What do we have here?

Gorgeous craftsmanship - the dt8 on the left and the D20r on the right

On the face of it we have two similarly sized boxes, at different price points, with different driver technology.

The build quality of both is excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ProAc. That is solid, blessed with crisp edges and with superb quality wood veneers, available in a range of finishes to enhance any home.

So, how do they differ?

The ProAc Response DT8

The DT 8 is the entry point for ProAc floor standers. The speaker cabinets are cleverly designed, heavily braced, and damped to give the drive units a solid, low-noise foundation to work from.

The drive units are arranged in what is known as a D’appolito design, with two mid bass drivers one each side of the single dome tweeter. Treble is provided by a SEAS tweeter, manufactured to ProAc’s specification.

However, ProAc has approached the D’appolito format differently from most by using different mid bass drivers working in tandem, to get the best of all worlds - a polypropylene cone in the top unit shoots for natural mids, and a stiff poly mica diaphragm in the lower to deliver powerful-but-articulate bass. This is further supported by a ported cabinet with the bass loaded via side vents at the base of the speaker, making the speakers less fussy about room positioning than conventional rear-firing ported alternatives tend to be, but they will need some space around them.

As a result, this speaker delivers ProAc’s design criteria of an exceptional extended low frequency response along with their signature natural sounding midrange and pinpoint imagery.

Despite a nominal impedance of just 4ohms, the DT8 aren’t overly demanding of an amplifier. They’re pretty sensitive at 90dB, so there shouldn’t be an issue getting to high volume levels but, they need to be driven by an amplifier with good grip, control, and dynamics, such as the Rega Elicit, or even better, a Naim Supernait 3 or Rega Aethos.

ProAc Response D20R

The D20R is the second up entry point in the Response range, after the DT8. It carries a similar sized cabinet but uses a quite different design philosophy.

Here there is a single bass/midrange driver, featuring a glass fibre weave cone, Excel magnet system and a unique acrylic damping phase plug. The speaker here also features the optional ProAc ribbon tweeter, which is lighter than human hair, along with a rear chamber damping and alnico magnet. As with the DT8 this is further supported by a ported cabinet with the bass loaded via side vents at the base of the speaker.

All this is directed to meet the design criteria of an open and expansive midrange, with substantial bass and sweet and detailed high frequencies.

Again, they are pretty sensitive at 88dB, so there shouldn’t be an issue getting to high volume levels but, they need to be driven by an amplifier with good grip, control, and dynamics, such as the Naim Supernait 3 or Rega Aethos. Even better something like the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Pre-Amplifier and matching NAP 250 power amplifier.

How do they sound?

In our demonstration room, both were positioned about 0.5 metres from the rear wall and well away from the sidewalls, angled slightly towards the listening position to focus the stereo imaging.

We tested both with a Rega P10 record deck and Apheta 3 MC cartridge, Aria phono stage, Aethos integrated amplifier and Innuos Zen Mini streamer. Both speakers were in their element with this system as the amplifier provided with them with really good dynamic power and vice like control.

The demo room - The DT8’s on the end of the rega system showing great dynamics and finesse

Both speakers can be described as agile, articulate with expressive dynamics, with an insightful midrange and a taught punchy bass. Exactly what your music needs. Where they differ is that the DT8 was more upfront, but still delivers the essence of the music. The DT8s are exciting, particularly with rock and dance music. The D20R also delivers all of this but is more articulate, with greater insight, the instruments and voices having more shape and expressed micro-dynamics, so that you can delve deeper into the performance. The bottom end is tight and deep. Overall, a richer experience surely helped by the fantastic ribbon tweeter and wider soundstage.

You just get more.

Next the D20’s in situ - looking and sounding great

Conclusion

Both promise long-term listening pleasure, but they occupy different price points. In this context you would expect the D20R to be better overall, but the DT8 is good in its own right. So, there we have it. The more time we spend with the Response range, the more we like what they do.

Important Notice

On Saturday 16th September in the morning and afternoon we are holding a ProAc event at our Oxford store. We’d love you to come along. Details here

If you would like to listen to ProAc loudspeakers, please get in touch. We think you will be impressed, just like we are. We have a wealth of experience. We are all about the music and working with you to get the result you want.

What do you think of this kit? Would you like to listen to it? If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

Thanks for reading.

Rob & Jon - Audio T Oxford

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