The Dynaudio Focus Series celebrates its premiere at the High End 2022 and takes on a difficult legacy. It is the successor to the extremely exciting Dynaudio Focus XD Series, the product line that the Danish loudspeaker specialist Dynaudio A/S offered as active loudspeaker systems in the high-end league. Accordingly, the solutions of the new Dynaudio Focus Series also present themselves as fully active high-end loudspeaker systems, which focus even more on streaming and thus should ultimately offer what more and more users want, even in the upper quality segment: a hi-fi chain that does not require any compromises in terms of functionality and quality, but ultimately consists of a pair of active loudspeaker systems alone.
The successors of the Dynaudio Focus XD Series
It is clear that Dynaudio A/S was one of the first manufacturers to recognise the potential of active loudspeaker systems when equipped with innovative features such as wireless control and flexible streaming options.
For example, the Dynaudio XEO Series, presented in 2012, was one of the first product lines designed as a compact, flexible hi-fi chain around active loudspeaker systems, with which Dynaudio A/S wanted to address as broad a customer base as possible. The Dynaudio Focus XD Series, on the other hand, was designed for higher demands and thus in the designated high-end segment, and was thus aimed at audiophile hi-fi enthusiasts.
It is exactly this product line that is now being replaced by the new Dynaudio Focus Series, as Dynaudio A/S states in the context of the presentation at the High End 2022 in Munich.
Dynaudio Focus Series – Active Wireless Streaming Speakers
Of course, the new Dynaudio Focus Series is based on the concept of the Dynaudio Focal XD Series, but these are solutions that are now in a completely different league. After all, the new product series incorporates all the innovations and new features that have emerged since the introduction of the Dynaudio Focus XD Series.
Dynaudio A/S states that the new Dynaudio Focus Series is a family of fully active, wireless loudspeaker systems that combine proven driver technologies from the Danes with state-of-the-art streaming functionality. They even call it one of the most advanced systems of its kind and refer to a reproduction in studio quality in combination with particularly high user-friendliness and versatility.
High-end active speaker systems
The new Dynaudio Focus Series Active Wireless Streaming Speakers are designed to appeal to users who want a solution that works without complex set-up and additional equipment, and that integrates perfectly into any modern living environment without dominating it.
Dynaudio Focus 10, Dynaudio Focus 30 and Dynaudio Focus 50
The Dynaudio Focus 10 is a compact active two-way bookshelf speaker system, the Dynaudio Focus 30 is an active two-and-a-half-way floorstanding speaker system, and the Dynaudio Focus 50 is an active three-way floorstanding speaker system.
The manufacturer explicitly states that with the new systems, they not only want to appeal to proven hi-fi enthusiasts, but also to users who see a solution like these Active Wireless Streaming Speakers as an entry-level solution, and at the highest level.
Legendary driver technology from Dynaudio A/S
As we have already mentioned, the new Dynaudio Focus Series is of course also based on Dynaudio A/S’ driver technology, which has been tried and tested for years. The active loudspeaker systems are designed true to the motto “What goes in, comes out” and rely on Dynaudio Cerotar Soft-dome Tweeter with Hexis for the high frequencies and Dynaudio Esotec+ MSP Driver with Aluminium Voice Coil for the mid and low frequencies.
It is interesting to note that all three active loudspeaker systems are of closed construction, i.e. there is no so-called bass reflex system.
This allows for a particularly tight, controlled bass reproduction, but also for a reproduction over a particularly wide frequency range, for which a DSP-based signal processing including an active crossover is used for an optimal control of the drivers.
The Class D amplifier technology used in the new Dynaudio Focus Series is said to come directly from the development of professional studio systems from Dynaudio A/S and thus offers particularly accurate, simultaneously powerful and efficient amplification.
Optimisation in the Jupiter Measurement Room
Like all Dynaudio A/S solutions, the new Dynaudio Focus Series has been optimised in the Jupiter Measurement Room, an environment for developers that is unparalleled in the industry. Dynaudio A/S is proud to say that the same engineers who developed some of the world’s most outstanding loudspeakers were responsible for the development and tuning of the new Dynaudio Focus Series.
DIRAC Live and other enhancements included
An app, which is an essential part of any solution of this kind, allows the user to make a wide range of settings and optimisations, such as a basic optimisation based on the actual positioning of the speakers in the room. A real special feature of the new Dynaudio Focus Series is the possibility to optimally calibrate the speakers in any listening room, which is made possible by DIRAC Live. In general, a lot of effort has been made to offer the user a wide range of optimisation possibilities, whereby the adjustment of the performance according to one’s own ideas by means of an equaliser is only one of the essential further possibilities.
The developers’ attention to detail even goes so far that the speaker systems actually recognise whether the grill included in the scope of delivery is being used, namely via the magnets with which it is held in position.
If the grill is used as a cover to protect the drivers, the DSP adjusts the playback accordingly to compensate for even this minimal influence that the grill has on the playback. The manufacturer calls this an auto-sensing EQ.
Well-equipped for all conceivable sources
When you talk about the solutions of the new Dynaudio Focus Series being able to take over all the tasks of a conventional hi-fi chain, their connection options must of course be designed accordingly.
And indeed, the solutions of the Dynaudio Focus Series offer analogue as well as digital interfaces for the integration of various sources. Two coaxial S/PDIF, one optical S/PDIF, a pair of stereo RCA sockets, a digital output for connecting to the second speaker in the “classic” way as well as a subwoofer out and a 12 V trigger are available first and foremost, but also Bluetooth and, of course, all the possibilities offered by the integrated streaming client.
Flexible streaming client
The models of the Dynaudio Focus Series are most flexible when they are connected to the network, which can be done either via cable or WiFi.
First and foremost, the systems act as UPnP streaming clients and can access Internet radio as well as podcasts. In addition, a number of essential streaming platforms are supported, such as Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Qplay, TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect.
It should also be emphasised that the solutions of the Dynaudio Focus Series are all designated as Roon Ready, meaning that direct integration into the media management and multi-room hi-res audio streaming system from Roon Labs LLC. including bit-perfect streaming is possible.
Signal transmission via radio based on WiSA
To emphasise it again, the communication between the two speakers can be done by cable, but primarily by radio. The industrial standard WiSA is used, which offers a signal transmission with 24 bit and 96 kHz. For the sake of completeness, a signal transmission with 24 bit and 192 kHz is offered via cable.
But back to WiSA, this standard of course also offers the possibility to control the loudspeaker systems of the Dynaudio Focus Series directly via WiSA, for example from corresponding TV sets or other solutions that rely on this standard.
Scandinavian design
The Active Wireless Streaming Speakers of the Dynaudio Focus Series have a typical Scandinavian design, free of frills, straight-lined and slim. They have deliberately relied on a design language that is considered to be timelessly elegant, and for this reason they have chosen the four classic variants White High Gloss, Black High Gloss, Walnut Wood and Blonde Wood.
The cabinets are all made of robust MDF and show an impeccable quality of workmanship. According to the manufacturer, details such as aluminium bezels are intended to communicate unmistakably that these are high-end solutions with correspondingly high demands on quality and aesthetics.
Dynaudio Focus 10 Active Wireless Streaming Speaker
The Dynaudio Focus 10 is the first of Dynaudio A/S’s new product line. It is a closed, two-way DSP-based active loudspeaker system in the form of a bookshelf speaker, using a 28 mm soft-dome tweeter in combination with a 14 cm MSP woofer. Among other things, the DSP acts as a crossover and starts at 2.2 kHz, whereby the frequency range is specified as 22 Hz to 36 kHz.
Two Class D amplifier modules are used here, the first driving the woofer with 280 watts, the second the tweeter with 110 watts.
With dimensions of 180 x 315 x 276 mm including the grille, the Dynaudio Focus 10 weighs 7.5 kg.
Dynaudio Focus 30 Active Wireless Streaming Speaker
The Dynaudio Focus 30 is a 2.5 way DSP-based active loudspeaker system that uses a 28 mm soft-dome tweeter and two 14 cm MSP woofers to reproduce a frequency range between 18 Hz and 36 kHz.
The Class D amplifier modules provide 280 Watts for the mid-woofer, 280 Watts for the woofer and 110 Watts for the tweeter.
The compact floor-standing speaker system measures 268 x 947 x 342 mm, including stand and grille, and weighs 16.2 kg per speaker.
Dynaudio Focus 50 Active Wireless Streaming Speaker
The Dynaudio Focus 50 is the flagship of the new product family and presents itself as a full-grown three-way DSP-based floorstanding speaker system with dimensions of still comparatively slim 305 x 1,187 x 401 mm, whereby this figure is to be understood as including the stand and speaker grille. The weight is impressive, at 33.5 kg.
Two 18 cm MSP woofers are combined with a 14 cm MSP woofer and a 28 mm soft-dome tweeter to reproduce a frequency range between 18 Hz and 36 kHz. The DSP-based crossover intervenes at 390 Hz and 4.7 kHz.
The new Dynaudio Focus 50 is certainly not lacking in power: there is an amplifier module with 280 watts for the bass drivers, another with 280 watts for the Mittenton driver, and a third with 110 watts for the tweeter, all designed in Class D.
Prices and availability
The models of the new Dynaudio Focus Series just celebrated their premiere at the High End 2022 in Munich, but should already be available in the coming days. As described, the user has the choice between four design variants, whereby in addition to the control app, a matching Bluetooth remote control is of course always part of the scope of delivery.
The recommended retail price for the Dynaudio Focus 10 is € 5.000,-, for the Dynaudio Focus 30 € 7.500,- and for the Dynaudio Focus 50 € 10.000,-.
Getting to the point
Dynaudio A/S presents the Dynaudio Focus Series, a family of fully active wireless stereo loudspeakers that succeed the Dynaudio Focus XD Series. All models in this series combine Dynaudio’s proven driver technology with state-of-the-art streaming functionality, so the Danes are talking about a family of high-end active wireless streaming speakers. What’s more, it’s said to be one of the most advanced systems of its kind, combining studio-quality audio with incredible ease of use and versatility.
PRODUCT | DYNAUDIO FOCUS SERIES |
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Price | Dynaudio Focus 10 € 5.000,- Dynaudio Focus 30 € 7.500,- Dynaudio Focus 50 € 10.000,- |
Brand | DYNAUDIO A/S |
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Manufacturer | Dynaudio A/S |
Distribution | Dynaudio Germany GmbH |
More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |