18S

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz, Tidal, Denafrips Terminator+ clock-synced to Gaia/Avatar, Soundaware D100Pro SD card transport; Preamp: Passive Preamplifier icOn 4Pro SE w. 4th-order/40Hz hi/lo-pass; Power amps: LinnenberG Liszt, Kinki Studio EX-B7; Headamp: Kinki Studio Vision THR-1; Phones: HifiMan Susvara; Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Codex; Cube Audio Nenuphar; Aurai Audio M1 [on loan]; Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 4 x 6m with high gabled beam ceiling opening into 4 x 8m kitchen and 5 x 8m living room so no wall behind the listening chairs
2nd system: Source: Soundaware D300Ref SD transport; DAC: Denafrips Terminator; Preamp/filter: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature with Elrog ER50; Amplifier: Crayon CFA-1.2; Loudspeakers:sound|kaos Vox 3awf, Zu Submission sub; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan];  Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~4x6m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win7/64; USB bridge: Audiobyte Hydra X+; Headamp: COS Engineering H1; Phones: Final D8000; Powered speakers: Fram Audio Midi 120
Upstairs headfi/speaker system: Source: Soundaware A280 SD transport; Integrated amplifiers: Schiit Jotunheim R or Bakoon AMP-13R; Phones: Raal-Requisite SR1a; Loudspeakers: Acelec Model 1
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; DAC: Kinki Studio; Preamp: Wyred4Sound STP-SE II; Power amp: Pass Labs XA-30.8; Loudspeakers: German Physiks HRS-120; Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €1'390

Sub.stantial!
Pay €2'500 for Dynaudio's Sub 6. Hello privilege of satin black or white finishes with woofer grills. Or part with €1'379 for the 18S in their Pro line. Bye-bye grills, hello plainer black wrap. That's a substantial price difference for minor décor options of a virtually identical subwoofer.

Is it not?

Both models get the same 9.5" force-canceling woofers, the same 500-watt class D amp, the same feature set and business end, the same parametric EQ with 3 presets, the same dimensions, the same weight.

A difference that'll be irrelevant to owners of non Dynaudio mains is that the Sub 6 from the home range includes stored filter profiles for all of Dynaudio's speakers in their home line. The 18S shifts its presets to the Pro studio monitor brethren.

But according to Adam Riese, Germany's giant of mathematics, one could get nearly two Pro models for the price of one consumer model. Has something here gone… well, belly-up like this 18S at right?

Not really. It's just a reflection on different retail margins in two disparate market sectors. Being aware, the smart home money can find shopping pro-audio vendors like Thomann or Musotec a powerful sub.scription for higher returns on investment. Just be prepared for simpler finishes. Pros aren't willing to pay for gloss lacquers which will soon scratch in their rougher work environment. And why would professionals ever want grills to cover up their drive units?

For listeners like yours truly so strangely allergic to WiFi/Bluetooth radiation, the fact that these Dynaudio subwoofers are already a few years old means that an app-based GUI wasn't yet part of their brief. Hence there's no Bluetooth emitter to constantly broadcast like it does with SVS's just-released 3000 Micro to support their fashionable smartphone app. Sometimes the latest isn't necessarily the greatest. Sometimes looking in all the usual places won't net you the very best finds. After confirming with The Listening Suite's David Brown in County Wicklow that the 18S would be available again, I placed my order to replace the upstairs man-tall Zu Submission.