Dali Mentor 1 Bookshelf speakers
This Danish operation was linked to some leading Scandinavian retail chain that was hifi, but it's consistently operated completely autonomously and alone as a loudspeaker maker and really has proved successful on the UK marketplace than most brands that were foreign.
The most noticeable of those is seen in the tweeter organizations. The very best five Mentors are fitted using a high-frequency module that joins a standard doped-cloth dome having a more narrow ribbon-shaped planar apparatus, ensuring headroom and excellent power management, while keeping broad dispersion.
The loudspeaker itself is quite streamlined - DALI describes it as: 'basically a Mentor 5 using one five-inch woofer/midrange driver' - as well as our sample came attractively finished on five of its own six faces in an extremely smooth cherry real-wood veneer. Black wood veneer and high-polish white are the two choices here.
The leading component is totally replaced with a flat panel in textured light gray while the front and rear of the enclosure suitable are lightly curved. Mounting lugs for the elective grille are plainly observable. The back panel also offers mounting lugs, this time the optional wall mount, maybe if used for the surround channels.
The terminal block has one set of multi-way connectors as well as integrates a an interface that is well hidden. The tweeter module joins a 28mm doped-cloth dome using a planar component 45x25mm, the latter broken up into three narrow strips.
SOUND QUALITY
Even though the in-room measurements did not supply any reasons that are special to expect such findings, the Mentor 1 did not seem quite large and lacking in body, heat and weight. There is no denying an observation which the panellists recorded: 'Large percussion lacking'. 'A bit competitive and little; lacks warmth and authority'. Also, the leading end detached and received some criticism for sounding instead sibilant.
Together with the warning, a fresh pair was sent following damage endured by the original pair during transportation system that the panellists hadn't been run in. While this may help clarify the DALI's poor low-frequency operation, its forwardness that is lightweight stay major handicaps.
