Short answer: the Buchardt Audio E50. It ranks #16 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $4,600; the Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #96, rated 3.9/5, and costs $5,750, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Buchardt Audio E50 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 56Hz for the Dynaudio Contour 20i. Watch for: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity: the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis.
Why pick the Dynaudio Contour 20i: Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall. The tradeoff: 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 Buchardt Audio E50. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Contour 20i and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall.
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
| Buchardt Audio E50 | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4600 per pair | $5750 per pair |
| Ranked | #16 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.6” x 7.5” x 11.2” (395 x 190 x 284 mm) | 17.4”H x 8.5”W x 14.2”D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.5dB |
| Drivers | 1” Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5” passive radiators | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Weight | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator loaded | ported, rear |
| Crossover Frequency | 2000Hz | - |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 60W - 200W | - |
| Country | Denmark | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.84 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.61 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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