Dynaudio: Welcome to Confidence 20A

Design

Subtle details indicates that this is the active version of Confidence 20:

• Black front baffle that matches the driver cover rings
• The ‘Y’ indicator on the front of the stand
• The ventilation pattern on the sides of the stand
• Controls and connections on the back of the stand

Amplifier

The amplifier is derived from our professional studio products:

• Pascal amplifier
• Dynaudio-designed front-end

It offers a massive 400W for the woofer and 150W for the tweeter, to ensure maximum performance from the renowned Confidence drivers. (Actually, it’s a 500W amplifier for the mid/woofer – we just limit the signal input to match the maximum excursion for the driver.)

The result

Plenty of headroom in the amplifier. Effortless reproduction – even at high SPL.

Amplifier

 The amp, controls and connections are integrated in the stand…

• The aluminium construction doubles as housing/heatsink
• It doesn’t take up crucial space in the loudspeaker cabinet

The result

The technically and visually pleasing integration of the amplifier in the stand offers the important side benefit of adding extra weight and stability, which further improves performance.

Tweeter

Being a Confidence speaker, the 20A of course features our state-of-the-art Esotar 3, the best ever version of our famous 28mm coated soft dome with Hexis.

The result

Air and space: superb resolution of treble details, great imaging, authentic transient response.

Dual-flared port

New ESDF port

• Re-engineered geometry, tuning, and integration with the cabinet
• Subjected to thorough iterative listening tests for each small change
• End-to-end exponential shape to minimize port noise…
  • Slightly lower output (smaller port diameter at the midpoint of the port)
  • By lowering the system resonance frequency (fb) and then adding a slight EQ above the fb, the output is easily re-gained. This is just another advantage of an active DSP controlled speaker

The result

Optimized airflow, better precision, and artefacts are virtually eliminated…resulting in vastly improved low bass performance.

If you think a bass port only influences bass performance…wait till you hear the calmness and clarity it brings to the reproduction of e.g. a female voice.

Filter tuning

Overall approach

• Keep it as simple as possible and only as complex as necessary
• As always for Dynaudio – aiming for optimum directivity and low listening fatigue

Digital filter facts and advantages

• Infinite ‘toolbox’: we aren’t limited to fixed values of analogue components; instead, we can choose exact values, slopes, EQs and more
• We can create seamless time alignment
• Advanced, tailor-made filters are simpler to realize in the digital domain
• Filter components don’t influence each other
• We’re using minimum phase Infinite Impulse Response filters with low Q, as they act and sound very much like passive filters, with a natural impulse response
• Acoustic crossover point: 2500Hz

The result

Huge sound stage. Great impulse response, clarity and imaging.

Connections

• Service port (for dealer/Dynaudio use only)
• AES3 digital output (XLR)
• AES3 digital input (XLR)
• XLR analogue input (balanced)

The result

A truly versatile system for all source types. All you need is a source with a volume control.

Controls

Digital channel

• For AES3 digital inputs select which channel each speaker will use by setting the switch to left or right

Sample-rate conversion

• ‘Off’
• The highest possible sound quality, as the sample-rate/resolutionfrom the source is left untouched in the signal processing. The internal sample-rate of Confidence 20A adapts to the source

• If the sample-rate/resolution change between tracks from the source, the speaker will mute shortly while adjusting for the new sample-rate
• ‘On’
• The signal will be sample-rate converted to the sample rate of Confidence 20A (24/192)
• This will prevent muting between tracks and give continuous/gapless playback

Analogue sensitivity

• Start by setting it to ‘Low’. If the sound is too quiet, change it to ‘Mid’ or ‘High’
• If the LED (the ‘Y’ on the front) starts flashing red, the analogue input is being In that case, turn down the ‘Analogue sensitivity’ switch again

Sound balance

• Available settings: ‘Dark’, ‘Neutral’ and ‘Bright’
• The sound balance of loudspeakers can change slightly (typically become smoother) once they have been used for a while
• If you adjust this when setting up the speakers, it might need to be re-evaluated at a later stage

Position

• ‘Free’: If the speaker is placed more than 50cm/20 in away from walls
• ‘Wall: If the speaker is closer than 50cm/20in to one wall
• ‘Corner’: If the speaker is closer than 50cm/20in to two walls (i.e. a corner)

Light

• The white ‘Y’ LED on front of the stand can be adjusted with this setting
• ’Off’ – The light will always be off

• ’Dim’
  • When the speaker is on, the light will be on but dimmed
  • When the speaker is off the light will be off
• ’On’
  • When the speaker is on, the light will be on with full brightness
  • When the speaker is off, the light will be off

Front Y Indicator

 The Front ‘Y’ LED indicator has multiple functions…

• White light (depending on ‘Light’ switch setting)

– Power on

• Flashing red (in sync with the signal)

– Clipping on analogue input

– In this case, turn down the ‘Analogue sensitivity’ switch, and/or turn down the volume control on the source/preamp

• Pulsing red rapidly

– Thermal protection (this also automatically reduces output volume)

– In this case, turn down the volume control on the source/preamp or, even better, turn off the product (disconnect from the mains), until it has cooled off

Sources

• This is examples of sources we have tested internally – all with great success- Please share your experiences with us so that we can add them to the list

• Digital output (recommended for the most accurate playback)
• Wiim Pro Plus
• Lyngdorf TDAI 3400 (only pre-amp section)
• Lumin T3
• HiFi Rose RS 150 / 250
• Analogue output
• Moon 791 (Used for demo at High End Munich 2024)
• Auralic Altair 1
• Other – For a system integrator, a Dante adapter (e.g. Audinate Dante AVIO 2ch AES3 I/O Adapter) will allow connection to a control system (with Dante) and send signals from all sources in the system to Confidence 20A

Confidence 20A: $24,000/pr (USD)