have our own dedicated in-house production facility, backed by our R&D department: Dynaudio Labs. Everything we do is engineered there.
And every loudspeaker is constructed in Denmark by Dynaudio’s master craftsmen. They work to incredibly high standards (you should see the finishing team: they lavish 11 coats of lacquer on each Contour speaker… trust us, they’re really difficult to buy furniture for). On the following pages you’ll see just how they approach their art through a series of tips and suggestions. Follow them and you’ll achieve maximum performance from your new speakers – a performance that will last for a long time to come.
Enjoy.

Safety instructions

CAUTION
High sound pressure levels
Listening to high sound pressure levels over a longer period of time may harm your hearing.

• To avoid hearing damage, do not listen to high sound levels over a longer period of time.

About this guide

Used expressions and symbols
In this operating manual, the following signs and symbols are used:
** The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
CAUTION** Indicates (in combination with a safety sign) a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury or damage to equipment.

• The arrow will identify steps to be performed. Please follow the instructions carefully.
1. Multiple steps that should be performed consecutively are numbered.
2. Please follow these instructions carefully.
Note
Additional information is provided, which is important to fully understand the loudspeaker and how to operate it.

How do you
design a new legend?
Experiments, arguments, tests, more experiments, designs, prototypes …

You can’t reinvent the wheel. But you can change the spokes. In redesigning the Contour range, we changed a lot of spokes.
We worked hard to retain the original DNA; its character. But we also wanted to provoke – so we gave our teams free rein to experiment with different materials, different techniques, and different designs.
That meant scaring ourselves a little sometimes. Like when we did some A/B listening tests on small voice coils compared with our signature large ones. That’s a big step. This time, it proved to be a step too far – they just didn’t sound as good as the technology we’ve been using for years – but we didn’t simply discount the idea. We listened.
Then there’s the time when Malte Köhn, Lead Product Designer on the Contour, rocked up to a meeting with armfuls of sketches (you can see some of them here). “I tried to work with non-traditional color and material combinations,” he says. “But I wanted to keep the Contour’s classic design, which is quite edgy and brutal. We turned it into something that’s more elegant and technical.” Malte is really proud of his design – and he should be because that’s the one we all chose as a group.
Michael Rohde Böwadt, our brave VP of product management, was the one who took the leash off. “We went very wide in the beginning,” he says. “I told them to just make the best drivers in the world. The best cabinets in the world. To approach it all in a different way.” No pressure, then. “It backfired a bit! But it was also very interesting. We got some very interesting results, provoked a lot of discussions, and were able to really zero in on what we wanted to do next.”
One of the things that came out of those discussions was using different driver materials. Ultimately we decided to stick with our tried-and-true MSP – but we told Daniel, Andreas, and Danny that we wanted it to sound even better. Their Eureka! the moment came when they started varying the material’s thickness across the diaphragm, because it means

the whole cone is optimized for the frequencies it’s been built to reproduce. And it works.
Michael insisted on keeping the metal baffle. It’s part of the Contour’s design heritage, after all, and there are some incredibly good acoustic reasons for keeping it. It’s rigid, solid, and extremely well-damped (which lets those fancy new MSP drivers do their thing as exactly they should).
But now it’s made from aluminum instead of iron.
We decided on aluminum because we can shape it. You can see that from the drawings. It chamfer fits with the gently curved cabinet edge, and its milled shape gives a modern feel to the Contour’s classic performance.
But it also meant we could bring other details to the party: the driver baskets themselves are chamfered, too. We love how they look, but they also help to reduce diffractions. Good job all around, then (we even went so far as to have more than one argument about whether the screws should be visible. The “yes” side won, and even our minimalist contingent had to agree that it was the right choice).
In developing the new drivers and crossover, we turned to Daniel Emonts and Mark Thorup. (Mark started here as an R&D engineer in 1983 and rose to the lofty heights of strategic product manager.) Between them, they’re the gurus of our design department. They know everything. We took their findings to our R&D team and psychoacoustics guys, said “aim this way”, and they got to work.
When we design, we experiment. We talk. We play. We listen. We don’t simply do what we did before, and we definitely don’t try to make it easier for ourselves.
We got to where we are on the new Contour because we (and you) love the original. It’s still there inside. But now, the legend can begin again …

We don’t simply do what we did before, and we definitely don’t try to make it easier for ourselves.

Connecting

1. Connect a two-pole (+/-) loudspeaker cable to the binding posts, located at the rear of the cabinet (see Fig. 1). The high-quality, gold-plated binding posts can accommodate different connection systems:
   4.0 mm banana plugs:
   The pins can be put directly into the binding
   post without any tightening necessary.| Cable spades:
   Loosen the binding posts, insert the spade into the opening, and secure the spade by tightening the posts.| Bare wires:
   Loosen the binding posts and place the cable into the binding posts. Tighten
   the posts.
   ---|---|---

Note
• With every connection system, ensure that the contact is tight and has a proper contact area.
• Connectors with similar gold plating as binding posts will typically offer the best results and remain corrosion-free.
• Please ensure that the positive and negative cables do not make contact with each other. Tighten the posts, and check the contact after a few days to make sure that it hasn’t loosened.

