Greetings from Turkey, I have been using Dali Spektor 2 for a week and I am very pleased. I am considering purchasing a Dali Spektor 1 with more suitable dimensions for my Desktop Computer in my office. Thanks for the review. Edit; My Dali Spektor 1 speaker arrived today. Naturally, I had the opportunity to compare it with Dali Spektor 2. Although Spektor 1 has a small cabinet and drivers, it sounds very good. Of course, it only comes close to the bass level of Spektor 2. But this doesn't make a huge difference. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a stylish looking speaker that takes up little space on the desk or bookshelf and provides high quality sound. In short, Spektor 1 will please a normal user. I paired Dali Spektor 1 with the Fosi Audio BT20A Class D amplifier on my computer in my office, and I use Dali Spektor 2 in my living room at home. I'm thinking of pairing it with a good amplifier in the future, what would you recommend?
First off, the sound you get out of such a small box is insane, the rear ports do such a wonderful job on the lows! I have these on a bookshelf in my office for music and they are 100% killer for low level listening. I don't feel they need a sub at all and off axis listening is actually wonderful, which is another plus for them. My opinion of them overall is that they are warm and laid back, mids and treble are less prominent, so if you compare speakers that are very forward and detailed in the mids and highs these might seem rolled off, it's all relative I suppose, but a warmer speaker in my opinion does better at lower volumes and is less fatiguing. If I compare them to my german speakers (which have detailed highs and are vocal forward), these seem to lack some detail, but overall I prefer the sound of these, they are the opposite of fatiguing, they are so smooth you want to listen for hours and you can always use tone controls to bring some highs back in if needed (but they are absolutely fine flat as well). I have several pair of $2000+ speakers and what blows me away is how good these measure up to those for a fraction of the cost in such a small form factor, would recommend these to anyone, a fabulous speaker, I'm blown away! At the sale price these are a total steal!
Thanks for taking the time and make this video. I got the Dali Spektors 2 as a gift to myself last Black Friday. I'm no audiophile but they sound great to me. Enough bass unless you want your neighbors to hate you. Heavy metal, rock, blues sound great through these. I spent hours on YT and audio forums trying to make up my mind about what speakers to get. Wish I had watched this video before :)
Love the way you reviewed the speaker. I realized that not many youtubers does your style, very down to earth, not many retakes etc. It felt like I was talking to a friend how was explaining the ins and outs of this Dali speaker. I just bought one today, I am sorry but I will actually use them as a surround speaker to complement my B&W dm303, Spektor center speaker and XTZ 10 inch sub. Thank you again, I will keep coming back to your channel! =)
Ok. Just picked up a couple of these on account of you. Thanks so much for starters. Your channel is next level. Love it. I seriously had to check that my high end center was not on. These are impressive!
An engagement stereo system is sheer brilliance! I agree with you... that should be a new tradition! Now, we just have to figure out who to contact about making that official!
Just picked up a used set of these in white for 100 euro's to replace a Logitech set on my desk based on this review and from the first notes I knew I now have something special on my desk. The level of detail is amazing and I wholeheartedly agree that these make for an awesome set of desktop speakers! I paired them with a stereo 2x50 watt Yamama amp and I love what I'm hearing. Thank you for this review!
Greetings! Which Yamaha amp do you use with these? I'm thinking about pairing these with a Yamaha A-S301 which I've heard several people describe as a little too forward in the upper mids or even bright. I'm thinking these little guys might balance it out. Mostly I've settled for the 301 for versatility. I listen to vinyl, cd, tape and streaming at a wide desk. I also do some home taping / dubbing, so rec out is a must. Best regards / Nils
Just connected these (got them based on your Saturday morning Q&A a couple weekends ago) and changed out my Moukey 20s on my desktop. For a few minutes, I felt like I was missing bass. Then...I played Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" followed by "Redemption Song". And I was just grinning from ear to ear. "Three Little Birds" played right after, and wow, the bass went was all there - musical, bounce and happy. I was hearing these songs so differently. Because I use an adjustable standing desk, I'm definitely relying on the off-axis experience, and man, it's consistent. Nailed this one!
With a sense of humour like that, how are you not British?! Loved everything about your review. It has given me much confidence after ordering these today. Thanks!
I love Dali speakers, I have heard three different lines from them never heard one I didn't like. I have this pair on my desk but if you put them in a decent room and a amp better than the small you will be blown away even more.
I've had these about a week, bought them bundled with the denon pma-600ne for what I would consider a bargain price. It's changed my life, they sound unbelievable
@@aaronkon I'm in the UK so hope it's still relevant. Bought the bundle from Peter Tyson. Was £449, so not like dirt cheap but I was pleased. The amp retails at £369 generally and the Dalis are around £159 new so I was pleased all in for £449. They also gave speaker cable and extended warranty in the bundle. I saw the Dalis go for £100 on ebay and home av direct have em for £129 ex demo. So there's further bargains to be had out there
True story: My best friend bought his girlfriend-now-wife an engagement ring to distract her and hide the fact that he had also bought himself a new HIFI system. :-)
I live in a tiny house (or 'hoose' if you prefer) in Scotland, where we tend not to have very big rooms, and have been looking for a good sounding compact speaker to pair with a yet-to-be-bought Denon RCD-N11 mini system, and I think these might just fit the bill. Thanks for the great review!
Indeed they are great for a desk setup. In my case a home office deluxe desk. As I am limited due to a sloping wall and recently upgraded to a height adjustable table, everything needs to be very tiny that is close to the slope. I previously used Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 on the desk (its a big desk). I tried the Dali Spector 1 and Q Acoustics Concept 20. At the time of writing, that is 150€ vs. 450€ here. I actually kept the Spector due to their perfect size and great sound. Of course the QA sound different (better?), and the Monitor Audio did as well, but as you also noticed, the Dali are a small miracle and perfect for my personal setup.
