Short answer: the Dynaudio Contour 20i. It ranks #60 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $5,750. The Audio Craftsmen Victoria ranks #102, rated 3.1/5, at $4,000, $1,750 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Dynaudio Contour 20i: 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.
What the Audio Craftsmen Victoria does well: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. The catch: A notably thin, hollow midrange (a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide) reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design.
One note: the Audio Craftsmen Victoria is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
Buy the Dynaudio Contour 20i. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $1,750 with the Audio Craftsmen Victoria does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Contour 20i | Audio Craftsmen Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5750 per pair | $4000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #60 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #102 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 65Hz (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) | 15.9”H x 9.1”W x 14”D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB | 83.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) each | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.34 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Dynaudio Contour 20i: $5750 per pair Safe and Sound HQ eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-3dB).
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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 |
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Audio Craftsmen Victoria: $4000 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. Wide, enveloping horizontal radiation of about ±70° through the midrange and lower treble. Low, well-controlled distortion overall, staying below about 1% up to roughly 100Hz at both 86dB and 96dB. Easy to drive electrically (minimum impedance about 7.3 ohms, minimum EPDR 4.4 ohms), fine for most Class AB amplifiers. Best placed closer to the rear wall (about 6 inches to a foot) rather than the typical 1-meter recommendation, reducing a mid-range cancellation dip that worsens with more wall clearance. Measured bass extension of 65Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.7dB.
Cons: A notably thin, hollow midrange (a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide) reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design. Very light bass overall; a subwoofer is recommended for both deep bass (30-40Hz) and even basic mid-bass kick (50-80Hz). Highly aiming-dependent in the treble: toeing the speaker away from the listener (about 30°) causes a significant loss of high-frequency shimmer and detail. A crossover handoff mismatch between the mid-woofer and tweeter shows up in directivity measurements, correlating with the midrange dip. Multitone distortion becomes elevated around 1kHz at higher output levels, confirmed through careful band-pass diagnostic testing and independently corroborated by another reviewer’s similar impression. Limited dynamic range below about 100Hz at higher volumes: driver excursion appears suspension-limited, causing real compression above roughly 90dB for a pair at typical listening distances. Below-average sensitivity (about 84dB versus a typical 85-86dB for bookshelf speakers) partly offsets its easy-to-drive impedance. Not well suited to listening beyond about 10 feet or much above 85-90dB. Discontinued.
Full Audio Craftsmen Victoria review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.9”H x 9.1”W x 14”D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| Weight | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons