I had the opportunity earlier this year to evaluate this set of compact 2-way bookshelf speakers which sound anything BUT compact. These measure at 8 inches wide by 10 inches deep by 16 inches high. Ideal in size and performance for smaller rooms and apartment living where space and placement restrictions are a major factor.

These cabinets are very sturdy in construction and the build quality is excellent. Three quarter inch thick MDF comprises the general structure material with a very attractive real wood veneer finish applied in natural or black oak as standard order. *Custom finishes are available upon request and priced accordingly. The set that I evaluated were finished in natural oak and had that nice neutral appearance that goes with any décor.  

These can of course be placed upon shelves if so desired but I recommend placing them upon floor standing speaker stands which will elevate them to the proper listening height, lessening the effects of surrounding elements. It is always best if the speakers can be placed centered within the room and distanced from hard surfaces such as being too close to the surrounding walls. This arrangement will definitely bring the best results acoustically but if this is not an option, satisfactory results can be had otherwise. If you are seeking the best possible room coupling for optimal performance, the free standing centered option is the way to go.

The primary objectives for this speaker design besides the obvious factor of its small size are to make this cabinet perform to a degree that one would perceive as a much larger set of high quality speakers. These were specifically engineered to produce high end sound with extreme efficiency while still maintaining  small stature in overall size.

This is a task of rare proportion as most speakers in this category simply cannot compete on the same level and definitely nowhere near this price range. I have heard speakers in this size category from other manufacturers with many  sounding quite decent. However, most fell short within the critical aspect so crucial for use with tube based amplifiers. EFFICIENCY!! At 94 dB with 1 watt at 1 meter, this available sensitivity makes for an extremely easy load to the driving amplifier and is far superior to what is common in the competition. To produce decent sound levels for less efficient speakers, this requires a substantial increase in power demand which typically dissipates into wasted heat energy!  Many  speakers of this size are rated typically as low as 87 to 89 dB in range and that makes a world of difference.  A  3dB increase in efficiency effectively reduces the required power level by ½ for each frequency band and that represents a major portion of applied power that no longer dissipates as thermal waste. As efficiency rises, much less power is required to produce the same desired sound pressure levels.

The DM 944 models like all other Decware designs, are perfect companions for low powered amplifiers such as the popular Single-Ended-Triode types. Properly designed S.E.T. amplifiers are the ultimate choice in a purist approach to sound quality. The power ratings for this type of amplifier necessitate the need for high efficiency speakers. With proper matching, a couple of quality watts is more than sufficient to produce full bodied rich sound within a room at volume levels that would surprise many.

A major contribution to this speakers fidelity can be attributed to the choice of drivers and the practical elimination of power robbing crossover networks. It may come as a surprise to you that these drivers are the same combination as used in the larger high definition HDT MKII cabinets.  

To drive these speakers, I kept to the basics with a signal path optimally short and clean. The components involved are engineered to exact standards and  coupled in unison with absolute impedance matching which greatly effects a systems synergy perception.

Starting with the well balanced tube D.A.C. from the Dec685 digital source, the signals are again buffered through the Decware ZSLA line stage, providing the appropriate gain control for the signals entering the amplification stage. The amplifiers chosen for this evaluation are the world class Decware SV83M- (Dual Core Transformer) Single-Ended-Triode Mono-Blocks. These have a tube configuration consisting of SV83 or EL84 output tubes in a trio array per amp. The driver tube can be either 6N1P, 6922 or 6DJ8. The rectifier tube is a 5U4G type.

For this test, I installed a fresh set of Ei Elite (gold pin) EL84EG tubes with all six balanced and matched equally between the two mono-blocks. The driver tubes chosen were Ei Elite (gold pin) 6DJ8EG’s and rectification was handled by a set of n.o.s. RCA 5U4GB tubes.

The entire signal chain consists of vacuum tube processing from the DAC conversion stage all the way to the speaker inputs.

The S.E.T. amplifiers produce roughly 3 watts per channel in normal mode continuously, with additional headroom to spare on short demand. With a flick of the switch, the dual-core transformers are engaged for a considerable boost in “usable” power which is worth an additional couple of watts per channel. Not only is there an increase of dynamic headroom, but along with this mode comes a more stunning sense of holographic imaging. The lower frequency extension also takes on a higher degree of depth and definition. I have always preferred this mode and have rarely listened to the standard setting for any length of time. This was the power option that put these amps on the top of the hierarchy when they were introduced several years ago. I chose to use these amps not only for their pristine sound quality but most importantly as a direct test of the DM944‘s actual efficiency. Efficiency ratings are one thing but the true test waits to be revealed through actual demonstration.

Keep in mind that these are very small enclosures with a rated 55Hz ~ 22kHz frequency range  with  a 4 ohm nominal impedance rating. An important aspect of the signature mono-blocks is that they actually increase their power potential as the impedance factor decreases! These amps work very well with 4 ohm speakers. 55Hz is not exactly low frequency territory but for a cabinet of these limited dimensions, that is an incredible limit when considered as a flat response. I can assure you that these produce audible sound below that figure, just not to the degree of the larger models which have much more internal volume. What do you expect within its class, you cannot defy the laws of physics although this example tries to bend practical theory out of the realm.

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As a final addition to the evaluation, I drove these speakers with the new TORII MK2 push-pull amp rated at 25watts per channel and it proved to be more than an abundant source of power to drive these. I barely had to use any volume input at all with probably no more than 25 percent of available power to bring the DM 944’s to incredible sound levels which is much more powerful than one would surmise for something this small. Further extension of the lower frequency range opened up to a new degree with a punch that will get you involved with a great deal of enthusiasm. A higher degree of bass definition was noticeable at the lower end of the spectrum with a level of vibrancy revealing a very realistic feel for the music presented. The power rating for the TORII MK2 was overkill in essence, but that extra dose of sonic enhancement really brought these speakers to life without any trace of being overdriven. These will answer the call when put to the test and I believe they have the ruggedness to withstand many, many years of continued use before showing any signs of failure.

I would not hesitate for one moment in recommending these for serious audio reproduction and would consider these in a quad formation as an excellent home theatre surround speaker as well. They made my NHT monitors sound sick and congested by comparison and those do not even come close to generating the presence for which these will with the same or even higher levels of power. This is where you really start to take notice of the special qualities which prevail within this design.

In general, if you are seeking a no compromise speaker in a compact design with incredible sound qualities to match, that speaker would be the DM944 bookshelf model without the limitations of typical bookshelf design.