I have the bigger brother Spektor 2! Awesome speakers for £199 ($276)! By the way, the manufacturer does recommend to ideally place them in front of the listener, not toed in.
7:28 "Bass drum... kick drum, I hate that word." The term' kick drum' is a layman's term hi-jacking the original term-- Kick. Kick is the first thing a sound engineer calls for when laying down a mix. All mixes are built around the bass drum which is the first sound captured as a foundation. Whether in the studio or 150' back at FOH position the engineer calls out "single shots Kick" No engineer says Kick Drum-- that's an audiophile term adopted to be in the know. Fun fact: When I first starting mixing Reggae the singer said, "make the foot drum sit on my nose, mon" My response: "Yes mon, me the loudest soundman in the world... thief me a splif and me sound even louder!"
I've had these speakers a couple of years, powered by my Marantz amp, these speakers are little miracles, they are punchy, precise and very musical... play 2112 and you'll be impressed... I play movies through them too in stereo... watched a Sergio Leone movie and the sound was really projected. If you are on a budget or just don't want to waste money try these... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I confirm, i use them with smsl sa 300 for desktop use and music listing and they are pretty awesome. Great soundstage, they are very good with soft music, classic rock, blues ect.
I have been using Dali Spektor 2 for a week and I am very pleased with it. I definitely agree with you. I am considering purchasing a Dali Spektor 1 with more suitable dimensions for my Desktop Computer in my office.
Thanks for this review Randy! Followed your advice... Last week I bought a pair of these fellas for on my desk, and I really happy with them! Clear, detailed 'centered' sound, very enjoyable. Compared to my Q Acoustics 3050i's they are little bit 'clean' & analytic. But those 3050i's are quadruple the price of the Spektor's and ten times bigger. For this size and price (190 euro / 230 US Dollar with tax incl.) I rate this speakers 9 out of 10.
Bought this speakers few days ago and to my ear the bass mostly is there but it's laid back. You need to listen loud to get/hear more bass which is not my fav way of listening (higher frequencies then are too loud and fatiguing). I've EQued to bump the lows but still not there. I would recommend add sub to this speakers if you like music witch needs decent lows (or for movies and games). The Dali Spektor 2 is much better speaker which don't need sub for music to my ear and is great all arounder, gives more excitment. If you have more space to get Spektor 2 this is my recommendation. Thanks!
I should have seen your comment sooner. I bought the Spektor 1 based on this review but I will return them due to the lack of bass and exaggerated highs
If you have a problem with a bookshelf speaker sounding muddled to it's interacting with a shelf or whatever, turn it upside down. Lots of speakers are designed with the tweeted on the bottom. It works. Not joking.
Dali is awesome. I use the Dali Oberon 1 btw. The over dimensioned tweeters are not very critical in placement height nor with, have great soundstage near field AND IN a room combined with for example 2 small emotiva subs.
You should step up to Dali’s next speaker line. The Oberon’s - would love to get your thoughts on them! Keep up the good work! Just discovered your stuff a few months back and have been watching since. 🔊
I am currently living in Europe, and saw some Dali wireless over ear headphones, bought them, and they were EXCELLENT. Dali make good products, they are a Danish company, so many are manufactured in the EU, some in China, but very good design. Excellent sound.
Hey man! Great review! One thing folks might want to try with Dali is face forward, no toe-in as if I remember, how they are designed. Granted, this could come down to listener preference but something with trying if you find them bright or a bit sparky! Also - idea... audiophile pomade? We could sell it on the podcast? Get rich... Buy some Ferraris and ride off into the sunset?
these are small small speaker. I'd say they're more neutral out of the bunch but these won't push nearly as much air as the others and may struggle in a bigger room. On a desktop or nearfield scenario then it's a more difficult discussion.
sounds like an extremely positive review. But then I've never seen these speakers being mentioned in any top5/10 best budget speakers. Why is that? I'm asking since I've ordered them and wanted to know how they compare with the Elac
I don't care what you compare, just compare! Perfect idea for content; your approach in explaining is great with a dab of beginners info as well as in depth evaluations and explanation. Its never over my head and we get a reminder of some things. Thanks for doing with audio what I cannot afford to but want to
@@cheapaudioman what I would find very exciting would be a comparison between klipsch r-51m, dali spector 1 and dali spektor 2 with focus on a desktop use. All are close in price and I can't decide yet what to buy.
i think good bookshelf speakers shouldn't have a problem doing the disappearing act, but it will depend highly on the recording. old jazz recordings don't help them a lot because back then the recording process kind of stuck sounds in one channel or the other, not a lot of mixing and other tricks that recording studios learned to do later.
i was looking to start with all that vinyl stuff cause i really wanted to just be able to physically have the albums i love, and im was looking for a good -looking, well sounding speaker. this helped me a lot, thanks!
I tried them, really liked them. Not the most dynamic and somewhat laid back compared to what I am used to but I'd be very happy with these as well. Didn't try the Spektor 2 but guess they'd be better by size. Oberon 1s take that to the next level a bit but both provide good sound. Oberon vinyl wrap is premium, thick with texture. Didn't try Zensor series but some people say a bit brighter. Dalis are a seriously good speaker, at the top for under $400 budget. Kefs have more detail, a more forward sound. Out if the two I think I'd go with Dalis, next size up if nothing else for looks alone. NOTE: 83 db...so they need a little power and don't expect party level sound but the size is great.
@@cheapaudioman lots I'm in the uk. there's just nothing like the emotiva for the same price. Cambridge audio have there minx line but response doesn't look good when compared. tannoy does a 8 inch sub with abr called the 2.8 but I'm weary of its quality as it doesn't state response. The svs sb1000 is also available but considerably more expensive to get two. I was really looking for a small light cone 8" sub that goes low and what i found was the audioengine s8 subs. I got a deal on them and will be receiving tomorrow. one will be up front one in the back hoping ill be pleased with them. if not ill be returning and scratching my head once more!
