DALI - Zensor 3 (Black Ash)

Got these as an upgrade to my old Klipsch KG4 (with the Bob Crites crossover upgrade). For now running in stereo off a Marantz 50 WPC 7.1 receiver. My other system is a pair of LINN SARA 9 Isobarik speakers pushed by an Emotiva UPA-200 amp and XDA-1 DAC.I love these speakers. I went online shopping for new speakers with my wife (she has to look at them too). After a lot of research on my own and presenting her with some options, she settled on these mostly based off looks. Got them, hooked them up, and we both were blown away. The 7" woofer really pumps out prodigious levels of controlled bass while still maintaining a sweet, detailed midrange. Where the KG4's may have more bass extension and volume, it isn't controlled nearly as well and the midrange, by comparison, is recessed and hollow. I love the laser-like detail of the Klipsch horn tweeter, but the soft dome on the Zensor 3's manages to sound every bit as detailed while providing a bit of "smoothness" inherent to the soft dome tweeter design. That plus the amazing midrange makes listening to music that much more satisfying. A lot of speakers and headphones are described as great for certain types of music (meaning for others they don't sound as good), but I have yet to run across a style of music that doesn't sound captivating on these.So, for the cons... It's a big bookshelf speaker... the size allows for that awesome (for a bookshelf) bass response, but it's still something to consider. The black gloss front looks great, but it is a fingerprint magnet. The grills look fine, but they look so sexy without them that you're invariably going to want to find someplace to stow them. Some may balk at the price, but in this case I think you get what you pay for.I did hook these up to a Peachtree 220se to see how it compared. Honestly, aside from at extreme listening volumes, the Marantz's 50 WPC managed to keep up in both quality and in dynamics. It did start to sound compressed and fall off in bass response around 90 dB SPL using the Marantz, but that's to be expected. For our smallish living room the Marantz/Dali combo is more than enough to get a noise complaint :)It's really hard to describe the difference between speakers that are just ok and speakers that are good without being able to listen to them yourself, but in this case it worked out for me. I took the plunge after reading a lot of reviews, comparing to others in this price range and getting the style advisor's approval, and I haven't regretted it. I've been consistently amazed at how good these sound, even after close to a year of using them every day, and that, to me, makes these well worth it. Can't wait to get a Vokal and another pair once we move out of the apartment!

I have both the Dali Zensor 3 and Zensor 7. They share the same tweeter and the same woofer (the 3 has one woofer, the 7 two), and of course the 3 is a standmount, the 7 a much larger floorstander. Both these sets of speakers are among the best I have ever owned, and I have owned many over the years from giant Klipschorns to diminutive Wharfedales. The Dalis have a very natural sound with clear resolution and full bodied bass without any excesses on either end. I am driving the 3s with Onkyo electronics, the 7s with Yamahas. Very nice indeed.

I have to say, these have exceeded all expectations... BUT, that wasn't always the case. I assumed the "needs 100+ hours to break in" was a bunch of audiophile crap. When they arrived and I hooked them up (to my old faithful upgraded st-70 in my work room), I thought that they sounded ok to good. Well, at least as good as what I paid for them. Nothing special, but competent. After a couple months of playing, WOW. Every couple days I'd step back and say to myself that they sounded better. After a while, it that added up. Lately, these sound as open and tight (contradiction I know) as anything I've heard for two or three times their cost. If I get the money, I'm going to look into the 7's for my living room. DALI did these right, just give them some time. Highly recommend.

Extremely happy with service, delivery and quality. There are a lot of speaker choices out there I do like Dali quality and the Danish sound and would buy again.

Couldn't be more pleased. From Bowie to Berlioz and Sex Pistols to Shostakovich, Prince to Parton and Pavement to Piaf ... these beauties deliver, clean and true

Beautiful sound!

So..... now I’m writing reviews online . God help me . Luckily I’m semi drunk . I’m using What Hi Fi review of these speakers as a reference . I refer you to that review before you read this . I agree with what hifi : these speakers are stonkingly good . Whatever the heck stonkingly is . I’m using these speakers with a 2000 linn classik ( 50 watts @ 8 ohms , 75 w @ 4 ohms ) . Supposedly the classic has a mosfet final stage . The classic is kindof neutral like other brit stuff . The Dalis are a good match they definitely give the classic a little zazz . Who am I to say these things ? Just some idiot . My other car is audiolab cd , musical fidelity A3 cr pre/power ,dynaudio Audience 7 all bought around 2000 . One important thing you HAVE to burn them in for AT LEAST 100 hours . They sound crappy before that . Yeah they cost too much what doesn’t ?