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REVIEW: Dali Ikon 6 Speakers

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Model: Ikon 6
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $1750 pr.
Description: 2/6.5
Manufacturer URL: Dali
Model Picture: View

Review by avaddikt on May 26, 2007 at 16:17:42
IP Address: 67.181.192.232
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for the Ikon 6


I auditioned the Ikon 6 against PSB Platinum M2, Dali Helicon 300, Dali Ikon 2, and some none A/B listening of B&W CDM-7 and MA RS8 models close to same price class.

I listened to the PSB, Ikon, and Helicon in the same audio corrected room.
The biggest selling point for the Dalis overall was the clarity, especially of voice as well as the cleanliness of instruments.
The B&Ws sounded just plain good. And if I had them next to the Ikons I believe my choice would have been more difficult. I could be very comfortable with the CDM-7s. Although while the B&W had a very good midrange, and nice full bass, it seemed to miss some slam, or fastness.. pickup I heard in the MAs and Dalis.
I had a similar feeling about the MAs. But these are very fine speakers, and in terms of plain accuracy and bass response, I think they had an edge over all, except for the Helicons. Like the Dalis they were also fast.
But the Helicons were simply in your lap, even at moderate levels. Not to say they were forward sounding as much as natural sounding. Voices were simply in the same room, with the best recordings of course. The speakers just disappeared. Put on the right music, it would take a man of steel not to shed a tear of emotion. Very provocative. Like if your best friend told you your blind date is said to be real hot, you are thinking (..yeah, right..) then she walks in and your knees start to knock.. "I had no idea...!"
It is that quality, not as prevalent as in the Helicon, that sold me on the Ikons. (The apple does not fall far from the tree.)
It is something different than just accuracy, but I doubt a relatively lower accuracy speaker could ever achieve it.
The PSBs were not quite as even-sounding to me, but never irritating. More laid back but also ever so slightly veiled, that the smallest nuances in the music were sometimes missed. To some ears, the Ikons might sound too critical in the same way the PSBs never grabbed too much attention.
I think most anyone could live with any of these. The Helicons would have been easy, but overpowering for my room. Definitely on the expensive side, but unless you have a hearing problem I doubt you would find the price unfair.
The Ikon 6s seemed to get it all right. I use the fronts in a bi-amp mode.
I am driving them with an Arcam AVR receiver and feeding from a Cambridge Audio 740C player. Excellent combo! Positioning is very critical too for the best 2 ch response. But get it right, and they will grow with you over a relatively short time.
They sounded very restricted to me initially, in the same sense you might keep a performance sports car below 4000 rpm for the first few hundred miles.
After some 200 hours they seem liberated in comparison. Dali says actual break-in can take up to 400 hours. I think most of the changes happen within those first couple of hundred.
More slam, soundstage widens even more (and soundstage is GREAT to begin with) and bass sounds more natural.
We are not talking a subwoofer here, but the bass is clear, musical, and rolls off smoothly. The combined tweeter dome/ribbon module is a real treat. Never harsh, but never limited by anything you feed it.
Take the Ikon 6 with the bass extension of the RS6 and I think you would have the bargain of the century here.
But as it stands, the Ikon has nothing to be ashamed of..and I can envision many years of listening pleasure ahead of me.
Quality of materials, is very good, as is the simple tasteful styling in the Scandinavian style of Ikea?
I matched these up with a Dali Vokal 2 center, and pair of OnWall surrounds.
Wonderful experience in Home Theater, with more pleasant surprises.
You can check out my signature if you want more info on my system.







Product Weakness: Ikea faux veneer but done right just the same<br>a skosh more bass extension needed<br>combined dome/ribbon tweeter requires more emphasis on placement<br>
Product Strengths: Clarity<br>Fast<br>natural on voices and instruments<br>soundstage


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Arcam AVR350 Rcvr
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Cambridge 640C V2
Speakers: Dali Ikon 6, V2, and OnWalls
Cables/Interconnects: Tributaries
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Jazz, R&B
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Dali Ikon 6 Speakers - avaddikt 16:17:42 05/26/07 ( 2)