Short answer: the Danley SH50. It ranks #37 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #43.
What the Danley SH50 offers: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. Watch for: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening.
What the Dynaudio Contour 20i offers: Two-way design with a 1.125” Esotar2i silk dome tweeter and a 7” magnesium silicate polymer woofer in a vented enclosure. 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 Danley SH50 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Dynaudio Contour 20i if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Danley SH50 | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Contact dealer | $5750 |
| Ranked | #37 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #43 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.5dB |
| Impedance | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Drivers | Two 12" woofers; four 5" midranges; 1" compression driver in Synergy horn | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Coverage | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical | - |
| Dimensions | 28"H x 28"W x 25.5"D | 17.4"H x 8.5"W x 14.2"D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Weight | 133 lb each | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg each |
| Max SPL | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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- JTR Noesis 210HT vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Danley SH50 vs Triad In-Room Gold LCR
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Audio Craftsmen Victoria
The Two Speakers In Full
Danley SH50: Contact dealer Danley Dealer Contact
Pros: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. Erin measured roughly 97dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, an F3 near 60Hz and extraordinary output. Distortion stayed below 1% above about 60Hz at 86dB, and compression remained negligible above roughly 70Hz even at 102dB. Broad response trends can be corrected with DSP without destroying the controlled radiation pattern.
Cons: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening. Its narrow 50° coverage demands precise aiming and provides a small sweet area close up. Erin measured impedance just below 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz; the high sensitivity eases voltage demand, but professional use still warrants a robust dedicated amplifier and DSP. A resonance/second-harmonic distortion feature around 900Hz and smaller nonminimum-phase response features cannot be fully equalized. Subwoofers remain appropriate below the approximately 60Hz measured F3.
Full Danley SH50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical |
| Dimensions | 28"H x 28"W x 25.5"D |
| Drivers | Two 12" woofers; four 5" midranges; 1" compression driver in Synergy horn |
| Impedance | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Max SPL | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 133 lb each |
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Dynaudio Contour 20i: $5750 Safeandsoundhq
Pros: Two-way design with a 1.125” Esotar2i silk dome tweeter and a 7” magnesium silicate polymer woofer in a vented enclosure. A shallow bass rolloff profile lets it sit closer to a wall (about 1-2 feet worked best in testing) without becoming boomy, and makes subwoofer integration comparatively easy. Very wide horizontal radiation (about ±70° through the midrange) gives an enveloping, spacious sound in a suitably sized room. On-axis response holds within about ±3dB overall and ±1.5dB through the midrange. Attractive build quality with a distinctive metal front baffle and gloss finish options. Long-term compression stays good up to 96dB, and short-term compression is within about 0.5dB at that same level.
Cons: 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. A roughly 2dB lift in the lower treble combined with wide dispersion means more energy reflecting off sidewalls than some listeners will prefer. Relatively low sensitivity (about 82.5dB measured). Unusually sensitive to amplifier output impedance - high-output-impedance amps like tube or SET designs introduce up to a 2dB dip in the midrange, making the sound more mellow rather than “warmer,” the opposite of what many tube-amp buyers expect. Elevated harmonic and multitone distortion around 700Hz, which the reviewer attributes to typical cone-edge/surround behavior common across many driver brands, though it stands out on the measurement graphs. An upper-midrange dip around 2kHz can reduce attack and clarity on vocals and brass instruments. Vertical listening window is fairly narrow (roughly -20° to +30°) - moving outside that range causes a noticeable tonal shift, unlike coaxial designs that tolerate more vertical movement.
Full Dynaudio Contour 20i review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 17.4"H x 8.5"W x 14.2"D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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