Short answer: the Perlisten A3m. It ranks #51 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $3,000; the Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #96, rated 3.9/5, and costs $5,750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Perlisten A3m is the better-sounding pick. A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater. The tradeoff: The low-quality vendor Spinorama data measures only 85.8Hz at -3dB, 74.1Hz at -6dB, and 55.7Hz at -12dB, conflicting with Perlisten’s much deeper in-room extension claim.
The Dynaudio Contour 20i is the deeper-bass pick. Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 3dB, against 85.8Hz for the Perlisten A3m. The tradeoff: 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 Perlisten A3m. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Contour 20i and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Perlisten A3m | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,000 per pair | $5750 per pair |
| Ranked | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Enclosure | Sealed | - |
| Drivers | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m | 82.5dB |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum | 4 ohms |
| Dimensions | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each | 17.4”H x 8.5”W x 14.2”D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Maximum SPL | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | - |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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