Sound quality
Not only is there more bass output than you might expect,
but the size of the performance that the Minuet can generate is also genuinely
surprising. The Minuet’s ability to reproduce even fairly sizeable pieces of
music with a convincing scale and believable soundstage is something that takes
a little getting used to, but is exceptionally welcome nonetheless. With a
small amount of toe-in, they produce an extremely consistent and spacious presentation
that manages to convey a genuine sense of height and depth as well as good
stereo width. While a full orchestra is a challenge for a speaker this small,
the Dali puts up more of fight than you might expect.
Provide it with
any degree of care and attention, and the Dali makes a hugely persuasive case
for itself
These unexpected attributes do not come at the expense of
the areas that a small speaker should excel at, though. The Dali is
wonderfully, almost beguilingly coherent. The two drivers integrate to such an
extent that they almost function with the same integration as a single driver
design and this cohesion gives them a midrange that is detailed, beautifully
defined and immensely enjoyable. The unplugged version of Year Zero by Alabama
3 is presented with a real sparkle and energy to it. The guitar is laden with
fine detail and it complements the vocals perfectly with no sense that one is
being favored over the other.
Some of the perceived strength of the midrange is down to
the Minuet being relatively restrained in terms of treble output. It never
feels muffled or artificially reined in and never seems especially explicit at
the top end. This is not necessarily a bad thing in that the Minuet is a very
forgiving speaker in terms of poorer or more strident recordings, but it does
mean that pieces that are more dependent on treble can feel less convincing
than some similarly priced models.
The Dali is
accurate without being analytical and it manages to latch on to rhythms with an
effortlessness that means they are very easy to listen to for long periods of
time.
The most impressive part of the overall performance is the
realism and sweetness never overwhelms a sense of fun and liveliness that it
brings to most music. The Dali is accurate without being analytical and it
manages to latch on to rhythms with an effortlessness that means they are very
easy to listen to for long periods of time. With the Cambridge Audio 851A
especially, there is a sense of synergy that is very hard not to like with the
slightly matter of fact performance of the 851A keeping the Minuets under
control, but still letting their agility and cohesion entertain and enthrall.
In keeping with a number of small speakers, the Dali’s benefit when there’s
plenty of power to show what they are capable of and they will show up
limitations with lesser amplification.
Conclusion
Provide it with any degree of care and attention, and the
Dali makes a hugely persuasive case for itself. The Minuet might be a small
speaker, but it has a performance that means it stands its ground against
larger designs. The sheer enjoyment it brings to most music is something that
is special at any price and the Minuet is good enough in so many areas that it
effortlessly distracts you from wanting more bass output or top end extension.
Of course, $1443 is a considerable amount of money for what is a very small
box, but place this diminutive Dali in a small to medium sized room and make
sure your partnering equipment is up to the job and there are few speakers at
the price that can hold your attention as effectively. When you consider the
handsome appearance and very high quality of finish, you have a speaker that
deserves an audition.
How it compares
From the very
start of listening, the Menuets subvert expectations
The closest competitor we’ve seen to the Minuet is the Neat
Iota. The two speakers are similar in many ways and intriguingly different in
others. The Dali is a small conventional speaker while the Neat is rather
different from the rest of the company’s range in the pursuit of being as small
as possible. In terms of performance, both speakers sound larger than they look
and excel in midrange lucidity, which makes them extremely enjoyable to listen
to. Where they differ is which frequency extreme they are best at. The Dali has
a useful extra amount of low end bass than the Neat, but the Iota hits back
with a superior top end thanks to its ribbon tweeter.
Our verdict
·
Sound quality: 4.5/5
·
Value for money: 4/5
·
Build quality: 5/5
·
Ease of drive: 4/5
·
Like: Cohesive and entertaining sound; great build and looks
·
Dislike: Some limits to frequency extremes reveal shortcomings
with lesser electronics
·
We say: A speaker that entertains and sounds far larger than its
small size suggests
·
Overall: 4.5/5
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Technical
specs
·
Product: Dali Mentor Minuet
·
Origin: Denmark
·
Type: Stand mount loudspeaker
·
Weight: 4.1kg
·
Dimensions (W x H x D) : 150 x 250 x 230mm
·
Features : 28mm soft dome tweeter; 100mm wood fiber cone;
86dB quoted
·
Sensitivity; 4ohms quoted nominal impedance
·
Distributor: Dali UK
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