AXPONA 2026: Dutch & Dutch 15C Speakers

[TheKoC]

I wonder how the 15C would compare soundwise to the Genelec 1236A. If you have the place ...

I'd prefer a side-by-side demo with a more modern design, the 8381As. Also, a bargain in comparison

 

[MayI]

I wonder how the 15C would compare soundwise to the Genelec 1236A. If you have the place ...

Or JBL M2s + subs? The list could go on...;-)

 

[DanielT]

These JBL cinema speakers with dual 15 woofers have been mentioned before in other threads when talking about SPL capabilities:


They can occasionally be found for a reasonable price on the used market:

 

[LTig]

It would be unfair, 1236A has 4 times (or more, 2 x18" there) of air-pushing capacity.

.. at a similar price? It's difficult to find prices for the big Genelecs but I saw something around €/$ 30k per piece.

 

[LTig]

I'd prefer a side-by-side demo with a more modern design, the 8381As. Also, a bargain in comparison

Agreed, that's size and performance wise a better match.

 

[mwmkravchenko]

It would be unfair, 1236A has 4 times (or more, 2 x18" there) of air-pushing capacity.

Would you be interested in an accurate comparison?

Mark

 

[antcollinet]

We had a kind invitation to come after the show closed to hear the D&D 15C "properly." And by properly, I mean live sound levels! In a hotel lobby no less!!!
View attachment 526350
As I have mentioned, these speakers are massive in volume. You don't know how big they are until you stand next to them, or look at the rear dual drivers.

These brought the house down! Nothing remotely in the show was playing at such levels.

Just one word: amazing!

If you have a large space, enjoy playing loud as much as I do, and want accurate sound, and spare change ($> 120K), these are the speakers for you.

Note that these are prototypes, driven by the amps and boxes you see in the middle. They weigh over 300 pounds and took four people to place on the stands.

What I love about this post is just how good those tracks sound (especially the second) cranked up on my somewhat more modest speakers (25 year old Castle Avons at £60) and sub (£400) in my tiny (3.5m by 4m) media room.

Though I would love to hear those 15Cs at full tilt.

 

[Sokel]

Would you be interested in an accurate comparison?

Mark

I would, but in terms of what?
Pure SPL ability?

15C falls into a strange category though, with its nicely finished cabinet (although super ugly, still, )
Can it even be flush- mounted or used at its side as that's the intended use of monitors like 1236A?

.. at a similar price? It's difficult to find prices for the big Genelecs but I saw something around €/$ 30k per piece.

Yes, 30k euro/piece street price last time I asked 3 years ago, plus tax, etc. but they also said it varies from time to time.

 

[Sonny1]

I spoke with one of the D&D guys and joked that I needed a bigger system with more bass. He said they were developing a subwoofer stand they would increase the bass output capability. He said the new stand requires you to flip the monitor to align the tweeter to the proper height. I was joking but can’t imagine anyone needing more bass than this speaker can produce.

 

[mwmkravchenko]

Pure SPL ability?

We both know it's all I can do. The Genelec uses what appears to be a PHL driver. The cabinet is huge. And ported. I simmed both set of loudspeakers. The Genelec in the 600 litre enclosure has greater output at 22 hertz than the 15C. But, make it equal. Put the Dutch&Dutch 15's in the large enclosure, they dominate.

Soffit mounting requires correct design from the get go. The 15C is not designed for that application.

As you say. The 15C is finely finished a very different breed of loudspeaker. Radiation patterns are different. Design choices are different.

Mark

 

[SSS]

Well, the other way to look at it is how expensive everything has gotten. Took our Airstream RV Van to Mercedes for routine maintenance. And lane avoidance not working. Otherwise, the Sprinter van was working perfectly. The bill? A cool $6,000! I can just imagine how much they would charge if something was really broken in the darn thing. They charged me $305 per hour while hunting to find the lane avoidance issue! I thought this is what lawyers charged, not car technicians.

6k is really heavy even for Germany. But Mercedes service charges here from around 200 to 300 EURO depending on what work and what city and region. Driving Mercedes is not cheap even in the land of its origin.

 

[jmdesignz2]

We had a kind invitation to come after the show closed to hear the D&D 15C "properly." And by properly, I mean live sound levels! In a hotel lobby no less!!!
View attachment 526350
As I have mentioned, these speakers are massive in volume. You don't know how big they are until you stand next to them, or look at the rear dual drivers.

These brought the house down! Nothing remotely in the show was playing at such levels.

Just one word: amazing!

If you have a large space, enjoy playing loud as much as I do, and want accurate sound, and spare change ($> 120K), these are the speakers for you.

Note that these are prototypes, driven by the amps and boxes you see in the middle. They weigh over 300 pounds and took four people to place on the stands.

So they only played Techno / Progressive Psytrance music on the Dutch and Dutch 15c?
How did they sound on Firebird Suite or well mastered, high quality, dynamic, acoustic tracks?

 

[jmdesignz2]

I spoke with one of the D&D guys and joked that I needed a bigger system with more bass. He said they were developing a subwoofer stand they would increase the bass output capability. He said the new stand requires you to flip the monitor to align the tweeter to the proper height. I was joking but can’t imagine anyone needing more bass than this speaker can produce.

Some people have ball room sized listening spaces I can imagine...

 

[Martijn Mensink]

So they only played Techno / Progressive Psytrance music on the Dutch and Dutch 15c?
How did they sound on Firebird Suite or well mastered, high quality, dynamic, acoustic tracks?

Interest you should mention the Firebird Suite, because yes, I played this particular track (lossless, of course) at least ten times during the weekend. At realistic SPL. I thought it sounded amazing, but of course you shouldn’t simply take my word for it. I hope others who heard it will chime in.

 

[Martijn Mensink]

Amir,

Thanks for stopping by. We had a lot of fun pushing the 15c’s a bit and just playing music. It was a great way to wind down the day at AXPONA.

I appreciate your comments here on the forum. You're know to be a critical listener, so it means something coming from you.

It was also really good to see you and Erin hanging out. Sitting next to each other and just having fun. Hope to see you again next year!

 

[jmdesignz2]

Interest you should mention the Firebird Suite, because yes, I played this particular track (lossless, of course) at least ten times during the weekend. At realistic SPL. I thought it sounded amazing, but of course you shouldn’t simply take my word for it. I hope others who heard it will chime in.

Great - what did you use as the source? Was it that spotify link? How did you calibrate "realistic SPL" ?

 

[Martijn Mensink]

Great - what did you use as the source? Was it that spotify link? How did you calibrate "realistic SPL" ?

Yes, that Spotify track was one of the sources, and we also used Roon with local files and Tidal.

On “calibrating” realistic SPL, I do not think that is a very meaningful concept here. An orchestral recording is not the live event, and there is no single live reference anyway. Different seats in the hall give different balances and different SPL.

My point was simply that we did not play it at the kind of safe demonstratino levels often encountered at shows, but at a level that gave a more convincing sense of full orchestral scale and impact.

 

[Pauli]

So let’s all hope the 18c’s DNA didn’t disintegrate during that Infernal Dance

 

[Somafunk]

Great - what did you use as the source? Was it that spotify link? How did you calibrate "realistic SPL" ?

I imagine Martijn turned it up till everyone in the room winced, then backed it off a small amount

Much like judging torque settings, tighten till you hear a crack/feel it give.....then back off

 

[amirm]

I imagine Martijn turned it up till everyone in the room winced, then backed it off a small amount

I didn't blink but did tell him it was loud enough. The volume control UI had a couple of notches left from max.