Dynaudio Special Forty Bookshelf Speakers - Ebony Wave, Pair

Forty Years of Danish Excellence in Limited Anniversary Edition

• Brand/Model/Finish: Dynaudio Special Forty - Ebony Wave

• Condition: New In Box, special order never delivered

• Retail: $3,599/pair

• Configuration: 2-way bass reflex bookshelf monitor

• Design: Anniversary edition with rare Ebony Wave veneer

• What's Included: Professionally repackaged in original manufacturer carton with all inserts, accessories, manuals, etc. included

• Warranty: Backed by the manufacturer's original 5-year equipment warranty

From Garage to Grammy Awards - Born in the Shed, Heard Around the World

Founded in 1977 by Wilfried Ehrenholz in Skanderborg, Denmark, Dynaudio began with a radical premise: control every aspect of speaker design by manufacturing drivers in-house. This vertical integration philosophy, rare even today, meant Dynaudio could pursue uncompromising neutrality rather than working around supplier limitations. The company's early years in converted farm buildings established the meticulous approach that would eventually place Dynaudio monitors in the world's most prestigious recording studios.

Anniversary Engineering Excellence

• 28mm Esotar Forty Tweeter: Refined soft-dome from $85,000 Evidence series

• 17cm MSP Woofer: Proprietary Magnesium Silicate Polymer cone

• First-Order Crossover: Mundorf capacitors with phase-coherent design

• Airflow-Optimized Port: Rear-firing with computational fluid dynamics profile

• Constrained-Layer Cabinet: 18mm MDF with advanced damping

• Ebony Wave Finish: Special-order veneer with hand-matched grain patterns

The breakthrough came with the development of MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone material. After a decade of research, Dynaudio created a proprietary compound combining paper's natural tonality, metal's precision, and polymer's consistency - without their individual weaknesses. This material, manufactured exclusively in Skanderborg using specialized equipment, became Dynaudio's signature. Combined with their Esotar soft-dome tweeter technology, these innovations established Dynaudio as the neutral reference standard for professional studios worldwide.

Performance Specifications

• Frequency Response: 41Hz-23kHz ±3dB

• Sensitivity: 86dB @ 2.83V/1m

• Impedance: 6 ohms nominal

• Power Handling: 200W recommended

• Crossover: 2,000Hz first-order

• Dimensions: 7.8"W × 14.1"H × 10.9"D

• Weight: 18 lbs each

Today, Dynaudio monitors are trusted in facilities including Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios London, and BBC Broadcasting House. When mastering engineers making final decisions on platinum recordings choose your speakers, neutrality isn't marketing - it's mandatory. The Special Forty celebrates four decades of this uncompromising approach, incorporating technologies from their flagship Evidence series into bookshelf monitors that deliver professional-grade reproduction.

Danish Craftsmanship Details

• Hand-Assembled in Skanderborg factory

• Scandinavian wool internal damping

• Gold-plated binding posts

• Magnetic grille attachment system

• Chamfered baffle for reduced diffraction

• Time-aligned driver configuration

Brand Philosophy: Authentic Sound Above All Else

Dynaudio's philosophy rejects the common practice of "voicing" speakers to sound impressive in showrooms. Instead, they pursue absolute neutrality - speakers that neither add nor subtract from recordings. This approach means some recordings may sound harsh or thin through Dynaudio speakers, but that's because the recording itself has those characteristics. For listeners who want to hear exactly what artists and engineers created, without editorialization, Dynaudio represents the ultimate truth-teller.

The Special Forty wasn't just another anniversary model - it represented Dynaudio's challenge to themselves: create the ultimate expression of their philosophy in bookshelf form. The Esotar Forty tweeter adapts technology from their $85,000 Evidence Master, while the MSP woofer incorporates refinements from four decades of manufacturing experience. Even the crossover received special attention, with Mundorf capacitors and minimal phase shift maintaining the time coherence essential for accurate reproduction.

Timeline Context: Four Decades of Innovation

• 1977: Company founded with in-house driver manufacturing

• 1989: Esotar tweeter revolutionizes soft-dome technology

• 1991: First automotive partnership with Volvo

• 2002: MSP cone material perfected

• 2017: Special Forty launched for 40th anniversary

Geographic Context: Where Danish Minimalism Meets German Precision

Skanderborg's location in central Denmark, near the German border, influences Dynaudio's unique character. Danish design principles - elegant minimalism, functional beauty, sustainable materials - guide aesthetic decisions. German engineering precision influences manufacturing tolerances and quality control. The Special Forty embodies this cultural fusion: Scandinavian elegance in the Ebony Wave finish, Germanic precision in drivers matched to 0.5dB tolerances. This geographic convergence creates speakers that satisfy both emotional and analytical listeners, bridging the gap between art and science.

What makes these particular units extraordinary is their Ebony Wave finish - a special-order veneer that Dynaudio rarely produces. Originally commissioned by a customer who changed plans before delivery, these speakers feature wood grain patterns that flow across the cabinet like liquid, creating visual depth that matches their sonic sophistication. This finish requires hand-matching grain patterns across pairs, ensuring visual continuity that elevates these speakers from audio equipment to sculptural art.

Experience Anniversary Excellence Today

The Special Forty in rare Ebony Wave represents an extraordinary opportunity - Dynaudio's 40th anniversary statement in their most exclusive finish, available new-in-box due to a cancelled special order. With driver technology from their flagship series, construction quality rivaling speakers at twice the price, and a finish that may never be produced again, these speakers offer both sonic excellence and collectible value. Transform your listening space with four decades of Danish engineering excellence - add this anniversary masterpiece to your cart now.

Price shown is for one stereo pair. 

Established in 1981, Audio Advisor, Inc. has served more than one million audiophiles over the past 40+ years. We are authorized dealers for everything we sell. This product includes our 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee.