Short answer: the Dynaudio Emit 30 for better sound quality, the Infinity Reference 253 for the lower price. The Dynaudio Emit 30 ranks #43 of 56 floorstanding speakers at $1274.25. The Infinity Reference 253 ranks #48 at $400, $874.25 cheaper.
On the Dynaudio Emit 30 side: A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. Set against that: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven - sometimes soft, sometimes forward - depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced.
What the Infinity Reference 253 offers: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Watch for: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange.
Buy the Dynaudio Emit 30 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Infinity Reference 253 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 56 floorstanding speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Emit 30 | Infinity Reference 253 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,274.25 | $400 used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #43 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #48 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25" mid-woofers, 1" soft dome tweeter | Dual 5.25" (130mm) CMMD™ woofers, 5.25" (130mm) flat-piston CMMD™ midrange, 1" (25mm) CMMD™ tweeter |
| Weight | 34.2 lbs / 15.5 kg | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 86.9dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Dimensions | 35.4"H x 6.7"W x 10.7"D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Handling | 180W (IEC rated) | - |
| Country of Origin | Denmark | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Sony SS-CS3
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Polk T50
- Sony SS-CS3 vs Magnepan LRS+
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- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Sony SS-CS3
The Two Speakers In Full
Dynaudio Emit 30: $1,274.25 Amazon
Pros: A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. The two woofers hand off at staggered crossover points (around 1kHz and 3.5kHz) rather than sharing one, which avoids the acoustic lobing a shared crossover point would cause between the tweeter and the lower woofer, and adds a few dB of sensitivity in the process. Genuinely deep bass for a speaker around this price - measured F3 near 44Hz and extends audibly down to about 40Hz in-room without much difficulty. Harmonic distortion measures clean and low at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Good CTA-2034 sound power and uniform directivity mean the speaker takes EQ correction well if a listener wants to dial in its one tonal weak point. Dynamic range and compression performance are strong overall, with only a minor, high-Q compression artifact tied to a cone-edge resonance that’s unlikely to be audible. Wide, consistent horizontal dispersion around ±70° with just a small ~10° narrowing between 1-3kHz, and a reasonably forgiving ±20° vertical window centered on the tweeter axis.
Cons: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven - sometimes soft, sometimes forward - depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced; male vocals can lack presence and cymbals can lack sizzle as a result. A cone-edge surround resonance shows up around 1-1.3kHz in burst-decay measurements (a trait the reviewer has also seen on other Dynaudio models) and lines up with elevated multitone distortion across roughly 600Hz-1.5kHz. An enclosure resonance appears around 350Hz in the impedance curve. Placed too close to a rear wall, the dual ports make the bass noticeably boomy - pulling the speaker out is needed to keep the low end from overloading the room. Fully resolving the top-end inconsistency needs a modest EQ correction (roughly +2dB with a Q of about 1, centered 3-6kHz), so out-of-the-box tonal accuracy in that band isn’t quite class-leading despite otherwise strong measured performance.
Full Dynaudio Emit 30 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | Denmark |
| Dimensions | 35.4"H x 6.7"W x 10.7"D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25" mid-woofers, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 180W (IEC rated) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Weight | 34.2 lbs / 15.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Polk T50
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Sony SS-CS3
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
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Infinity Reference 253: $400 used, Discontinued
Pros: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Really amazing value for the performance.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange. Vertical directivity requires staying at or below the tweeter axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m is broadly elevated above the reviewer’s audibility threshold across much of the midrange. Minimum impedance dips to 4.2 ohms. Discontinued.
Full Infinity Reference 253 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25" (130mm) CMMD™ woofers, 5.25" (130mm) flat-piston CMMD™ midrange, 1" (25mm) CMMD™ tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each |
| 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
- Infinity Reference 253 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Sony SS-CS3
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Magnepan LRS+
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Polk T50
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- Infinity Reference 253 vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Infinity Reference 253 vs JBL Studio 590
- See all 14 comparisons