Dynaudio Contour S 3.4

If you're in the US, my local dealer has a slightly used pair of X38 for $2K USD...

My dealer had one last pair of  S3.4 LE speakers  in Bubinga Lacquer, beautiful speaker, I could have purchased them for an excellent price. When I compared them to the X38's, I felt the overall sound was a little more dynamic with the X38's, and well, exciting, not as refined as the Contour speaker, or as relaxing, but more immediate, quick and dynamic. It would depend on what presentation you prefer to suit you own taste. The Excite speaker was probably a better match with my amp.

You can't go wrong with either speaker, but the Contour LE is just a wonderful and very refined, clean sounding speaker. I think you are going to be very happy with them.

As always money is an issue and I'm being offered a pretty good trade in with these £500 plus the X32's and so even though it is not a home demo I will at least get to hear them side by side with my X32's albeit on another system. Of course if I do not like how they sound after a few months and there is possibly be a bit more money in the pot  I can always trade them in again.

I would never walk into a hifi shop and part with £4,500 for a set of speakers there are too many other priorities for me  and so I'm always looking to buy used and this does make demo's difficult but I'm pretty sure I will not lose out if they are not for me, They are the older s 3.4 from the mid 00's but they are contemporary with my Nap 300 and if it ends up I move them on I have lived with £4,500 pair of Dyn's for a couple of months and I am a step nearer to my end speakers.

Badlands if the 3.4's were as close to the X38's as you say then I should be very happy as the 38's were superior in every way to the 32's I presently own.  The very rigid construction of the 3.4's along with the metal baffle means that almost no resonance gets through and so they can be played loud which is a major plus for me.

Bob the Builder posted:  The very rigid construction of the 3.4's along with the metal baffle means that almost no resonance gets through and so they can be played loud which is a major plus for me.

That's what stood out for me, because of the quality construction, they are a very "clean" tight sounding speaker like I described above. The major reason I picked the Excite speaker over the Contour was also price, about $1000.00 US dollars. I felt my amp was not as well matched with the better Contour speaker. I think the 300 will have great synergy with the 3.4. Looking forward to your impressions.

First impressions after half a dozen LP's is that they are quite a large upgrade over the X32's my other half or 'Golden Ears' is especially impressed and described the speakers disappearing and the sound hovering in front of her.  The guy I traded with used them with a Hegel H160 amp and we listened to both the S 3.4's & my X32's through his amp,  rated at 250 watts into 4ohms the added weight of the Hegel gave my X32's a real shot in the arm and they sounded better than they had at home with my 282/300 the 3.4's however sounded a bit boomy and lacked a bit of detail but I was pretty sure that when I got them home the 300 could sort all that out and we agreed I could have 24 hours at home to decide.

Listening to the vinyl copy of Diana Krall - The Look of Love (ORG Remaster) at both low, medium and high levels and yes these speakers go very loud without any deterioration so my mind was made up and they're staying. I'm now going to listen to some more records and enjoy my new speakers and yes Badlands it seems like a great match with the 300. 

Blimey!!????

Bob the Builder posted:

Blimey!!????

Now you've done it!

Should be safe - it wasn't in the thread title. 

I mean 'Blimey' really! Listening to the B - side of Womack & Womack - The composers and Blimey these 3.4's with the 300 are very, very good.