We measured the frequency response of the ZS Acoustics-Dynaudio
Contour 20i SE speaker system in the living room and on the balcony.
It cannot be emphasized enough that room acoustics are very important when listening
to music. We wanted to find out what the frequency response of the very successful
ZS Acoustics-Dynaudio Contour 20i SE speaker system would be in the living room and
outside on the balcony. You could hear and see these speakers at the Audio Video
Kino exhibition.
On the balcony we had sound reflections from the floor, from the window on the left
and from the small side walls that were part of the balcony. To a small extent, the
measurement could also be influenced by the balcony grilles. Therefore, the measurement
on the balcony only approximated the anechoic chamber acoustically. Therefore, the
fluctuations would be even less in the anechoic chamber.
But even so, the measurement with a 1/3 octave filter not only meets the frequency
range that the manufacturer Dynaudio measured, but exceeds it. It plays from 35 Hz
and remains in the -3db band. The manufacturer measured 39 Hz in the anechoic chamber.
The living room is partially acoustically treated. In this living room, books helped
a lot. When we listen to music, we open the cabinet doors so that the books partially
dampen the sound. That's how it was measured and in the sweet spot. On the back there
are GIK Monster panels with a scatter plates. In the right corner behind the speakers
and on the right side there are also GIK Monster panels. Three of them can be put
away so that they are not in the way when we are no longer listening to music. The
room still remains and functions as a living room. In the second measurement, we
see the frequency response with a 1/3 octave filter in the living room.
In the living room, the speakers were able to play from 26Hz -3dB, but below 100Hz
there are larger fluctuations + - 4.5dB. At higher frequencies, the curve is smooth,
because the fluctuations are only + - 2db.
At the exhibition in the room, we heard a 25Hz sine wave signal and in this living
room as well.
Manufacturers always measure with a 1/3 octave filter. When I measure room acoustics,
I measure with a 1/12 octave smoothing filter, because it is a more accurate and
detailed measurement, where even narrow lows and peaks appear.
We measured anyway. The third graph is on the balcony and the fourth graph is in
the living room.
On the balcony, the entire frequency band fits within + - 4.5 dB.
In the living room, it is + - 9.5 dB. The difference between them is already large.
What frequency fluctuations do I usually measure when I am called for a measurement?
On average + -20dB. Compared to a poorly acoustic room, this speaker system sounds
super balanced and has negligible fluctuations.
We used the amplifier Electrocompaniet ECI6 MKII
Cables ZS Acoustics Tenor RCA, ZS Acoustics Tenor loudspeakers cable
Platform under speaker ZS Acoustics Ceramic Isolation Platform