Got these little speakers to upgrade from Eltax Monitor III. Great for the little space I have under my TV. They are so much clearer in the treble compared to my former speakers. Bass is less present but still enjoyable. Plus they are so cute ! Smaller but quite an upgrade for my ears. Got them for 80€ shipped in second hand 😮
I am looking at the dali specktor 1 and 2 . Which is best for desktop nearfield listening ? I have an onkyo a9010 amplifier , ifi zen dac and a suca m1 tube buffer pre amp . Thank you kindly
Thanks! Really enjoy your reviews and ive been waiting for a Dali review :D i have the last generation of those called Zensor 1, with a Dali zensor 1 vokal center speaker. Music is just amazing on those speakers, so can imagine how great the spektors are. So thanks, and keep up the good work.
I just ordered them for on my desk to replace my computer speakers. They are more affordable in Europe than in the US. I will pair them with an SMSL SA300. Thank you for the recommendation.
Have you done a comparison yet between the Elac Unifi 52 and the KEF Q150? I think a coaxial shootout would be cool. If you have them both. I don't think a coaxial speaker shootout should cost more than three taxidermy horseshoe bats on Ebay.
Just started getting into HiFi again. Gonna try to find a pair of these locally and hook 'em up with Randy's recommended Aiyima T9 DAC/Amp......... let see how we get on..
LOL, Audio engagagement.. I Iove your Mexa-mug. Hey have not seen any of your videos talking about automatic-room-correction, id like to know what are the cheap versions how they compare to Onkyo's, Pioner's, Yamaha's, NAND's etc etc. or at least your opinion about them.
Got these as I have very limited space in my home office and cannot squeeze anything bigger, very nice speakers, I run them through a smsl sa300 and I'm pretty satisfied, it's the ultimate compact combo
Currently swaying between these and the spektor 2. They're for a fairly small room so dont think the extra expense is worth it versus these? Unless anyone has other opinions?
I'm currently being divorced by my third wife, and really wish I'd thought of that rings/stereo system deal. If I'd upgraded each time, I could've been listening to Hegel or McIntosh gear by this point!
I think the opposite party should get a gift at least 3x the value ;)...Jeez, I still have my Dali Piano Agile's from 2005. Heavy as hell but I love them to bits :). Keep up the good work CheapAsAudioMan :)
Be interesting to see what you think of the B and W 607s. For me these are right at the top for speakers between £300-£250. Fairly low sensitivity (84db), but otherwise fantastic.
Can you compare these to the Wharfdale Diamonds 11.1 for a desk setup? I know they are different sizes but they are the same price online currently. Also don't review the Spektor 2, review the Opticon 2 (mk1) instead please!!!! thanks for the content!
Hi.. How do they compete against Edifier s3000pro, people say its far better than its price and that they can compete with much more expensive speakers. I could be paying for the brand name more than sound quality with Dali i feel. I wanna make sure i pay for sound quality and not so much the brand name.. Example, you know "Supreme" clothing. Their Hoodies are not worth more than a 100$ hoodie but cost around 400$ and id like to save those 300$ for the same quality materials as the 100$ shirt/hoodie.
I'd really like to see a discussion panel one day with you, Ron from NRD, Sean from Zero Fidelity, Steve Guttenberg, Thomas from Thomas & Stereo, and Jay from Next Best Thing Studio just talking shop. I think it would be hugely beneficial and hilarious.
@@cheapaudioman gtfoh man. You have a really fresh take on audio and since so much of it is subjective you would absolutely contribute to whatever discussion is being had. Don't get me wrong, the humor really makes your channel fun but I watch because I value your opinion. I have some of the speakers you've reviewed/discussed and I don't disagree with much of anything you've said about them. Also: getting Thomas on Between Two Speakers would be a f***in' riot.
If you like something clearer and with more sparkle on the top end then the emos are probably the way to do. You can also mitigate the sparkle by not pointing the tweeter directly at your ear with them or keeping them flat on your desk. emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b1-pair?aff=9 If you know that you're only going to be using them on the desk and you know you like something a bit more neutral then the spectors are pretty awesome amzn.to/35UnQWz
Loved the review as always. Thanks to your reviews, I got Edifier 1850 for my computer but now I needsomething for my Hi-Fi. I watched your other video qit q350, and I have to decide to go either with Dali Oberon 1 or KEF Q350 - to be paired with Marantz Melody 612 in a room 4mx4.5m (12'x15' ish). Price wise excatly the same, not a penny difference. What do you guys think?
I'm considering these for my bedroom. Dalis are great for the price. My Oberon 5 floorstanders are an end point for me, considering they'll hopefully be with me for the next 30~40 years, €799 is cheap.
I like this dude! He's funny and gets his message across simply and in and entertaining way. I have owned these speakers in a while and what he says is very accurate. And I think I have a similar duvet cover. Not sergio's for sure, but looks almost the same. :-D You're good man, I like you.
Randy, great review - thanks for the honest assessment. One other question for you - is that "Prince Albert" in the can, sitting on the shelf over your left shoulder? Well, dog gone it - let him out!
congrats on how quickly your channel has grown. I'd love to see some turntable recommendations for us newbs. I finally decided the AT 120x was the right fit of budget and performance and its discontinued it seems. Give me a cheap audio man Turntable approach to early 2021.
Thanks for a great review on a speaker I wasn't familliar with. If you need something slightly larger to fill a room but still do nearfield I wonder if the Oberon 1 is too big.
Randy, you need to try out the song "To Rich For My Blood" by Patricia Barber from her 1994 album "Cafe Blue" Awesome bass and incredible range in the song. It is really low and also really high. It will stress a speaker system and give you an idea of the limits of your system.
I want see a review on an old speaker you can still find new on the cheap like the Energy RC-10. Curious to see how 16 year old design compares to recent technology in the same current price bracket.
I'd hope if he would do that he would really give a good show with a speaker not so recent... I'd love to see a new set compared to an old B&W or a good quality set from 40 years back; the earlier the better. Some brands were shockingly superb in some cases. A friend had a 25 yr old Energy 3 way slim towers. Wow is all I can say...
