Short answer: the Dynaudio Contour 20i for better sound quality, the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 for the lower price. The Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #96 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 3.9/5, at $5,750. The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 ranks #113, rated 3.8/5, at $468, $5,282 cheaper.
The case for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2: Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms. The tradeoff: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
The Dynaudio Contour 20i is the deeper-bass choice. Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. Watch for: Notably room-dependent: sounds too bright in the lower treble in smaller rooms with close sidewalls, needing sidewall absorption to sound neutral, while performing better in larger or more open rooms without that treatment.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Dynaudio Contour 20i when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms.
Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $468 per pair | $5750 per pair |
| Ranked | #113 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 82.5dB |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in | 17.4”H x 8.5”W x 14.2”D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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