These 2 products do not exactly fall in the same performance group. 🙂
- difference in bassmidrange driver specs and size, 30 years apart
- increased sensitivity of 30i, according to stereophile estimate, +2.8dB,
- lower -3dB cut off in favor of a larger cabinet 30i; 32Hz vs. 45Hz
- different voicing and x/o topology, lack of impedance correction networks (built in the driver)
Possibly, the better was the top of the line in the old Contour, and is not anymore in the 30i. Is the Esotar 2 from today better than the older top ESOTAR 330 .... go figure !
I was completely unprepared, logistically, for the arrival of the new Contour 30i. They come in wooden crates, 60kg each crate (!). Each speaker is 32kg, which is a lot when you think about how slim and elegant the speaker looks.
I also listened to Heritage and the Confidence range. The Heritage did not do it for me, and the Confidence range was out of my league.
I have not listened to the old, top-of-the-range Esotar tweeter, so I can't really say. The tweeter in Contour 30i is supposed to be Esotar 2i, a step down from the current top-ranked Esotar 3.
However, I can tell with certainty that the Esotar 2i sounds infinitely better than the tweeter inside my Contour 1.3. Amazing difference. The one I personally appreciate the most is the much lower distortions.
So if new product sounds infinitely better, then the logical conclusion is the old one did not sound at all. 😉
Regular price tag a pair is 8 k€. They better sound nice!
Regular price tag a pair is 8 k€. They better sound nice!
I always like the subjective inputs about hifi devices. I am thinking they are genuine in the mouth of the owner and there is always something to learn. It is always helpfull.
Here I would say maybe the less rigurous is not always the less musicall and associations matter.
Here a review on the last non "i" : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1uVHxeLJN-8uqJ_2RfV7KZ
google translatte is your friend.
Here some reviews of the the older 30 from 2018 : https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dynaudio-contour-30/ (2016 design)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FBAWegQILBAB&usg=AOvVaw34KFLzJDkmrdNnRq-yEV5m
Funny : older Contour 3.0 : notice the mid : https://reverb.com/item/76974029-dynaudio-contour-3-0-floorstanding-speakers-in-cherrywood-9-10
contour Legacy with Esotar 3 tweeter : https://twitteringmachines.com/in-b...-contour-legacy-limited-edition-loudspeakers/
I think I readed somewhere one of the old Contour 3 or 30 had the esotar 330, but I'm not sure anymore !
In this center Contour center, the tweeter is the 28/2 https://fr.ifixit.com/Tutoriel/Dynaudio+Contour+Center+Tweeter+Unit+Replacement/61630
Notice whatever the pedigree the quality of the enclosures veenering ! 🙂
Here I would say maybe the less rigurous is not always the less musicall and associations matter.
Here a review on the last non "i" : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1uVHxeLJN-8uqJ_2RfV7KZ
google translatte is your friend.
Here some reviews of the the older 30 from 2018 : https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dynaudio-contour-30/ (2016 design)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FBAWegQILBAB&usg=AOvVaw34KFLzJDkmrdNnRq-yEV5m
Funny : older Contour 3.0 : notice the mid : https://reverb.com/item/76974029-dynaudio-contour-3-0-floorstanding-speakers-in-cherrywood-9-10
contour Legacy with Esotar 3 tweeter : https://twitteringmachines.com/in-b...-contour-legacy-limited-edition-loudspeakers/
I think I readed somewhere one of the old Contour 3 or 30 had the esotar 330, but I'm not sure anymore !
In this center Contour center, the tweeter is the 28/2 https://fr.ifixit.com/Tutoriel/Dynaudio+Contour+Center+Tweeter+Unit+Replacement/61630
Notice whatever the pedigree the quality of the enclosures veenering ! 🙂