Loudspeakers

Measured on the 28mm Esotar3 tweeter’s axis, the Confidence 60’s response shows a powerful (and low distortion) bass plus shallow dips at 1.8kHz – a mild midrange mode also seen on the CSD waterfall [Graph 2] – and at 12kHz [Graph 1, below]. These contribute to mere errors of ±2.5dB and ±2.3dB, respectively, while pair matching is a tight 0.75dB (all re. 200Hz-20kHz). The soft dome Esotar3 tweeter is free of ultrasonic breakup, has exceedingly low <0.1% THD (re. 10kHz/90dB SPL), and offers a strong response to 20kHz. Its output has a 2nd-order roll-off thereafter [pink shaded area, Graph 1], but still extending to a generous 32kHz (–6dB re. 10kHz). While this treble loss begins slightly earlier off-axis [grey trace], the off-axis uniformity of the entire DDC lens/waveguide is otherwise excellent, showing differences in forward response of just ±0.4dB over ±15°. By contrast, the grille has a disruptive effect, producing a 5dB notch at 3.5kHz [blue trace]. Leave it off for ‘serious’ sessions!

Sensitivity is rated at 87dB, and this is well met at 87.5dB/1m/2.83V (and 86.5dB averaged across 500Hz-8kHz). The down-firing port (split to exhaust to the left and right of the cabinet) is tuned to 20Hz but still has significant output from 15-60Hz, combining with the –6dB/38Hz roll-off of the two 230mm MSP woofers to deliver a deep, diffraction-corrected 28Hz extension (–6dB/200Hz). All this is achieved without hanging the amplifier out to dry. Dynaudio’s 3.7ohm/71Hz minimum impedance is realised as 3.6ohm/77Hz – worthy of a 4ohm nominal rating – while mere +36°/–34° swings in impedance phase through the bass brings a perfectly ‘driveable’ 1.9ohm/60Hz EPDR. PM