Short answer: the Dynaudio Contour 20i for better sound quality, the Audio Craftsmen Victoria for the lower price. The Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #43 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $5750. The Audio Craftsmen Victoria ranks #67 at $4000, $1750 cheaper.
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.
What the Audio Craftsmen Victoria offers: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. Watch for: 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.
Buy the Dynaudio Contour 20i if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Audio Craftsmen Victoria if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Audio Craftsmen Victoria. It ranks near the bottom of the 84 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Contour 20i | Audio Craftsmen Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5750 | $4000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #43 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #67 of 84 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 |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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Audio Craftsmen Victoria: $4000 Discontinued
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.
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) |
| Dimensions | 15.9"H x 9.1"W x 14"D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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) |
| Weight | 37 lbs / 16.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons