Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Swan Swan D2.1SE Speakers by jonbee

Model:	Swan D2.1SE
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$950
Description:	2 way stand mount
Manufacturer URL:	Swan
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee on November 02, 2008 at 09:57:36
IP Address: 71.231.105.127 Add Your Review
for the Swan D2.1SE

I've been watching the continued developement of Chines speaker manufacturers. The HiVi company has become a major OEM supplier, and they seem intent on making a bigger splash here in the finished speaker market. They have major resources to devote to this. When I read in Affordable Audio that the D2.1SE had won a ten speaker shootout against some pretty good speakers, I took notice. When a good used pair turned up. I thought I'd give them a spin.
These look outwardly a lot like an upsized version of the Quad 12L, with beautiful, heavy cabinetry with a very high gloss finish. Mine are in "rosewood", and the WAF is very high, at least with my wife. They weigh around 24 lbs. ea. and at 16" h x 12" deep, they are pretty big as standmounts go.
They use a 6.5" woofer that is very similar to the Dynaudio drivers, with a 3" voice coil and oversized dustcap. I've read that it is used in the $3000 Totem Forest floorstander that was highly praised by Stereophile. The tweeter is a 28 mm dome, with a German silk dome, ferrofluid, and a complex rear chamber.
Sound? The first thing I noticed is the middle part of the range, from 80 hz. to 3khz., is wonderful. The lack of coloration and balance in that critical range is as good as I have ever heard. Voices, piano, orchestal instruments have a harmonic balance and natural ease that is very engaging. Depth and ambience is quite good, but while not nearly as good as the best available, is as good as any at this price range.
The next thing I noticed is the bass. These have bass output to challenge a lot of small and medium floorstanders. They are definitely not voiced for small rooms. In my bedroom and office systems, they overloaded the room. Unless you are a bass freak, I would not consider them for a small room.
I have never had a small speaker that sounded full bodied in my living room. With two walls of glass and a soft wall behind, the room eats bass. I've had dozens of good small spkers in there, and they are all insufferably thin, including the Revel M20, which is known for its bass response, and even my Phil Jones designed AAD 2001 suffers a bit in there. Nonetheless, the D2.1SE loaded the room perfectly. It had good, even output into the mid 30s, and could play pretty loudly without distortion, despite the 85 db/w sensitivity. The bass tonality is a bit overly full, but there is no overhang or midbass obfuscation. Stand up bass sounds incredibly real.
I tried them with my subs crossed over at 35 hz., and found they really didn't need augmentation at the moderately loud volumes I listen at. They truly are a nearly full range standmount in for a medium sized or larger room.
The above range is covered largely by that 6.5" woofer, which is truly a great driver, imo.
The tweeter is not quite as good. It blends very well, and doesn't detract from the sound, but it is a bit rolled off on top, and the separation and delineation of the high end details is not as good as it could be to match the mids. Nonetheless, it is a musical presentation which is enjoyable and easy to listen to.
For me, I've decided to keep this pair, probably for video use. They are very natural and musical, don't require a sub for full range coverage, and look great.
Overall, while this speaker is not really fully competitive with the top shelf standmounts at $2k or more, at the $1k level they may well be the best available for music lovers with larger spaces.

Product Weakness:	Rolled off and a bit soft on top, not as open a soundstage as the best. They need space!
Product Strengths:	Smooth, perfectly balanced and uncolored middle range. Deep, powerful bass that needs a larger room. Beautiful cabinets.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: ps audio gcc250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): maxed out Modwright/sony 9100
Speakers: VMPS RM30, AAD 2001
Cables/Interconnects: all silver
Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots
Room Size (LxWxH): 16.5 x 19 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: room is a bit bright and eats bass energy
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	ps audio gcc250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	maxed out Modwright/sony 9100
Speakers:	VMPS RM30, AAD 2001
Cables/Interconnects:	all silver
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	16.5 x 19 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	room is a bit bright and eats bass energy
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner