Dali Spektor 2 Bookshelf Speaker Review
DALI Spektor 2 is so affordable that you could easily buy an extra pair for the children’s room or the camper – and so good that you should do just that. Tested at 500$ per pair.
by John Alex Hvidlykke
Testing the latest high-end speakers is exciting, but no matter how groundbreaking the technology is, it’s reserved for a few. DALI Spektor 2, on the other hand, is for anyone in need of speakers. They’re so compact and affordable that they fit into any budget – and any living room or bedroom.
Spektor 2 is a classic no-nonsense budget-class speaker in every sense. It has a 5.25-inch woofer/midrange with DALI’s wood-fiber cone and a 1-inch soft dome tweeter in a bass-reflex cabinet, which is about the size of a shoebox. The cabinet is sleek and discreet, and to the delight of old hi-fi enthusiasts, it’s available not only in ultra-anonymous black ash but also in the classic walnut finish.
On the back, you’ll find a small bass-reflex port and a terminal with banana/screw connectors. The terminal is of the kind that costs about 50 SEK per pair in China – but excellent for speakers in this price range.
Due to its size and price, DALI Spektor 2 is ideal for small spaces. It’s easy to place on a shelf, but it sounds best on a stand, away from reflective surfaces. With about half a meter between the speaker and the back wall and a listening position close to the opposite wall, you’ll get a bass response that matches the rest of the tonal spectrum.
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Sound quality
For around 500$ per pair, there have to be some compromises. But when you play music through DALI Spektor 2, it’s hard to tell where DALI has cut corners. The soundstage is large and opens up from the speakers in a way that should be reserved for speakers costing several times more.
The midrange is particularly impressive. Vocals sound nuanced and clean, and it’s easy to distinguish between the timbres of different instruments. For example, a clarinet sounds different from an oboe, and both sound distinctly different from a saxophone.
With help from the room, the bass is well-balanced, and the small woofer works hard when you crank up “Right Hand Man” from Hamilton. But it works. DALI recommends an amplifier with 25-100 watts. If you plan to play at higher volumes, 100 watts is not overkill, as the nice bass comes at the cost of sensitivity.
The tweeter is excellent and airy, but it seems that the ultra-light 25mm dome struggles when the music becomes complex, and the sound pressure increases. This gives it a slightly sharp character.
With its open playing style, DALI Spektor 2 is reminiscent of the Elipson Prestige Facet 8B, which is not bad at all, considering that the latter costs three times as much – and is still affordable! However, you’ll have to manage without the ability to play as loud.
Specifications:
- 2-way bass reflex
- 5.25-inch woofer/midrange, 1-inch soft dome tweeter
- Frequency response: 54-26,000 Hz (-3 dB)
- Crossover frequency: 2,600 Hz
- Sensitivity: 84.5 dB
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Recommended amplifier power: 25-100 W
- Dimensions/weight: 17.0 x 29.2 x 23.8 cm / 4.2 kg
- Wall mounts and rubber feet included
- Colors: Black ash, walnut
Conclusion
DALI Spektor 2 is priced just above the discount shelves of electronics stores, but it offers much more. If you have a solid amplifier that can breathe life into them, you’ll get speakers that sound both larger and more expensive than they are. The beautiful and nuanced midrange perfectly suits acoustic music, but there’s enough bass to play rock – in a smaller room. While both volume and soundstage are limited, the Spektor 2 are outstanding small speakers that can give a first stereo setup a taste of hi-fi.
Dali Spektor 2 Review - A Danish Gentleman with Viking Roots
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