Dali presented the fully active 2-way bass reflex floorstanding censor 5 AX with Bluetooth and 96 kHz / 24-bit signal processing already at the high end in May this year. The "recipe" includes an active master box, in which the entire network is built, and a passive slave box, which is connected via speaker cable to the master box.
Now, in late summer, the speaker is a very interesting couple price of 999 EUR in our test area, to prove: The Danes can "be active" also. And this happens in the case of the censor 5 AX by a highly efficient Class D digital amplifier with 2 x 50 watts of power. Sounds not exactly exuberant performance power, but the tests are us later, so much is already here promised to disabuse.
The censor 5 AX gives frequencies between 43 Hz and 26.5 kHz, and is equipped with a 25 mm soft dome tweeter and two 134 mm woofers with Dali-typical wood fiber membrane represent the assembly.
The user has the choice - the censor 5 AX evident in regard to the possible ways to take counter signals, flexible: 3.5 mm mini-jack connection is available in order to extend analog signals. An optical digital input is responsible for the delivery of digital signals. Bluetooth Dali combined with the aptX audio standard for audio enjoyment in CD quality. About the built-in Bluetooth module can only say good things. Although the first coupling takes a few seconds, but then the connection is rock solid, and there is neither interruptions nor unsightly artifacts. In addition to the aforementioned input forms, the Dali censor 5 AX still a pre-out for direct connection of a separate powered subwoofer.
Incidentally, the front of the loudspeaker cabinet is an LED to see the information on the current operating status: red is standby, yellow stands for the optical digital input, green means "AUX" or 3.5 mm mini-jack is selected, blue stands as it may be different, for Bluetooth. In standby mode, the Dali censor 5 AX also consumes less than 0.5 watts.
s we know from Dali, the censor presented 5 AX in clean finish. The censor series is kept in shape, that is, simple Bauhaus design from all sides. The censor 5 AX is compatible with virtually 840 mm height to every living room. The speaker is 212 mm wide and 282 mm deep. The weight per speaker is 11 kg. Alternatively, they can be had in "Light Walnut" as our test candidate, in white or black version. Among the speakers is an elegantly integrated stand that makes the speaker appear easy, but at the same time it promotes a solid stand on any surface. The only slight drawback is the somewhat pointed GehΓ usecken, to this also the otherwise impeccable Vinyl foiling is not perfectly successful. But this can be the Dali boxes forgive truly considering the purchase price. Otherwise, the back is meticulously crafted and we can only praise the high-quality connection terminals with large, covered with acrylic glass screw. In the master box sits the plate, inside mounted on the all the electronics and outside the ports are placed, clean and tight. Stroked with a finger from the housing on the transition to sub-base, it is noticeable that the fitting is flush with the housing and with almost no perceptible transition. A look at the inner side with the electronics must also be: No Cheap layout and no sloppy laid cables disturb here the overall impression. In front we can remove the clean fabric used to cover cover quietly with plastic frames. Below we look at the clean design of bass reflex port. Because the channel is placed with alignment to the front, the 2-way speakers can be placed close to the wall also. The chassis are precise and permanently installed, the woofer is a chic matt silvery ring embedded, which ensures some cleverness in detail.
Dali returns with a small remote control in credit card format, which is provided with simple membrane keys. Prima are working angle and reach. Amazingly, the volume control works relatively well, which we know from competitors also different. Some getting used to, only the symbols used for the respective inputs, shorthand labels as "opt", "BT" or "AUX" would be here in our opinion, make more sense.
sound
We play by optical communication and start with a classic of the late 80s - "The Omen" by Mysterious Arts in the long-wheelbase version with violent thundering intro by the listening room. Thunders? With 2 x 50 Watt (RMS) amplifier power? Yes, you've never read. Right at the beginning to make the two Dali censor boxes clear that you would like to shoot from 0 the same in the Bluetooth / Active Speakers Olympus. Without breath, pulse here loyal and powerful bass are thrown into the listening room, precise, hard, clear. "Danish Dynamite" in its purest form, and the whole of EUR 1,000. Respect, even before the excellent voice reproduction, the balanced freely and accurately distributed in the listening room. But wait, love Dali censor 5 AX, that's just the beginning. We will keep you already have caught on the "wrong side", only waits. But we have to admit this kind of acoustic presentation captivates us already. Also because of the great mix of dynamism and spatiality.
"Self Control" by Laura Brannigan sounds casual, clearly and confidently when the censor 5 AX assume playback. The only average source material sounds so completely and pleasant that we are surprised. Otherwise, there are often unsightly spikes in the upper midrange, these let the Danish boxing out almost completely. Only at very high level one notices slight disharmony in the voice reproduction. The dynamics offered is top notch, so that one is inclined as a fan of music of the 80s, fully go along. That the track of the past few years, unfortunately deceased singer belongs to the basic ingredients veritable 80s parties, ensures a continued high popularity - and the Dali censor 5 AX revive with optimal treatment of the source material this glorious time.
We continue with the Tiesto remix of Goldfrapp hits "Rocket", again leaked from CD, continued. The CD "RMX - Superstars Remixed by Superstars" is characterized by an impeccable recording quality, and the censor 5 AX give here full speed: With a bass that hardly anyone could have credited the dainty boxes and the rather average specified amplifier power. But as the saying goes - "gray all theory", and that hits the bull's-eye here. Locker and left realized the censor 5 AX a massive, simultaneous nimble coming to the point the bass range, but the case does not obscure the vocal play. The separation of voice from the speaker succeeds very well. Overall, we shows the Dali censor 5 AX that they can compete with the best known to us Asset / Bluetooth speakers, and not only that: in their price range sets new standards because such a performance is a rarity.
The impressive show continues even in "The Howling" by Within Tempatation. Blessed with the necessary hardness and AggressitivΓ t, e-guitar riffs flourish properly. And the voice of Sharon Den Adel dissolves voices of the speakers and is evenly distributed in the listening room. Again, the bass range is powerful, amazingly have substance and depth. Dynamic and yet very pleasant throughout the design, you can hear even over a prolonged period of high level without difficulty. Also "Our Solemn Hour" sounds with vigor and high expressiveness. Again, it is the high level of energy released, which impressed us. Even in the listening room of 20 square meters above the Dali censor 5 AX act not perish but sit excelling in scene. Unsightly distortions or hitting the chassis finds itself at high volumes, not instead of - only when we advance in volumes, which are known from the dedicated home theater room, the Danish speaker load limit their approach.
Even with "Dell'Amore Non Si Sa" the censor not disgraced 5 AX - We have calculated exactly when the fed from CD Andrea Bocelli song with an at least minor embarrassment. For precise image the immense vocal range, to have heard a greater degree of sovereignty, cultivated appearance and the ability to spatially reproduce finely dosed. But Dali 5 AX, figuratively speaking, only smiles. Nice try seems to think the fleet Dane, but not with me: Excellent-solid is Andrea's voice on a well-defined virtual stage. Emphatically, exactly the point accurately and with an extremely good volume convinces us of the bass range. All this means that we still treat "L'Attesa": And here our couple shines censor 5 AX with sanded, fine idea. That the 25 mm tweeter really well dissolves and combines with a very pleasant, harmonic tonality, is also remarkable. An aggressive, pointed or tinny undertone is missing entirely. Dali has succeeded here a exceedingly pleasing, homogeneous, but at the same time never boring interpretation.
And we continue with classical music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, KΓΆchelverzeichnis 622, in A Major is on, and we hear from the CD the first Allegro. The Dali censor 5 AX also provides a very solid performance at Classic - impressed us, as sovereign, for example, the clarinet solos are presented with fine graduation and clean contours plotted. The orchestral inserts come out dynamically, once enough power is available to illustrate the force behind the whole orchestra, excellent.
Now we turn to the musical quality of the Bluetooth playback and start with Rick Springfield classic "Celebrate Youth" in the Extended version. With enormous possible maximum level and an excellent broad dynamics the censor 5 AX put an exclamation mark once more. In "Blue Monday" by New Order with the bass volleys directly at the beginning of this can also be achieved. The construction of the track and the Ryhtmus be played at such a high level that is the censor 5 AX can really fully as "original" recommend at home. Nunn are current club tracks ready for playback: "San Francisco" by Darius & Finlay and Tom Borijn is the Dali censor 5 AX also dazzling, in the bass range a second time Great is done, the volume and the emphasis are excellent. Smaller dynamic differences are taken into account in transients. And the trance hit "Anahera" by Ferry Corsten and Gouryella? Here the melodic beginning will be presented with extensive spatial effect, and the structure which initially rather takes place in the background is, very good effect. When it came right "down to business" is in the bass range, the built-in Class D amplifier keeps back a lot of ready reserves for a space-filling reproduction.
