John Darko
DALI has added three new models to its EPIKORE series. The EPIKORE 3 standmount and the EPIKORE 7 and 9 floorstanders join the already announced EPIKORE 11 floorstander.
Common to all four models – and borrowed from the flagship KORE – is the Danish company’s EVO-K™ Hybrid ‘two-fer’ Tweeter module: a 3.5cm soft-dome paired with a 5.5cm x 1cm HF planar element.
In the EPIKORE 3 (-3dB at 42Hz, 6 Ohms, 85db), the tweeter module hands off to a 7″ midrange driver made from paper and wood fibre. According to the press release, the paper “serves to control cone behaviour without adding additional mass”. DALI calls this the Clarity Cone.
The compact floorstander – the EPIKORE 7 (-3dB at 35Hz, 6 Ohms, 88db) – puts two low-loss 7″ Clarity Cone mid-bass drivers below the DALI EVO-K™ tweeter module for a 3-way design.
The larger EPIKORE 9 (-3dB at 29Hz, 4 Ohms, 88db) turns in a 4-way design with two low-loss 8″ Clarity Cone bass drivers, a 6-5″ Clarity Cone mid-bass driver and the EVO-K™ tweeter module.
Lastly, the previously announced EPIKORE 11 (-3dB at 29Hz, 4 Ohms, 89db) takes the EPIKORE 9’s platform but doubles the 8″ bass driver count to four for a 4.5-way design.
All mid-bass and bass drivers are designed and made in-house by DALI in Denmark and all feature the Danish company’s SMC™ Gen-2 magnet system that aims to reduce the voice-coil-induced distortion called hysteresis.
From the press release: “When using conventional magnets in a speaker design, it is not unusual to experience a phenomenon known as hysteresis. This introduces an unintended resistance to the voice-coil, which can lead to unwanted distortion in the audio signal. Designed to significantly reduce hysteresis, SMC Gen-2™ is the next generation of DALI’s patented SMC magnet material technology. The result is a further reduction in hysteresis, flux-modulation and eddy currents in the magnet system.”
According to that same press release, the new EPIKORE models also feature titanium voice coil formers, die-cast baffles, custom-made binding posts, “continuous-flare” bass reflex ports, “advanced luxury cabinets” with adjustable aluminium outriggers and “high-end” crossover components that include SMC-KORE™ crossover inductors.
Pricing is not for the faint of wallet.
The EPIKORE 3 comes in at £9999, €9999 or US$15,000 per pair with the matching EPIKORE stands going for £1999, €1999 or US$3000 per pair.
A pair of EPIKORE 7 can be yours for £19,999, €19,000 or US$25,000 whilst the EPIKORE 9 lands at £29,999, €29,999 or US$40,000 per pair.
The already-announced EPIKORE 11? Yours for £39,998, €39,998 or US$60,000 per pair.
Your choice of three finishes: High Gloss Black, High Gloss Walnut or High Gloss Maroon.
Further information. DALI
