Dutch & Dutch is a Netherlands-based audio company founded in 2014 by a group of engineers and audio enthusiasts with backgrounds in hi-fi, pro audio, software development and industrial design. Its early work focused on sound technologies, including PA systems and spatial audio solutions, but in 2017, the company introduced its first commercial product, the 8c active loudspeaker. The model designation refers to the speaker’s eight-inch drivers and cardioid radiation pattern.

What sets this product apart from conventional loudspeakers is its all-in-one design, which combines Class D amplification, digital-to-analogue conversion, digital signal processing and streaming capabilities into a single chassis. Each speaker includes three Pascal Audio amplifiers and Texas Instruments DACs to ensure precise signal conversion. The DSP handles crossover functions, phase alignment and room correction, aiming to deliver consistent performance regardless of acoustic challenges.

This integrated approach eliminates the need for external components, thus simplifying setup while seeking to maintain audiophile performance. Users connect the speakers directly to their network via Ethernet to stream from common platforms like Spotify or Roon. The system supports AES/EBU digital inputs and balanced analogue connections via XLR ports.

UP CLOSE

The attention to detail is evident from the moment you unbox this speaker. Compact yet substantial, it measures 485x270x380mm [HxWxD] and weighs 26kg. The minimalist aesthetic is modern and unobtrusive, with a birch plywood cabinet complemented by attractive solid oak side panels. The front baffle is moulded from ABS plastic and has smooth edges that are said to minimise unwanted diffraction.

The loudspeaker features a 25mm aluminium-magnesium dome tweeter housed in a waveguide for smooth dispersion, a 200mm aluminium cone midrange driver with cardioid radiation, and two rear-mounted 200mm aluminium cone woofers. Crossover frequencies are 100Hz and 1,250Hz, and these are implemented using digital filters designed to ensure phase coherence across the frequency spectrum. The cardioid bass design directs sound energy forward while cancelling rearward reflections, allowing the speakers to be placed close to rear walls without compromising sound quality.

Dutch & Dutch provides room acoustics adaptability through the Ascend app's advanced tuning capabilities and Room EQ Wizard (REW) software. Users are given comprehensive control over the speaker settings. Available as a web-based or native app for iOS and Android devices, Ascend allows users to configure boundary settings based on speaker placement relative to walls, plus adjustments to voicing profiles, input selection, phase modes, and firmware updates. The intuitive interface makes it easy for users to tailor the speakers to their specific environment without requiring technical expertise.

For more advanced room optimisation, REW software can be used in conjunction with the speaker’s built-in DSP. It analyses room acoustics using measurements taken by the user with a calibrated microphone around the primary listening position. Based on these measurements, it can automatically adjust the speaker’s parametric equaliser settings to counteract room modes. This ensures that low-frequency anomalies caused by standing waves or reflections are minimised. Users can perform these adjustments themselves using REW’s standard interface or opt for professional setup services offered by Dutch & Dutch through the company’s Remote Commissioning service.

The manufacturer claims this speaker has a near-flat frequency response from 35Hz to 20kHz and can deliver a continuous 106dB sound pressure level from 35Hz upwards. Matching stands are available in a powder-coated black finish. I streamed hi-res audio from Qobuz over Roon directly to the Ethernet port to evaluate this speaker.

THE LISTENING

This loudspeaker displays impressive neutrality, delivering a sound that’s carefully balanced without seeming clinical or sterile. It ensures that practically every music detail is cleanly reproduced, making it a joy to listen to across a wide range of music genres. Whether you're playing a delicate acoustic track or a high-energy electronic mix, the 8c delivers a highly authentic and appealing listening experience.

The cardioid bass design delivers a tight and potent bottom end and ensures that low frequencies are well handled even when positioned close to a rear wall. The ethereal production of Francine Thirteen’s Queen Mary relies heavily on layered vocals and is grounded by insistent, deep bass. On this track, the speaker excelled, revealing vocal texture that lesser systems might gloss over. The sense of depth was extraordinary, and voices seemed to emerge from the void with pinpoint precision. The rotational arc of sampled percussion further demonstrated the speaker’s ability to create an expansive yet accurate soundstage.

Joy Orbison's Better is a reliable test of any loudspeaker’s ability to handle an intricate electronic production. Deploying an intentionally sparse vocal with precious little processing, the emotion of the vocals was untainted by the rest of the synthetic production. Rhythmic clicks and pops scattered throughout were rendered with startling clarity and detail. A pulsating bassline was delivered with authority but not at the expense of midrange or treble detail. The speed at which the bass notes appeared and then dissipated was impressive, and the 8c remained composed even during complex passages.

Studio monitors can often be one trick ponies, delivering – for example – an accurate listening experience with electronica but being less impressive on traditionally recorded rock music. Not so the 8c, which always appears effortless and non-fatiguing – as Flyin (Like a Fast Train) from Kurt Vile showed. It’s an unadorned piece of slacker pop, but it came across as highly engaging. Compared to the Kii Three with the BXT module, the Dutch & Dutch sounded less anaemic, rounder in the bass and smoother up top. The soundstage was more expansive, too.

This loudspeaker maintains impeccable balance across the entire frequency spectrum, as Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross’ On We March showed. This track builds tension through a deep layer of instrumentation, and the repetitive piano motif was delivered with crisp attack and natural decay, plus great depth and atmosphere. As the additional layers of synth drums, strings, and samples were introduced, the 8c’s bass remained powerful yet controlled and never compromised mid-band clarity. Every element of the mix occupied its precise place on the soundstage.

Dutch & Dutch offer an optional u-BACCH licence, which unlocks a groundbreaking spatial audio technology developed by BACCH Labs. It is said to enhance stereo playback by reducing interaural crosstalk – the phenomenon where sound intended for one ear reaches the other and muddies spatial cues. Integrated directly into the Ascend app, it requires minimal setup effort, as you simply input your speaker placement angles relative to your listening position, and you're ready to go.

With the system engaged, listening to Nanosphere’s Exogenesis was revelatory – I found it to be a profound enhancement of spatial realism. Atmospheric pads extended far beyond the speaker’s physical boundaries to create an expansive soundscape enveloping my listening position entirely. Individual elements appeared clearly localised front-to-back or even seemingly beside my head. Bass frequencies retained their tightness, while midrange and high-frequency details gained further definition, allowing previously hidden nuances within this complex arrangement to emerge effortlessly.

Even in standard mode, this speaker’s imaging capabilities are impressive. Instruments and vocals are placed with pinpoint accuracy within a spacious, three-dimensional soundstage. Thanks to its advanced DSP functionality, the 8c adapts effortlessly to any room environment, ensuring consistent performance regardless of placement. This ability to tailor the speaker’s output to suit specific spaces means owners can achieve optimal sound without depending on extensive room treatments. The optional u-BACCH licence unlocks extraordinary spatial reproduction capabilities with an unparalleled sense of immersion. This feature was particularly appealing to me as I seek lifelike music reproduction.

THE VERDICT

Recently, the Dutch & Dutch 8c loudspeakers have made a strong impression on the high-end audio world, and it's easy to see why. This active, DSP-enabled stand mounter showcases what’s possible from a compact modern loudspeaker. Possessing a ruler-flat frequency response, a huge soundstage, endless gobs of bass, and a non-fatiguing listening experience, it doesn’t so much meet expectations as significantly surpass them. This excellent all-in-one, active loudspeaker is well worth investigating, then.

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