Time to pause briefly. Two speakers, an active as a master, a passively as an attached slave, the whole of EUR 999 in the pair. What can we expect it? A rock-solid sound, with good dynamics, orderly and tidy Basfundament worked out voices. What the Dali make censor 5 AX? They build on an incredibly successful Bass Ment Fund, provide a clear tiered midrange, vibrant highs and an excellent over the entire frequency range shown dissolution behavior. Certainly, we will arrange the censor 5 AX realistic in an acoustic context, an overall fall has weaknesses. The rearmost acoustic levels will no longer be differentiated clearly apart when things get louder, the Bass Draught replaced with a volume which is exactly where you need it and where you think: The bass range right down deep. Finest contours with the instrumental and vocal reproduction are not recognized in full. One must not forget in all the euphoria that you are dealing with a pair of speakers for EUR 1,000. Lovers audiophile highs are of course not served here. For such users Dali holds very different alternatives, for example, from the Rubicon or Epicon series, ready. These passive elite speakers must then be combined with a correspondingly powerful amplifier.
It is therefore fundamentally important to involve the Preisklassen- and Outfit context in assessing the censor 5 AX. What can we expect for 1000 EUR = You get two superbly finished speakers with flexible deployment options. Well, unfortunately lacks a USB DAC - that would be the crowning achievement, because you could then enjoy the sound of the censor 5 AX also in direct communication, namely in the form of an external sound card, with the PC. But for that you get performance and sound tired - and not, as already mentioned, in an almost perfect manner, but in a quality which is absolutely rare for the price league. Dali has thus far above the average for little money. And although again complain after reading this report reader with us, that the ratings are much too good: Please, dear readers, you can hear the censor 5 AX in natura! Then arises really the question: What, please, can we expect for 1000 EUR price if you remain realistic? Nothing, that's our summary. For the purchase price will be offered an optimum truthful. This is also the view of the competition.
Sure, 599 EUR are the Heco Ascada 2.0 Bluetooth speaker also a well Feiles offer. They look good and offer a lively sound. Even a USB DAC is on board. But against the fireworks that the - also from the housing forth admittedly larger - Dali censor kindle 5 AX, the Ascada remain pale. There is a lack of power and sovereignty. Since just worthwhile for those who does not use the speakers in the next room, but as the main solution, the handle to the Dali censor 5 AX 100 percent.
Even cost 999 EUR a very different product concept, which also gave us very appealing: The giant JBL L16 Authentics as DLNA / AirPlay / Bluetooth speaker with rich 300 watts is a massively An incoming sound machine first order. In comparison, the Dali appear censor 5 AX serious, polished, cultured - and thanks to the 2 boxes concept they naturally develop a more credible stereo stage. But they are just not as fast as the time taken by the friend - also quite large, but still more mobile - L16. We love both alternatives, the best buys you look for the living room, the Dali and for all remaining tasks a Authentics L16.
Let us turn to other alternatives. If you really invested money, it is incidentally not mean you automatically get a much better sound gets as inexpensive Dali censor 5 AX: Around 2,300 EUR will cost an active system of Audiovector, also from Denmark, consisting of the bookshelf speakers Ki 1 Super with Discreet technology and Black Box for BT and power. And certainly, the performance in terms of acoustic transparency, clarity and detail are quite good, but the Dali can do everything almost as so compelling, but are very much cheaper.
Only one alternative remains the measure of all things: The Nupro 300 from the house Nubert. With a price of 525 EUR and a pair price of 1,050 EUR, the active speaker system with USB DAC is an absolute hammer, just what regards dynamics and power handling. She goes that you can only rub their eyes - but that does not mean that the powerhouses of SchwΓ bisch-GmΓΌnd, with their neutral, the same massive sound for all the right thing: For one thing, quite simply, Bluetooth, to other sound the Dali censor 5 AX harmonious, somewhat softer and thus are excellent for long-term listening. They radiate beyond from wider and are not designed as a listening monitor, but as full-fledged living room speakers. Overall, we think the universe of potential users is completely different, so make Nubert and Dali no buyers dispute. These are two different concepts, both of which have large stimuli.
Conclusion
An admiring "well done" travels to Denmark to Dali - the censor 5 AX shines in test by excellent acoustic performance in every concern. Level hard, powerful, pleasant - virtually all claims that one of a few boxes that are to operate fully active, presents, be confidently met. The fact that the resolution and transient response are still outstanding, screwed the bar, in which competitors have to orient the future, further upward. It would only have been even advisable to additionally install a USB DAC, in order to increase the flexibility for the user on.
Dali sought further forward: With the censor 5 AX a top speaker with flexible deployment options and first-class acoustics offers powered speaker / Bluetooth speaker to 1,000 EUR Test September 17, 2015.
+ Coarse and fine dynamics of price range excelling
+ Great spatiality
+ level detection
+ Very pleasant overall characteristics
+ Tadelloses resolution
+ Good workmanship
+ fair price
- No USB DAC
Test: Carsten Rampacher
Photos: Sven Wunderlich
Date: September 17, 2015
