Dali E-9 F Subwoofer Black

Product Information

The 1.1-inch soft dome tweeter is bigger than the standard 1-inch tweeter found on most speakers and is designed to provide a larger sweet spot for listening and blend better with the mid-range driver. In fact, these are the first speakers I have auditioned that sound better when not toed in or out. The recommended placement should be with the speakers pointing straight out into the listening room. I’ll speak more about this in my listening section of this review. I placed the Oberon 3s on speaker stands with the tweeters at ear height from my couch and roughly two feet from the front wall. Some subs also include high-level connections that either use speaker terminals or what’s called a Neutrik Speakon connection. The approach uses the same audio signal as the speakers, rather than a filtered low frequency signal, and can be beneficial if music is your priority. But don't let this detract from what is a stunning performance by the Spektor 2 5.1. It's evidently deserving of all five stars within moments of plugging it in.

And yes, this Dali sub really does reach down into infra bass – you can more sense the low frequencies than hear them, it is like the presence of an approaching thunderstorm, you are very aware of it. But the other plus point of this sub is that it is very musical, it is not the one note variety of sub that just pushes out a boom, boom sort of sound, this is an accurate and musical sub. For the deepest bass you need a large cone and you won't find a lot bigger than the Dali's 14 inch beast. This sizeable cone shifts plenty of air so you can feel the lowest bass notes rather than just hearing them. The long stroke woofer is made from aluminium, meaning it's light and rigid - perfect for clean, accurate low frequencies. Whether you’re watching TV or movies, playing games or listening to music, the SB-3000 has you covered with the kind of deep bass extension you can physically feel. The sealed enclosure ensures a level of refinement and musicality that’s genuinely excellent, but still manages to deliver seismic levels of low frequency energy. Always look for the RMS (continuous) power output, because this reflects the normal performance of the sub. The peak or dynamic power numbers relate to the maximum output over a short period of time, which can be very deceptive in terms of actual performance.

This classy model combines a 13in high-excursion driver with powerful Class D amplification to create an uncompromising subwoofer that can generate exceptional amounts of bass with pinpoint control and flawless tonal accuracy. The result is an exciting and muscular performer that often feels like an iron fist inside a velvet glove. When it comes to connecting a subwoofer, there are often a number of options available, primarily based around stereo and mono line level inputs using either RCA or balanced XLR connectors. These are also sometimes referred to as low-level or LFE (low frequency effects) connections. As mentioned in the introduction, the more air a driver can displace, the lower the frequencies it can generate. This means that when it comes to subwoofers, size does matter. The voice coil is 26.5 mm long and built for long excursions. It is vented to ensure air-cooling to the system and the benefit is a stable impedance response. The pole piece is likewise vented for maximum cooling, and here the venting also reduces internal compression in the motor system. This ensures free movement of the cone without any over/under pressure affecting the performance. Adhering to the low-loss sound design principle, the surround of the woofer is built to allow long and linear excursion. The over-sized suspension is designed to allow both weak and strong transients to turn into undistorted acoustic signals.

A top quality sub of infra-bass ability I was already using a pair of Cambridge Audio X500 subs (not the later paper coned ones) but I felt they were not quite exploring the infra-sonic range, so I started to look for a sub that would do that task which could accompany the X500’s. Although the C-8 D is quite capable of going (very) loud, it’s musical, too. You get the impact you crave from action movies but, when listening to music, the C8D is subtle enough to let you hear the different textures from a bass guitar – rather than a single one-note bass boom. DALI’s famous paper fibre cone provides the flexibility here – making bass sound part of the music rather than apart from it.All Dali Subwoofers are compatible with almost any amplifier, receiver or processor due to the choice of LFE or LINE inputs. The elegant and simple cabinet is designed to fit perfectly to the size of the woofer, but without forgoing the inner volume that is needed to produce a powerful bass performance. If you don’t like the idea of running subwoofer cables all over your living room, some brands offer optional wireless modules that pass the full-range audio signal with no latency, thus eliminating clutter. Other subs are designed to be used only as part of a wireless system.

If you’re looking for a product consummately better, your budget would need stretch far beyond the price of these Dalis. But they remain speakers with which we could live for a long and happy time. As is often the case with REL subwoofers, the T/9x includes high-level connections for use with a stereo amplifier, and it handles music with commendable skill. It’s equally capable when it comes to movies, but if music is your passion this remarkable subwoofer is sure to please.

Boost the low-end impact of your sound system with our pick of the best subwoofers for every budget

Electrical power is measured in watts (W) and the more wattage available, the louder the sub and the harder you can drive it without distorting, but the higher the price tag. A continuous output of 500W should be more than enough for most people, but if you have the budget you can go higher. REL has long been a company that prides itself on manufacturing subwoofers that sound fantastic with movies and music. The REL T/9x is the perfect example of the latter, incorporating technology from the higher-end Serie S to deliver a sub that oozes class and musicality. This reference subwoofer is beautifully made, sports a curved metal mesh grille, and includes the SVS remote app for easy setup, simple control and effective optimisation. The SB-3000 also won’t break the bank, so whether you’re a hardcore audiophile or home cinema fanatic, this superb subwoofer is sure to please.