Bought these along with Micca RB42's and NHT Super Zero's. I am using nearish field (4 feet from listening position, on a School Bus-Tiny Home conversion) Pushed by Schiit Saga+/Lokius/Modius and a DIY class D amp. I kept the Dali's!😍 Ordered the SVS Micro 3000 today. Can't wait!🤘
@@EskWIRED The Dali Spektor 1's I kept. The Mica RB 42's were (for the price) were second. The NHT's were ok but sibilant with my old set up. (I added a Schitt Vidar amp since) Still love my Dali's but require sub ofc...good luck.
@@EskWIRED FYI, to my ear the RB42s were little bad asses. ESPECIALY considering the price . They'll take 100 watts no sweat. Steel Panther rules /,,/,
I have the Spektor 2 with a sub on my second system, I totally love them. Bought last summer for 198€, a real bargain. Now they seem to cost more though...
5 1/4" woofers? Edit: Dali says they are 4 1/2". They also say that they are custom made drivers, that don't need to be level matched in the crossover - only the frequency filters are needed. Paper / wood fiber is one of the best materials for woofers - they are light and strong and tend to have less tendency for breakup / ringing at the upper end of their coverage. They are easier to crossover because the don't have to be rolled off as steeply to avoid the breakup mode. I will run REW frequency analysis (they call it RTA), on the Beastie Boys, and report back! Emerson Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man - 36.4Hz for the bass at the end. This was my go to bass reference for a long time, and now I know the (approximate) frequency. Beyoncé - Black Parade - 30.3Hz about, all the way through the song. Most songs never go below 40Hz or so. And that is lower than many songs.
@@cheapaudioman I used the FFT function in Room Equalization Wizard (REW), that they call RTA (real time analysis, I think?) to see the frequency of the deepest parts of the music in 3 of your reference tracks: Tool - Chocolate Chip Trip: early on there is a peak at 57.7Hz, later with the drums it is a broad range from
Thank you, great vide. Would the newer Spektor 2 make a good TV speaker for movies/games/music? The room is big but the couch is only about 5 feet away from the TV.
Hi, Im new to Hifi world and I like to buy this speakers next to computer. I want nothing to loud, just jazz rock in background, and I think these are my cup of tea. But I dont know which amp with this, and can I contect amp to my computer? thanks and sorry on question if I said something wrong
Great job again! Think you would like the little more expensive Dali as well. Try to get the Oberon 1 or even better the 3 it’s next class up in the line.
Greetings from Turkey, I have been using Dali Spektor 2 for a week and I am very pleased.
I am considering purchasing a Dali Spektor 1 with more suitable dimensions for my Desktop Computer in my office.
Thanks for the review.
Edit; My Dali Spektor 1 speaker arrived today. Naturally, I had the opportunity to compare it with Dali Spektor 2. Although Spektor 1 has a small cabinet and drivers, it sounds very good. Of course, it only comes close to the bass level of Spektor 2. But this doesn't make a huge difference. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a stylish looking speaker that takes up little space on the desk or bookshelf and provides high quality sound. In short, Spektor 1 will please a normal user.
I paired Dali Spektor 1 with the Fosi Audio BT20A Class D amplifier on my computer in my office, and I use Dali Spektor 2 in my living room at home. I'm thinking of pairing it with a good amplifier in the future, what would you recommend?
First off, the sound you get out of such a small box is insane, the rear ports do such a wonderful job on the lows! I have these on a bookshelf in my office for music and they are 100% killer for low level listening. I don't feel they need a sub at all and off axis listening is actually wonderful, which is another plus for them. My opinion of them overall is that they are warm and laid back, mids and treble are less prominent, so if you compare speakers that are very forward and detailed in the mids and highs these might seem rolled off, it's all relative I suppose, but a warmer speaker in my opinion does better at lower volumes and is less fatiguing. If I compare them to my german speakers (which have detailed highs and are vocal forward), these seem to lack some detail, but overall I prefer the sound of these, they are the opposite of fatiguing, they are so smooth you want to listen for hours and you can always use tone controls to bring some highs back in if needed (but they are absolutely fine flat as well). I have several pair of $2000+ speakers and what blows me away is how good these measure up to those for a fraction of the cost in such a small form factor, would recommend these to anyone, a fabulous speaker, I'm blown away! At the sale price these are a total steal!
Thanks for taking the time and make this video. I got the Dali Spektors 2 as a gift to myself last Black Friday. I'm no audiophile but they sound great to me. Enough bass unless you want your neighbors to hate you. Heavy metal, rock, blues sound great through these. I spent hours on YT and audio forums trying to make up my mind about what speakers to get. Wish I had watched this video before :)
Love the way you reviewed the speaker. I realized that not many youtubers does your style, very down to earth, not many retakes etc. It felt like I was talking to a friend how was explaining the ins and outs of this Dali speaker. I just bought one today, I am sorry but I will actually use them as a surround speaker to complement my B&W dm303, Spektor center speaker and XTZ 10 inch sub.
Thank you again, I will keep coming back to your channel! =)
Ok. Just picked up a couple of these on account of you. Thanks so much for starters. Your channel is next level. Love it. I seriously had to check that my high end center was not on. These are impressive!
An engagement stereo system is sheer brilliance! I agree with you... that should be a new tradition! Now, we just have to figure out who to contact about making that official!
Just picked up a used set of these in white for 100 euro's to replace a Logitech set on my desk based on this review and from the first notes I knew I now have something special on my desk. The level of detail is amazing and I wholeheartedly agree that these make for an awesome set of desktop speakers! I paired them with a stereo 2x50 watt Yamama amp and I love what I'm hearing. Thank you for this review!
Greetings! Which Yamaha amp do you use with these?
I'm thinking about pairing these with a Yamaha A-S301 which I've heard several people describe as a little too forward in the upper mids or even bright. I'm thinking these little guys might balance it out.
