Cutting-edge acoustic technology in a classic Dynaudio design

Dynaudio just unveiled its brand-new 40th anniversary loudspeaker – the Special Forty – at the 2017 High End Show in Munich. The team in Dynaudio Labs used the anniversary edition project as an opportunity to study and improve some of Dynaudio’s most celebrated technologies – making new steps in tweeter, woofer and crossover design in the process.

The Dynaudio Special Forty features:

  • A brand-new tweeter: the Esotar Forty, exclusive to this model
  • A specially optimised all-new 17cm woofer
  • Classic Dynaudio first-order crossover topology
  • Two unique high-gloss finishes: Grey Birch and Red Birch

The Special Forty’s new tweeter and woofer both utilize extended frequency ranges to improve the integration between the drivers. The technologies of the Esotar Forty tweeter are based on the venerable Esotar2, and its robust design allows it to effectively play down to the upper midrange – around 1000Hz – without adverse effects. The Esotar Forty tweeter includes a precision-coated soft-dome diaphragm, a new, ultra-powerful high-grade neodymium magnet, a new magnet system with optimised airflow, a new reflection-absorbing felt ring, and Dynaudio’s signature ferrofluid-damped aluminium voice-coil. Performance is highlighted by a significantly lower resonance frequency and further minimized distortion.

The woofer – Dynaudio’s best 17cm model yet – can easily handle frequencies up to 4000Hz thanks to Dynaudio’s proprietary Magnesium Silicate Polymer (MSP) diaphragm material and the geometrically optimised one-piece moulded cone design. This uses the centre of the cone to reproduce midrange frequencies by coupling it directly to the voice-coil. The woofer features a new, higher-grade neodymium magnet utilized in an updated hybrid magnet system, a new fiberglass voice coil former, a new Nomex spider suspension, and optimized mechanical symmetry to minimize distortion and maximize power handling.

Dynaudio’s engineers have taken great care to ensure that the frequency overlap happens in the drivers themselves, rather than correcting or tweaking the signal in the crossover. The phase-aligned and impedance-linearized crossover is derived from classic Dynaudio first-order topology – something the company has been continuously refining for decades. Select high-grade components and Dynaudio’s 40 years of design experience have made it incredibly refined. Internal wiring is high-quality OFC copper wire sourced from van den Hul.

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Other innovations:

The AirFlow Basket (which holds the driver motor securely in place in the cabinet without transferring unwanted vibration): Its specially shaped aerodynamic ribs reduce internal reflections and help improve airflow behind the cone without compromising the basket’s stiffness or stability.

The woofer’s hybrid magnet system: This sits inside the voice-coil rather than outside in order to better immerse the voice-coil’s aluminium wire in magnetic flux for more power and better efficiency. The magnetic energy is supplied by the powerful neodymium magnet, while a gentler ferrite magnet controls its direction to where it’s needed most: around the coil.

The two exclusive finishes: The Special Forty takes Dynaudio’s celebrated anniversary-model finishes to a new level with high-gloss lacquered Grey Birch and Red Birch cross-cut sandwich veneers. Both vividly highlight the wood grain for a truly striking appearance.

Otto Jørgensen, Dynaudio Product Manager, says: “We didn’t want to rest on our laurels with the Special Forty. We’ve studied the techniques and technologies that brought Dynaudio so much success in the past, and brought them up to date in our new Dynaudio Labs facility. We wanted to revisit those innovations and see what we’d do differently this time – and Dynaudio’s 40th birthday was the perfect time for it.”

Dynaudio Special Forty – technical specifications:

Frequency response (+/- 3dB): 41Hz – 23kHz

Impedance: 6 ohms

Sensitivity: 86dB (2.83V/1m)

Crossover: Two-way, first-order topology

Dimensions (W x H x D): 19.8 x 36 x 30.7cm; (7.8″ x 14.2″ x 12.1″)

The Special Forty will begin shipping in the USA in June, 2017 and will be priced at $2,999.00 per pair.

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About Dynaudio
Dynaudio was founded in 1977 in Skanderborg, Denmark. Today, Dynaudio is recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of high quality audio systems and one of the world’s most distinguished high-end audio companies. Dynaudio develops and manufactures dedicated audio systems for the professional markets as well as car audio and home audio consumer loudspeaker products at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Denmark. Dynaudio is particularly recognised for its advanced driver technology designed, engineered, and continuously developed in-house, and its furniture-grade, handcrafted Danish cabinetry.