Short answer: the Revel Concerta2 M16. It ranks #37 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $600; the Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #45 and costs $5750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Revel Concerta2 M16: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. The tradeoff: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter.
What the Dynaudio Contour 20i gets right: Two-way design with a 1.125” Esotar2i silk dome tweeter and a 7” magnesium silicate polymer woofer in a vented enclosure. The catch: Notably room-dependent: sounds too bright in the lower treble in smaller rooms with close sidewalls, needing sidewall absorption to sound neutral.
Buy the Revel Concerta2 M16. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Contour 20i and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel Concerta2 M16 | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | about $600 used | $5750 |
| Ranked | #37 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Weight | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 86dB | 82.5dB |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) | 17.4"H x 8.5"W x 14.2"D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- ELAC DBR62 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Infinity Reference R162
The Two Speakers In Full
Revel Concerta2 M16: about $600 used
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. Predicted in-room response is very nice, with just extra bass and a bit of roll-off above 20kHz - the reviewer calls it “nice!” Distortion is well controlled through most of the range at both test levels.
Cons: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some lingering resonances in the 300Hz-1kHz region. The reviewer cautions not to over-cover the cabinet/grille area with thin fabric, as it can audibly affect the top-end response.
Full Revel Concerta2 M16 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB |
| Weight | 32 lbs / 14.5 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
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DB63
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- See all 10 comparisons
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs ELAC DBR62
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Infinity Reference R162
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Danley SH50
- Dynaudio Contour 20i vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- See all 10 comparisons