Mostly I've settled for the 301 for versatility. I listen to vinyl, cd, tape and streaming at a wide desk. I also do some home taping / dubbing, so rec out is a must.
Best regards / Nils
@@Gefrce so did you decide on your amp?
@dudebro777 Hey! I haven't gotten it yet, but my heart is set on the 301 + a small speaker and sub combo.
Just connected these (got them based on your Saturday morning Q&A a couple weekends ago) and changed out my Moukey 20s on my desktop. For a few minutes, I felt like I was missing bass. Then...I played Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" followed by "Redemption Song". And I was just grinning from ear to ear. "Three Little Birds" played right after, and wow, the bass went was all there - musical, bounce and happy. I was hearing these songs so differently. Because I use an adjustable standing desk, I'm definitely relying on the off-axis experience, and man, it's consistent. Nailed this one!
With a sense of humour like that, how are you not British?! Loved everything about your review. It has given me much confidence after ordering these today. Thanks!
Man, just want to say that you bring some much-needed funny and smart knowing to these tough times.
Would be great to see a nearfield/desktop shootout with the Dali, the Micca RB42, JBL Stage A120, etc.
I love Dali speakers, I have heard three different lines from them never heard one I didn't like. I have this pair on my desk but if you put them in a decent room and a amp better than the small you will be blown away even more.
I've had these about a week, bought them bundled with the denon pma-600ne for what I would consider a bargain price. It's changed my life, they sound unbelievable
Where did you find the bundle?
@@aaronkon I'm in the UK so hope it's still relevant. Bought the bundle from Peter Tyson. Was £449, so not like dirt cheap but I was pleased. The amp retails at £369 generally and the Dalis are around £159 new so I was pleased all in for £449. They also gave speaker cable and extended warranty in the bundle.
I saw the Dalis go for £100 on ebay and home av direct have em for £129 ex demo. So there's further bargains to be had out there
I laugh every time I hear the 1980's game show music for the intermissions. So kitschy it matches your sense of humor perfectly. LOL!
True story: My best friend bought his girlfriend-now-wife an engagement ring to distract her and hide the fact that he had also bought himself a new HIFI system. :-)
I live in a tiny house (or 'hoose' if you prefer) in Scotland, where we tend not to have very big rooms, and have been looking for a good sounding compact speaker to pair with a yet-to-be-bought Denon RCD-N11 mini system, and I think these might just fit the bill. Thanks for the great review!
Indeed they are great for a desk setup. In my case a home office deluxe desk. As I am limited due to a sloping wall and recently upgraded to a height adjustable table, everything needs to be very tiny that is close to the slope. I previously used Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 on the desk (its a big desk). I tried the Dali Spector 1 and Q Acoustics Concept 20. At the time of writing, that is 150€ vs. 450€ here. I actually kept the Spector due to their perfect size and great sound. Of course the QA sound different (better?), and the Monitor Audio did as well, but as you also noticed, the Dali are a small miracle and perfect for my personal setup.
I think I'm doing the same
I have the bigger brother Spektor 2! Awesome speakers for £199 ($276)! By the way, the manufacturer does recommend to ideally place them in front of the listener, not toed in.
7:28 "Bass drum... kick drum, I hate that word."
The term' kick drum' is a layman's term hi-jacking the original term-- Kick. Kick is the first thing a sound engineer calls for when laying down a mix. All mixes are built around the bass drum which is the first sound captured as a foundation. Whether in the studio or 150' back at FOH position the engineer calls out "single shots Kick" No engineer says Kick Drum-- that's an audiophile term adopted to be in the know.
Fun fact: When I first starting mixing Reggae the singer said, "make the foot drum sit on my nose, mon" My response: "Yes mon, me the loudest soundman in the world... thief me a splif and me sound even louder!"
I just bought these and an Aiyima A07 for my desktop. Replaced the EDIFIER 1700bt. For the first time in my life I m listening music the right way. 🔥
I've had these speakers a couple of years, powered by my Marantz amp, these speakers are little miracles, they are punchy, precise and very musical... play 2112 and you'll be impressed... I play movies through them too in stereo... watched a Sergio Leone movie and the sound was really projected. If you are on a budget or just don't want to waste money try these... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Spektor 2 is another affordable gem as well.
Slightly larger cabinet and slightly larger woofer - seems like a very good thing!
I have been thinking to get them as Atmos speakers... Front ceiling.
I confirm, i use them with smsl sa 300 for desktop use and music listing and they are pretty awesome. Great soundstage, they are very good with soft music, classic rock, blues ect.
I have been using Dali Spektor 2 for a week and I am very pleased with it. I definitely agree with you.
I am considering purchasing a Dali Spektor 1 with more suitable dimensions for my Desktop Computer in my office.
Cheers. Looking forward to the Spektor 2 review 👍
Thanks for this review Randy! Followed your advice... Last week I bought a pair of these fellas for on my desk, and I really happy with them! Clear, detailed 'centered' sound, very enjoyable. Compared to my Q Acoustics 3050i's they are little bit 'clean' & analytic. But those 3050i's are quadruple the price of the Spektor's and ten times bigger. For this size and price (190 euro / 230 US Dollar with tax incl.) I rate this speakers 9 out of 10.
yeah. I love the Spektors
Bought this speakers few days ago and to my ear the bass mostly is there but it's laid back. You need to listen loud to get/hear more bass which is not my fav way of listening (higher frequencies then are too loud and fatiguing). I've EQued to bump the lows but still not there. I would recommend add sub to this speakers if you like music witch needs decent lows (or for movies and games).
The Dali Spektor 2 is much better speaker which don't need sub for music to my ear and is great all arounder, gives more excitment. If you have more space to get Spektor 2 this is my recommendation.
Thanks!
I should have seen your comment sooner. I bought the Spektor 1 based on this review but I will return them due to the lack of bass and exaggerated highs
We’re all asking Randy, how would these compare to the 11.2’s, the RB 61 II, Kef Q150, or the Emotiva B1+? Great review Randy!
