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John
Danish loudspeaker company Dynaudio has announced reworked versions of their Xeo 4 (standmount) and Xeo 6 (floorstanding) active loudspeaker models.
The incoming models hold tight to their predecessors’ driver complement with a 28mm Esotec soft dome tweeter augmented by an in-house developed 14cm MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) mid/bass driver in the standmount Xeo 20 (€2199/pair) and an additional 14cm MSP bass driver in the floorstanding Xeo 30 (€3599/pair).
Each driver is powered by a 65 Watt amplifier (up from 50 Watts found in the outgoing Xeo 4), tailored to meet input impedance swings across its required bandwidth, and crossed over in the digital domain with DSP.
In moving from Xeo 4/6 to Xeo 20/30, Dynaudio has overhauled the DSP crossover to add more processing power, lower EQ dosing and implement a larger overlap between drivers at their crossover points. This new tuning has reportedly been heavily influenced by Dynaudio’s LYD 5 pro monitors (video here) with improvements to bass and off-axis response as well as the position-compensation algorithm: better sound quality whether standing in free space, against a wall or in a corner.
On the outside, we note rounded-cornered cabinets, a slot-type bass port on the rear, all-black metal grilles and the relocation of the remote receiver from its previous (odd-looking) location on top of the loudspeaker to just below the mid-bass driver. The supplied remote wand has also been redesigned.
Connecting outside to inside, the Xeo 20/30 have inherited the baby Xeo 2’s connectivity (review here). Hardwired hook-ups come from 24bit/96kHz-capable TOSLINK, RCA analogue and 3.5mm analogue plus wireless from aptX Bluetooth or the optional Dynaudio Connect transmitter box.
Points of order: aptX Bluetooth isn’t CD quality and there’s no word from Dynaudio on the inclusion of the similarly lossy AAC codec that keeps iPhone users away from the weaker-sounding SBC. For the tech savvy user seeking Roon Readiness, Squeezebox emulation or MPD, the lossless Connect box might prove a tough sell sat next to a TOSLINK-HATted small board computer like the Raspberry Pi 3.
The similarities to the Xeo 2 don’t end there: the master Xeo 20/30 loudspeaker handles signal splitting and hands it off to the slave speaker via a separate 24bit/96kHz wireless connection.
Moving from the press release to Dynaudio’s website, we note the Xeo 20/30’s user manual makes mention of a Xeo 10 whose line drawings look strikingly similar to the Xeo 2. Perhaps the Xeo 2 is next in line for a nip n’ tuck or a straight rebrand? Time will tell.
The Xeo 20 and Xeo 30 are available now in black or white satin finishes.
Further information: Dynaudio
