Dynaudio Confidence 20A active speakers

This loudspeaker, like some others on the market, represent the new demands of the market, albeit in this case aimed at a wealthy audience that wants a product without compromise. And more and more are the companies, KEF first, but to follow some others such as Focal with the Diva Mezza Utopia for example, that have embraced the philosophy of the amplified, indeed, multi-amped active Hi-End loudspeaker. Each manufacturer according to its own tastes and visions, no doubt, and these Confidence 20As are certainly no exception.

Without even unwrapping them, from the specifications alone, we understood many things. First of all, they are not equipped with Media Player, Dynaudio -not wrongly- wanted to call itself out of a market far too full of competitors and pitfalls, debuting with a product that sounds “only,” leaving all other functions outside. The inputs are XLR, AES/EBU, (USB-B is only for Software Update) another VERY smart choice: balanced connections of whatever type are the only ones that guarantee almost infinite lengths without interference, and these speakers can be installed in any room leaving the analog or digital source even far away.

To those who object that the maximum accepted frequency of AES/EBU is 192/24 PCM, which in fact corresponds with the maximum accepted frequency of the speaker, we reply that there is a refined reasoning of Dynaudio behind it. The internal DSP, no DSP, can handle DSD streams, so in any case you would have to convert to DSD over PCM, and, again according to Dynaudio, sample rates above 192/24 greatly worsen the work of the DSP, taking into account that a good part of streaming services reach those samples at most, they preferred to make a choice that all in all we fully support.

And where is the volume ?

There is no ! No level control on the Confidence 20As, that is left to the source, whether analog or digital. And certainly for long-time enthusiasts like us this is a bit perplexing. To control the level you will have to use the analog volume knob on the preamplifier, if you opt for analog, or the software one if you use a media-player, as we did von the Rivo + from Volumio and Roon.

"A" stands for Active

An active speaker is equipped with an amplifier for each individual driver. Confidence 20A uses Pascal modules, already exploited in the company’s professional designs. The Esotar 3 tweeters have a 150 W power amp, while the 18cm NeoTec drivers have a 400 W section. And here’s an interesting fact: the DSP that drives the drivers limits the amplifier so that it does not exceed maximum excursion, and this allows even very high volumes to be reached without distortion and without danger to the speakers.

Controls are located on the back, built into the aluminum stand that acts as a heat sink as well as helping to form part of the bass-reflex port, facing downward. The controls are numerous: left/right positioning, analog input sensitivity, sound customization filters (“Dark”, “Neutral” and “Bright” derived from Dynaudio’s professional products), upsampling to keep the or not the native resolution of the file, and finally room placement (“Wall”, “Corner” and “Free”). On this last control we would like to emphasize the fact that being able to do it separately for each speaker it is possible to compensate for different placements, in fact not always both have the same surfaces surrounding them, one might be corner, and the other free, a situation by the way quite frequent, and in this case different adjustments can be made.

The drivers are those of the Confidence 20, optimized for active use. The Esotar 3 tweeter represents the ultimate from the Danish manufacturer. 28 mm with a coated soft dome, supported by the innovative Hexis internal structure that eliminates unwanted resonances. Inside, an aluminum voice coil minimizes mass to ensure faster and more accurate response, while the powerful neodymium magnet system ensures high sensitivity and absolute dynamic range. Finally, a damped metal rear chamber designed to lower resonant frequencies and improve sound clarity. Its performance is such that it has earned a place of honor among the main M-series monitors used in some of the world’s most renowned recording studios.

No less sophisticated is the 18-cm NeoTec woofer, equipped with a neodymium motor and integrated ventilation system to optimize airflow. The aluminum voice coil, mounted on a fiberglass backing, provides rigidity and control, while the MSP (magnesium silicate polymer) cone, the brand’s true trademark, ensures precision and robustness. Even such a seemingly trivial detail as the bass reflex port has been the subject of in-depth research. Indeed, in the Confidence 20A model, it is not a simple hole, but an engineered component with double exponential flaring. This solution dramatically reduces turbulence noise, with immediate effects on the overall performance: fuller and more defined bass, more precise vocals, clearer bows and greater impact in transients. Behind every component of the Confidence 20A, then, lies a focused and meticulous design, the result of years of research and an almost obsessive attention to detail. An achievement that the brand’s engineers can claim with legitimate pride.

Multiamplified active? Yes, thank you !

There is a moment, when you press play, when time seems to stop. The Confidence 20As do not ask permission: they brazenly take the stage with a naturalness that leaves you bewildered. The sonic imprint is clear, sharp, and above all consistent with the Danish brand’s tradition, but here taken to a level rarely encountered in a stand-mounted speaker, a clear sign that active multiamplification (we talked about passive here with a YT video and here with a dedicated article) allows you to take that step forward, to climb that rung, that any passive technique fails to do. The Esotar 3 tweeter can be heard, the high frequencies are never sharp or fatiguing: detail is very fine, but always very smooth. Cymbals shine without ever being harsh, concert hall reverberations open up into a deep, three-dimensional soundscape. There is a sense that the air itself becomes an integral part of the music, bringing with it nuances that often remain hidden. The middle register is probably the area where the 20As impress the most. Voices emerge with a realism that can be both intimate and powerful. A singer materializes before the listener while the string quartet reveals the complex texture of each instrument.

There is never compression, never flattening: the sound breathes, expands, maintains a naturalness that invites you to listen. When the 18 cm NeoTec woofer comes into play, you can tell that nothing is left to chance. The bass range is deep but perfectly controlled: it doesn’t encroach, it doesn’t mush. A plucked double bass can be heard with its full chord, an electronic speaker has weight and speed, without artificial bulges. Credit probably goes to the exponential tuning system, which helps to return a precise, articulate bass, never indistinct. Another strength is spatial reconstruction. The Confidence 20As manage to draw a wide, believable soundstage, with instruments and voices surgically placed. It is not just about width: the depth and height of the stage convey the feeling of being inside the recording. In a well-recorded live performance, the audience seems to surround the listener, while in a symphony orchestra the woodwinds and strings are placed with almost holographic precision. Whether it is a delicate pianissimo or an orchestral explosion, the 20A responds without hesitation. The dynamics are wide, energetic, and always under control. There is never that feeling of fatigue often encountered with lower-end speakers when the volume goes up. Everything here remains clear, coherent, and above all exciting.

Beautiful and possible

Custom-designed by the Danish manufacturer for those who want the best without taking the responsibility of choosing amplification and wiring: the Confidence 20A so they know no compromise. They reveal every detail, but do so with grace and musicality. Their strength is their ability to combine technical precision and emotion, rigor and poetry. No wonder they share components with the house professional monitors: their transparency and fidelity to the musical message are absolute. They demand space, attention and electronics to match, but they know how to repay with a listening experience that hardly leaves you indifferent. Once tried, going back becomes almost impossible.

Technical characteristics