That would make a great comparison video
These are a lot smaller a lot lot smaller than the others. They’re great for their size but don’t compete in a larger room with the others.
Heck, that makes me want to get married again so I can get another stereo system... I need to check with my wife first though.
let me know what kind of feedback you get on that.
Easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission!
feedback... i imagine very harsh sibilant treble, with unmistakable imaging on top of an extremely present “in the room” soundstage
If you have a problem with a bookshelf speaker sounding muddled to it's interacting with a shelf or whatever, turn it upside down. Lots of speakers are designed with the tweeted on the bottom. It works. Not joking.
Dali is awesome. I use the Dali Oberon 1 btw. The over dimensioned tweeters are not very critical in placement height nor with, have great soundstage near field AND IN a room combined with for example 2 small emotiva subs.
I have the Oberon. But this week i will order the Oberon 1 for my small room. Great speakers!
You should step up to Dali’s next speaker line. The Oberon’s - would love to get your thoughts on them! Keep up the good work! Just discovered your stuff a few months back and have been watching since. 🔊
Echoing what Erik said... Would be great to see a nearfield/desktop shootout with the Dali, the Micca RB42, JBL Stage A120, etc.
I am currently living in Europe, and saw some Dali wireless over ear headphones, bought them, and they were EXCELLENT. Dali make good products, they are a Danish company, so many are manufactured in the EU, some in China, but very good design. Excellent sound.
I'm using two sets as Atmos/heights speakers with my Yamaha RX-A2070 and I'm very happy with them (crossed at 90Hz cutoff)
Hey man! Great review! One thing folks might want to try with Dali is face forward, no toe-in as if I remember, how they are designed. Granted, this could come down to listener preference but something with trying if you find them bright or a bit sparky!
Also - idea... audiophile pomade? We could sell it on the podcast? Get rich... Buy some Ferraris and ride off into the sunset?
100% agree with the engagement stereos. Need to get my wife to pay up now....
This makes me want to consider more stuff after settling on Wharfedale 11.2s. I have a return window until the 31st. haha
these are small small speaker. I'd say they're more neutral out of the bunch but these won't push nearly as much air as the others and may struggle in a bigger room. On a desktop or nearfield scenario then it's a more difficult discussion.
Bought a pair based on your recommendation, and it was good to be able to buy "locally" here in Denmark. They sound great. Thanks.
Again - for small desktop setup, you should check iloud micro monitors - you put them on microphone arm and they dont even take place on the desk.
Your introductions are hilarious
lovely speakers for nearfield/desktop use... i was amazed when i first fired them up :)
sounds like an extremely positive review. But then I've never seen these speakers being mentioned in any top5/10 best budget speakers. Why is that? I'm asking since I've ordered them and wanted to know how they compare with the Elac
because Dali is an EU brand and is not so popular in USMCA countries.
I don't care what you compare, just compare! Perfect idea for content; your approach in explaining is great with a dab of beginners info as well as in depth evaluations and explanation. Its never over my head and we get a reminder of some things. Thanks for doing with audio what I cannot afford to but want to
Finally, a TH-camr who tests a Dali speaker. I have no idea why so many HiFi TH-camrs just ignore this interesting brand.
I'm hooked. They're really really good
@@cheapaudioman what I would find very exciting would be a comparison between klipsch r-51m, dali spector 1 and dali spektor 2 with focus on a desktop use. All are close in price and I can't decide yet what to buy.
I tried the opticons and they made the LS50s sound shrill and plain bad. YMMV. These ones could indeed be a future rear speaker for me!
You answered all my doubts about this Spektor. Gonna buy this for Christmas and pair them with my Marantz.. Thanks Randy 🙏
Thanks Randy for another great review. Sounds like a cute little speaker punching outside its weight class.
i think good bookshelf speakers shouldn't have a problem doing the disappearing act, but it will depend highly on the recording. old jazz recordings don't help them a lot because back then the recording process kind of stuck sounds in one channel or the other, not a lot of mixing and other tricks that recording studios learned to do later.
Great! 🙌🏻 Dali spektor 1 vs Jamo s803. which do you think is better for a small room?
10.3K subscribers! Outstanding Randy! Keep the train rolling!
i was looking to start with all that vinyl stuff cause i really wanted to just be able to physically have the albums i love, and im was looking for a good -looking, well sounding speaker. this helped me a lot, thanks!
I tried them, really liked them. Not the most dynamic and somewhat laid back compared to what I am used to but I'd be very happy with these as well. Didn't try the Spektor 2 but guess they'd be better by size. Oberon 1s take that to the next level a bit but both provide good sound. Oberon vinyl wrap is premium, thick with texture. Didn't try Zensor series but some people say a bit brighter. Dalis are a seriously good speaker, at the top for under $400 budget. Kefs have more detail, a more forward sound. Out if the two I think I'd go with Dalis, next size up if nothing else for looks alone.
NOTE: 83 db...so they need a little power and don't expect party level sound but the size is great.
Would love to see some budget sub reviews. I've just ordered a audioengine s8 myself to add some lower frequency's to the mix!
just got a emotiva se8 in and will be getting it going soon.
@@cheapaudioman unfortunately that sub isn't available in my country but that would be my first choice if I could buy!
@@JMJM75257 what brands do you have available to you.
@@cheapaudioman lots I'm in the uk. there's just nothing like the emotiva for the same price. Cambridge audio have there minx line but response doesn't look good when compared. tannoy does a 8 inch sub with abr called the 2.8 but I'm weary of its quality as it doesn't state response. The svs sb1000 is also available but considerably more expensive to get two. I was really looking for a small light cone 8" sub that goes low and what i found was the audioengine s8 subs. I got a deal on them and will be receiving tomorrow. one will be up front one in the back hoping ill be pleased with them. if not ill be returning and scratching my head once more!
