Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It ranks #24 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $798; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Dynaudio Special Forty is the deeper-bass pick. Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 77.6Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. Watch for: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 is the more accurate choice. A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.33 against 4.73 for the Dynaudio Special Forty. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price.
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
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $798 per pair |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | 5.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | 7.99 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak |
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