2. Connect the other cable ends to the loudspeaker outputs of your switched-off power amp (see Fig. 2).
   Note
   Please make sure that the red-marked post of the speaker is connected to the red-marked output of the amp, and the white or black-marked post to the white or black-marked output accordingly.

Bi-wiring/bi-amping
Dynaudio loudspeakers feature a carefully fine-tuned cross-over, optimized using selected parts and advanced circuitry to achieve a truly balanced and smooth frequency response. Therefore, dividing the frequency sections through bi-wiring or bi-amping is neither beneficial nor optional.
Choice of loudspeaker cable
The loudspeaker cable can have an impact on sound quality. In general, quality cable products will yield a quality result.
Dynaudio loudspeakers are designed to be very neutral and thus are not extremely suited to any particular type of cable. The choice of cable is as much a factor in matching the cable to the entire audio system. Please consult your Dynaudio dealer for information about compatible loudspeaker cables that will suit both your electronics and your Dynaudio loudspeakers.
Connecting surround speakers
When connecting a two-channel stereo system, only the right and left channels are connected to the amplifier.
In a surround set-up, center, side, or rear loudspeakers as well as a subwoofer is typically connected to provide for a multi-channel listening experience. Please refer to the amplifier’s owner’s manual for particular connection scenarios and see the section “Multichannel set-up” on page 23 for further instructions.

Positioning

Dynaudio loudspeakers consist of classic bass reflex loudspeaker designs with no unusual or extraordinary positioning demands. Every room will still have its own particular sound characteristics. Any room is also shaped and decorated uniquely, and therefore remains independent regarding options for positioning loudspeakers.
The following steps are general suggestions that will make the correct positioning easier to achieve.

General recommendations

The following explanations refer to Fig. 3.

• The distance between each loudspeaker and your listening position should be the same (B). Try to achieve an isosceles triangle.
• The distance between the loudspeakers should be the same or better slightly less than the distance between each loudspeaker and your listening position (A, B).
• The closer the listening position is in relation to the loudspeakers, the closer the speakers can be positioned to each other.
• As a starting point, it is recommended that the speakers be about 2 meters apart from each other for the best results (A).
• If the speakers are positioned too close to each other, the stereo image will not seem realistic; if that distance is too wide, the image may leave an acoustic hole in the middle.
• Paying attention to the image during listening, tests will help dictate optimum placement during experimentation and set-up.

CAUTION

Excessive brightness
Direct sunlight or excessive brightness can affect the colour of any natural wood veneer (the structural integrity of the cabinet will not be affected).

• To maintain the aesthetic quality of the loudspeakers for the long term, placing them in very warm, very cold, or very humid environments should be avoided.

Distance to back and side walls

Every loudspeaker not only disperses sound energy directly into the room but also to the side and even backward. As a result, time-delayed reflections occur and add to the original music signal. Thus, positioning loudspeakers too close to walls can reduce sound quality.
Dynaudio loudspeakers were developed to be placed free-standing, and therefore they reach their optimum performance when positioned as clear of any walls as possible.

•  To reduce possible influences from the back and sidewalls, the distance to these boundaries should ideally not be less than 0.5 meters (see Fig. 4).

Adapting the bass reflex port
To minimize low frequency reflections, which will be heard as a thickening of the sound, the loudspeaker models can be adapted to the room’s acoustic character by using foam plugs in the bass reflex port. This will essentially attenuate the room-induced boost in the low-frequency range by dampening the deep frequencies, yielding a clear and tight sound when the loudspeaker is positioned near the rear walls.

• Fully insert the foam port plugs packed with your loudspeaker into the bass reflex port, to attenuate the bass output (if required).
• If the attenuation of the bass volume is too high (bass level too low) remove the inner part of the foam plug. Then fully insert the foam ring in the bass reflex port. Make sure the ring is formed in a concentric circular shape within the port to prevent reduced and turbulent airflow.

Floor-standing loudspeaker set-up

The floor-standing models feature a special base construction, which offers both an ideal performance and mechanical basis. Integrated into the base plinth are four individual spike assemblies. These stabilize the cabinet on an extremely small contact area and therefore prevent any wobbling while offering optimal resonance control.
The individually adjustable spikes allow leveling of the cabinet on uneven floors.

**caution**

Spikes with sharp peaks
The sharp peaks of the spikes may cause injuries and damage sensitive surfaces like hardwood flooring or tile.

• Be careful when handling loudspeakers.
• Place plates between the spikes and the surface to protect the underlying surface.

Compact loudspeaker set-up
The compact model is designed to offer exceptional performance while taking up minimal space. The speakers will realize their optimum performance when used in conjunction with a dedicated stand (such as the Dynaudio Stands) to position them at the proper height while absorbing any resonance.
Due to its dimensions, you can also place the loudspeaker on a ledge or shelf or on top of furniture. But to avoid the possibility of any negative influence on sound quality, one should take care to utilize a stable surface offering a wide enough space in front of the loudspeakers so as not to limit the sound quality and performance. In such applications or if placing the speakers in enclosed audio/video furniture, the bass reflex port can usually be left unplugged as long as there is minimal clearance to the boundaries at the top and rear of the loudspeaker cabinet.

Loudspeaker toe-in
Depending on your personal listening environment and room dimensions, the loudspeakers may be angled in towards the listening area to focus sound radiation. This positioning will typically improve imaging and is especially recommended by Dynaudio (see Fig. 5).

Room and furniture influence
The sound quality of any loudspeaker is influenced by the furniture, wall materials, and other objects in the listening room. For example, large rooms without much furniture and many clean, hard wall surfaces can give a bright and diffuse sound with diverse echoing frequencies.
A room with thick carpet, curtains, and soft furniture surfaces will give a warmer, darker, and less lively sound.

Grille
A cloth grille is included and can be affixed to the cabinet to help protect the drivers from dust and any other influences. The grille is acoustically optimized, but the highest sound quality levels will be attained without any grille covers in place during listening.

• To remove the grille, gently pull the grille straight out from the front.
• To fit the grille, line up the grille and let it snap in place.

Loudspeakers for multi-channel set-ups
For a multi-channel set-up, in addition to the two main (stereo) loudspeakers, additional channels (speakers) may be added to reproduce dialogue and surround effects. With the center channel and compact models, it is possible to achieve the same high level of performance and sound on every channel.
Centre speaker
The center is responsible for the information directed from the middle of the screen and should be positioned between the right and left main loudspeakers. In a home theatre/
surround set-up, the center supports the images and should be placed close to the screen.
Side/Rear speakers
The side/rear speakers are responsible for the sound effects behind the listening position. When using compact models as side/rear speakers, the speakers can be placed on a shelf, mounted at the side/rear wall, or placed on a stand. This allows for a wide variety of placements, even if your listening room and furniture limit an optimal set-up.

Depending on the desired surround format 5.1 or 7.1, you need to install additional speakers:

• 5.1: The standard multi-channel setup with two side/surround speakers, preferably placed at the sides or slightly behind the listening position
• 7.1: Two rear speakers are added directly behind the listening position, typically on the back wall

Subwoofer
Most often a subwoofer will be utilized for the LFE signal, especially in larger listening rooms. The optimal position of the subwoofer depends on the size of the room and its acoustics. Please refer to the Subwoofer manual.

Note
When setting up a home theatre system, the loudspeakers should create a realistic soundstage with similar sound characteristics on each channel. It is therefore important that all speakers should match the same quality level. This is especially important with regard to the center channel loudspeaker, as this is a critical aspect of any multi-channel soundstage. Dynaudio has developed various models suitable for multi-channel applications: Compact and floor-standing models with a matching center channel, all optimized for use with Dynaudio active subwoofers and Dynaudio optional accessory products.

Multi-channel loudspeaker set-up A complete multi-channel set-up consists of the following speakers:

1. Front (stereo) speakers
2. Centre speaker
3. Side/Surround speakers
4. Rear speakers (as explained above)
5. Subwoofer (possible position)

As there are many different set-ups options (from 5.1 to 10.2 channel applications) and loudspeaker positioning will also depend on a room’s shape, please consult your  Dynaudio dealer for special applications and placement options.

Running-in the loudspeakers
The moving parts of a newly manufactured Dynaudio loudspeaker have been acoustically checked after production, but nevertheless are not as flexible as they need to be for optimum results to be realized. The higher the quality of any driver system, the more demanding the loudspeaker will be regarding time for running in the system.
A newly unpacked Dynaudio loudspeaker, therefore, requires several weeks of running/playing to reach its optimum performance capability. After that period, a couple of minutes before every listening session will be helpful to “warm up” the loudspeakers.

Power rating

Due to the construction and the driver technology, Dynaudio loudspeakers can be driven with very high power levels.
With a high-quality amplifier delivering undistorted signals, the speaker can achieve high levels without any compromises in sound quality.
Attention must be given to amplifiers with very low power and adjustable tone controls or switches. These types may soon exceed their own performance limits and may send distorted output signals to the speakers, compromising even high- quality technology.

Any damage caused under such circumstances is not covered by the Dynaudio warranty and is easily avoided in the first place by consulting your Dynaudio dealer for advice regarding the choice of amplifier.

**caution**

Distorted output signals
Distorted output signals from amplifiers that are too weak, defective, or overloaded may damage the loudspeakers.

• Use high-quality amplifiers only and run loudspeakers and amplifiers within specified power ratings.

Care and maintenance

Dynaudio loudspeakers require no special treatment apart from the kind of careful handling you would normally apply to any high-tech product in your home.

**caution**

Aggressive cleaning fluids
All-in-one cleaning materials, aggressive cleaning fluids, or special furniture polishes may damage the cabinet surface or other speaker parts.

• Use a soft dry or slightly damp cloth when cleaning the cabinet and other plain parts.

Cleaning the loudspeakers

• Switch off all components of your system when cleaning any of these components.
• Avoid touching the tweeter domes as any change of their shape may have an impact on sound quality.
• Clean the cabinet and other plain parts with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth only.
• Remove dust on the woofer diaphragms with a fine furniture brush.

All materials used by Dynaudio are integrated with exceptional care. By taking care of your loudspeakers, you will preserve the finish and build quality for a very long time.

Warranty

Dynaudio provides a transferable limited manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty only covers faults or defects in material and production. Damage caused as a result of abuse, misuse, or defective electronics is not covered by the warranty.
All warranty claims must be accompanied by a copy of the original purchase invoice and warranties are only valid in the country or market of original origin or distribution. Should warranty service be required, it must be arranged for in the country of purchase by an authorized Dynaudio dealer.
All performance criteria are strictly controlled. In the whole production procedure – from raw materials to the final assembly – Dynaudio thoroughly inspects all parameters every step of the way.

We are proud of our work. Ask anyone here and you’ll get the same answer.

Allan Kristiansen is one of the most expensive people at Dynaudio. He’s been with us for 27 years – and during that time he’s said “No” hundreds of times.
Every time Allan says “No”, it costs us money. That’s because it means a speaker cabinet has to go for another round of lacquering and polishing (which takes three weeks to finish). Or that a piece of cabling isn’t mounted properly. Perhaps a missing screw. Allan sees everything.
But we don’t mind.
We don’t mind because every time Allan says “Yes”, it means something perfect has left our factory.
“The key is not doing it in a hurry,” he says. “Don’t hurry. Make it correctly the first time.”
We make the Contour in-house, you see. It’s made in Denmark because external assembly plants might not have an Allan. From the furniture-grade cabinets (which go through 11 stages of lacquering and polishing before we set them free), to the drivers (which are made from magnesium silicate polymer – a material we developed ourselves), to testing,
packaging, and assembling up to 400 parts, it’s all done at our headquarters in Skanderborg, Denmark.
We do everything in Denmark because that’s how we’ve always done it since we started in 1977. Our founders knew the only way to produce a truly great loudspeaker was to oversee every part of the design and production themselves. So, we developed our own driver technology – including our acclaimed
coated soft-dome tweeters. We worked in secret (we were a bit mysterious back then) and developed our own manufacturing and testing methods. And we made thousands of prototypes. We did it so that the only things that leave our factory are perfect, honest, handcrafted speakers. Every time.
“We are proud of our work,” Allan says. “Ask anyone here and you’ll get the same answer. What we’re producing here is going to go in someone’s house; someone’s car. They might have saved for several years, sometimes, to get it. So we all know it has to be perfect – when we say Dynaudio is ‘proud and pure’, that’s true. That’s absolutely true.” We hope you love listening to our speakers as much as we loved making them for you.

We listen to glue.

“I know exactly what goes into this,” says Daniel Emonts. He’s the man behind Contour’s drivers. “I know all the materials and everything. But here’s the magic behind it too when you hear the result.” Daniel should know. In Dynaudio Labs, our R&D department listens to everything. Everything. Even glue. “We decided to change the glue between the voice coil and the cone. We thought it would take two or three months, but we ended up taking a year measuring, recording, and listening,” he says. “I think 80 percent of us could tell the difference between the glues. And now that’s going to be part of our R&D procedure. Listening to glue.”
We all listen. That’s how we make our speakers. Sure, we measure stuff; we have to. But the computers are just tools: There’s so much more going on than just a frequency curve.
Contour has new drivers. The only one we aren’t changing is the Esotar tweeter, which you can find on all our high-end speakers, and which – no matter how old it gets – is still tough to follow. New drivers mean new crossovers, which means new cabinets, which means every component affects every other component, which means… listening.
We make everything for the performance – not for the data. So, what does our speaker sound like? Nothing. They don’t have a “sound”. All you hear is the truth.

Contour
Designed and engineered by Dynaudio Labs in Denmark

Dynaudio A/S
8660 Skanderborg
Denmark
dynaudio.com
Owner’s manual – Contour
EN – Item no. 4554201E
All text and image copyrights reserved.
Subject to change without notice.

References

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