Massive Attack's Teardrop is as tough a test track as we can think of. It's got a seismic bassline that bludgeons most speakers into submission, and a complex production that interweaves a multitude of sounds to create a hard-hitting and dynamic soundscape.
Most small speakers just run and hide when asked to reproduce something like this, but not Dynaudio's Focus 110s.
These well-built standmounters barely top 30cm in height, but with the right kit and on stands, they produce a wall of sound that even the best rivals – take a bow ProAc's Studio 110s – struggle to match.
Enviable solidity
So why do we love these speakers? First, bass is weighty and powerful, something that pays dividends not only with the likes of Massive Attack, but also the gentler musings of Tracy Chapman's Let it Rain set, where there's an enviable amount of solidity to the earnest one's voice.
Second, these speakers love to play loud. When pushed hard they won't crack until well after the competition, which makes them ideal for when you're in the mood for cranking it up to eleven.
Yes, these Dynaudios have muscle when required, but there's also finesse in spades. The most gentle sections of Prokoviev's Romeo and Juliet are handled with the kid gloves they deserve, and the likes of Dvorak's New World shines due to the Dynaudios' combination of fine timing, dynamics and scale.
These 110s aren't flawless, though. That impressive bass can sound a touch heavy-handed at times – though you can minimise this by positioning the speakers and the rear-firing ports away from walls.
Some years ago, Dynaudio made some of our favourite standmount speakers in the sub-£1000 price category. With the Focus 110s, the company has done it again.