@@JMJM75257 let me know how they work out for you. I’m interested to hear.
spektor 1 or the sony css5s ? your thoughts?
Got these little speakers to upgrade from Eltax Monitor III. Great for the little space I have under my TV.
They are so much clearer in the treble compared to my former speakers. Bass is less present but still enjoyable. Plus they are so cute ! Smaller but quite an upgrade for my ears.
Got them for 80€ shipped in second hand 😮
I am looking at the dali specktor 1 and 2 .
Which is best for desktop nearfield listening ?
I have an onkyo a9010 amplifier , ifi zen dac and a suca m1 tube buffer pre amp .
Thank you kindly
Spektor 1 👈
Just Received Dali Spektor 1 Pair for my rear surround with my current front of DALI ZENSOR 3
I am Excited 👍
Thanks! Really enjoy your reviews and ive been waiting for a Dali review :D i have the last generation of those called Zensor 1, with a Dali zensor 1 vokal center speaker. Music is just amazing on those speakers, so can imagine how great the spektors are. So thanks, and keep up the good work.
I have zensor1’s that have been relegated to surround duty’s since I got some triangle BR02’s. Similar but better!
I just ordered them for on my desk to replace my computer speakers. They are more affordable in Europe than in the US. I will pair them with an SMSL SA300. Thank you for the recommendation.
How are you enjoying them?
@@timc_2433 They're great.
Have you done a comparison yet between the Elac Unifi 52 and the KEF Q150? I think a coaxial shootout would be cool. If you have them both. I don't think a coaxial speaker shootout should cost more than three taxidermy horseshoe bats on Ebay.
nice. The elacs are quite a bit better than the Q's. Q's aren't bad though at all. q's are south of neutral for me.
Just started getting into HiFi again. Gonna try to find a pair of these locally and hook 'em up with Randy's recommended Aiyima T9 DAC/Amp......... let see how we get on..
LOL, Audio engagagement.. I Iove your Mexa-mug. Hey have not seen any of your videos talking about automatic-room-correction, id like to know what are the cheap versions how they compare to Onkyo's, Pioner's, Yamaha's, NAND's etc etc. or at least your opinion about them.
Got these as I have very limited space in my home office and cannot squeeze anything bigger, very nice speakers, I run them through a smsl sa300 and I'm pretty satisfied, it's the ultimate compact combo
Currently swaying between these and the spektor 2. They're for a fairly small room so dont think the extra expense is worth it versus these? Unless anyone has other opinions?
Hi there. Love love love the channel and your reviews. I'm really hoping u get a pair of dali ob1's to review.
I'm currently being divorced by my third wife, and really wish I'd thought of that rings/stereo system deal. If I'd upgraded each time, I could've been listening to Hegel or McIntosh gear by this point!
I think the opposite party should get a gift at least 3x the value ;)...Jeez, I still have my
Dali Piano Agile's from 2005. Heavy as hell but I love them to bits :). Keep up the good work CheapAsAudioMan :)
Be interesting to see what you think of the B and W 607s. For me these are right at the top for speakers between £300-£250. Fairly low sensitivity (84db), but otherwise fantastic.
Can you compare these to the Wharfdale Diamonds 11.1 for a desk setup? I know they are different sizes but they are the same price online currently. Also don't review the Spektor 2, review the Opticon 2 (mk1) instead please!!!! thanks for the content!
Hi.. How do they compete against Edifier s3000pro, people say its far better than its price and that they can compete with much more expensive speakers. I could be paying for the brand name more than sound quality with Dali i feel. I wanna make sure i pay for sound quality and not so much the brand name.. Example, you know "Supreme" clothing. Their Hoodies are not worth more than a 100$ hoodie but cost around 400$ and id like to save those 300$ for the same quality materials as the 100$ shirt/hoodie.
After your review I found a pair on Amazon open box for $160, figured that was too good to pass up for my computer desk. Thanks!
This channel is so rad. Would happily buy you a beer to chat audio stuff.
I'd really like to see a discussion panel one day with you, Ron from NRD, Sean from Zero Fidelity, Steve Guttenberg, Thomas from Thomas & Stereo, and Jay from Next Best Thing Studio just talking shop. I think it would be hugely beneficial and hilarious.
About the only thing I could contribute in that conversation is the comedy relief.
@@cheapaudioman gtfoh man. You have a really fresh take on audio and since so much of it is subjective you would absolutely contribute to whatever discussion is being had.
Don't get me wrong, the humor really makes your channel fun but I watch because I value your opinion. I have some of the speakers you've reviewed/discussed and I don't disagree with much of anything you've said about them.
Also: getting Thomas on Between Two Speakers would be a f***in' riot.
@@cheapaudioman much needed!
are these better than the sony sscs5?
B1+ or Spektor 1 for near field/desk setup? I was about to pull the trigger on the Emotiva B1+, now this review has me considering the Dali Spektor!
If you like something clearer and with more sparkle on the top end then the emos are probably the way to do. You can also mitigate the sparkle by not pointing the tweeter directly at your ear with them or keeping them flat on your desk. emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b1-pair?aff=9 If you know that you're only going to be using them on the desk and you know you like something a bit more neutral then the spectors are pretty awesome amzn.to/35UnQWz
@@cheapaudioman thanks for the feedback. Side note, stumbled upon your channel and now can't get enough. Keep doing your thing. Awesome job!
@@mocomike01 which did you go with? How are you liking them (in the same current predicament)
@@timc_2433 Got the Dali's and I love them. To me they are perfect for my near field computer set-up. Never heard the Emotivas so can't speak to them.
@@mocomike01 cheers. Going back and forth for the computer setup myself
That intro and sponsor were "golden Jerry!". I love when a speaker sounds like it looks :) Another job well did RandALL! :)
totally agree that the ring should be reciprocated
Finally, a channel that reviews truly affordable equipment. Got tired of clicking on videos of "affordable" $3000 boring silver box amplifier reviews.
I bought the 2 because of u cheapaudioman! Were on sale here
"au Québec" @500cdn.... 😲💥🌟
Si tiny, so clear powerful and complete sounding. Thx⛩️
Loved the review as always. Thanks to your reviews, I got Edifier 1850 for my computer but now I needsomething for my Hi-Fi. I watched your other video qit q350, and I have to decide to go either with Dali Oberon 1 or KEF Q350 - to be paired with Marantz Melody 612 in a room 4mx4.5m (12'x15' ish). Price wise excatly the same, not a penny difference. What do you guys think?
I'm considering these for my bedroom. Dalis are great for the price.
My Oberon 5 floorstanders are an end point for me, considering they'll hopefully be with me for the next 30~40 years, €799 is cheap.
Randy, top. Keep up the good work. Enjoying every minute of your videos!
I like this dude! He's funny and gets his message across simply and in and entertaining way. I have owned these speakers in a while and what he says is very accurate. And I think I have a similar duvet cover. Not sergio's for sure, but looks almost the same. :-D
You're good man, I like you.
Randy, great review - thanks for the honest assessment. One other question for you - is that "Prince Albert" in the can, sitting on the shelf over your left shoulder?
Well, dog gone it - let him out!
congrats on how quickly your channel has grown. I'd love to see some turntable recommendations for us newbs. I finally decided the AT 120x was the right fit of budget and performance and its discontinued it seems. Give me a cheap audio man Turntable approach to early 2021.
It's happening soon. Been talking to Uturn and Fluance
Thanks for a great review on a speaker I wasn't familliar with. If you need something slightly larger to fill a room but still do nearfield I wonder if the Oberon 1 is too big.
Thanks. I am eyeing them. $250US is $320 CAD. Yet they sell for $399 over here. At $320 I would (probably) have already purchased them.
Spector vs zensor?
Randy, you need to try out the song "To Rich For My Blood" by Patricia Barber from her 1994 album "Cafe Blue" Awesome bass and incredible range in the song. It is really low and also really high. It will stress a speaker system and give you an idea of the limits of your system.
Great review! I am buying these tomorrow. :)
I want see a review on an old speaker you can still find new on the cheap like the Energy RC-10. Curious to see how 16 year old design compares to recent technology in the same current price bracket.
I'd hope if he would do that he would really give a good show with a speaker not so recent... I'd love to see a new set compared to an old B&W or a good quality set from 40 years back; the earlier the better. Some brands were shockingly superb in some cases. A friend had a 25 yr old Energy 3 way slim towers. Wow is all I can say...
Bought these along with Micca RB42's and NHT Super Zero's. I am using nearish field (4 feet from listening position, on a School Bus-Tiny Home conversion) Pushed by Schiit Saga+/Lokius/Modius and a DIY class D amp. I kept the Dali's!😍
Ordered the SVS Micro 3000 today. Can't wait!🤘
Of the ones mentioned, which is your favorite? I'm looking for something for a small apartment.
@@EskWIRED The Dali Spektor 1's I kept.
The Mica RB 42's were (for the price) were second. The NHT's were ok but sibilant with my old set up. (I added a Schitt Vidar amp since) Still love my Dali's but require sub ofc...good luck.
@@shaymcquaid Thanks.
@@EskWIRED NP Brother.
Listen to some Steel Panther for me. /../,
@@EskWIRED FYI, to my ear the RB42s were little bad asses. ESPECIALY considering the price . They'll take 100 watts no sweat.
Steel Panther rules /,,/,
I have the Spektor 2 with a sub on my second system, I totally love them. Bought last summer for 198€, a real bargain. Now they seem to cost more though...
I really want to get a pair.
I have vintage Nikko rcvr Power output: 18 watts per channel into 8Ω. Can I run these speakers with it? or will there be a problem? thanks!
5 1/4" woofers? Edit: Dali says they are 4 1/2". They also say that they are custom made drivers, that don't need to be level matched in the crossover - only the frequency filters are needed.
Paper / wood fiber is one of the best materials for woofers - they are light and strong and tend to have less tendency for breakup / ringing at the upper end of their coverage. They are easier to crossover because the don't have to be rolled off as steeply to avoid the breakup mode.
I will run REW frequency analysis (they call it RTA), on the Beastie Boys, and report back!
Emerson Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man - 36.4Hz for the bass at the end. This was my go to bass reference for a long time, and now I know the (approximate) frequency.
Beyoncé - Black Parade - 30.3Hz about, all the way through the song.
Most songs never go below 40Hz or so. And that is lower than many songs.
I thought I said 4". I could have misspoken. These are little speakers
@@cheapaudioman You did, but it came later on. I had posted my question, and then you said it. I then looked it up. :-)
@@cheapaudioman I used the FFT function in Room Equalization Wizard (REW), that they call RTA (real time analysis, I think?) to see the frequency of the deepest parts of the music in 3 of your reference tracks:
Tool - Chocolate Chip Trip: early on there is a peak at 57.7Hz, later with the drums it is a broad range from
Thank you, great vide. Would the newer Spektor 2 make a good TV speaker for movies/games/music? The room is big but the couch is only about 5 feet away from the TV.
Have you thought about trying out klisphe indoor/ outdoor speakers? They even have a 6".
I haven’t but that would be fun to hear them.
@@cheapaudioman I seen a guy using them for atmos speakers and was just wondering if you've auditioned.
Hi, Im new to Hifi world and I like to buy this speakers next to computer. I want nothing to loud, just jazz rock in background, and I think these are my cup of tea. But I dont know which amp with this, and can I contect amp to my computer? thanks and sorry on question if I said something wrong
Great job again! Think you would like the little more expensive Dali as well. Try to get the Oberon 1 or even better the 3 it’s next class up in the line.
How do they compare to the Wharfedales? I'm debating whether to get the 11.1 or the Dalis.
I’m curious about that too.
Use these on stands either side of my tv, with a Marantz melody, really enjoy it