LEKTOR Setup and Measurements

When the speakers arrived I noticed that the boxes were labeled L and R. This usually indicates a Left and Right speaker and it is something I've experienced before. Many speakers with side firing or offset tweeters will specify a side. The problem is that the DALI LEKTOR 8's don't have any sort of physical requirement that would suggest such a distinction is necessary or warranted. So I did something that I usually would never do - I contacted the manufacturer. As a rule, I try to keep my reviews as bias-free as possible. This means I don't read other reviews (or user comments), I don't talk to marketing reps, and I spend as little time as possible in contact with the manufacturers. I know other reviewers like to brag about how they talked to the cabinet designer or crossover builder but to me that just adds bias. It is like going into a listening test and having someone tell you what you are about to hear (remember all that backwards masking stuff where you couldn't hear the satanic messages until they told you what you were supposed to hear?). Of course you hear what they point out - that's simple psychology. But when I have questions that I can't answer, sometimes contacting the manufacturer is the only option. My solution was to do my listening tests, comparisons, and measurements before contacting DALI. In the end, my precautions were unnecessary as DALI answered my questions simply and succinctly without trying to sway my review.

From DALI - Each DALI speaker (no samples) is tested in an isolation chamber on 14 separate parameters, including polarity, frequency, SPL, "rub & buzz", impedance, etc. Pairs of speakers are tested together, with the output curves matched to a standard, and to each other. Each speaker must fall within close tolerances of each other and the test standard. Any speaker failing this performance test is reworked. If it fails a second time, the cabinet is crushed and discarded. So, the L&R indicates a "matched pair" in terms of testing, on a broad array of variables. If the consumer inverts the speakers, it will have no effect upon sonic performance. The L&R simply shows they were built and tested together. In some cases, DALI has produced asymmetrical designs, which must be positioned as indicated (drivers are mounted off-center). In those cases, L&R positioning is critical. In the case of LEKTOR 8, the speakers are symmetrical and indifferent to L&R placement.

Exactly as I thought. It is nice to know that the speakers are tested together and that QC is tight (at least, that's what they claim and we have every reason so far to believe them). If they are going to "skimp" on veneers (I use the term lightly as the finish on the LEKTOR's is excellent), than I expect them to bring their 'A' game in other departments.

Placement with the DALI LEKTOR 8's was fairly straightforward. The LEKTOR's have a very wide soundstage and their sweet spot was fairly huge (more on this in the listening tests below). This makes the DALI's very placement forgiving which actually makes for a very fine-tunable listening experience. As you can see below from the measurements, on axis the DALI's have a bit more high-end energy while off axis they measure a bit flatter. According to DALI this is by design as the speakers are meant to be listened to off-axis with placement parallel to the front wall. However, if you prefer one sound over the other, all you need do is adjust the positioning. I ended up with a slight toe-in as I felt it solidified the center imaging a bit. Pointing the speaker directly at me was a bit fatiguing but not overly so. I know there are many out there that would still like that orientation. Especially since the large soundstage didn't seem to diminish much in that orientation like other speakers.

The large adjustment nuts on the carpet spikes made leveling the speakers easier than other spikes I've used, though of course not as easy as an outrigger setup. The spikes were a little short, however, and I had to have them only barely in the threaded inserts to have enough room for the spike to penetrate my medium pile carpet. A longer spike would have helped this. For this review, the DALI LEKTOR 8's were powered either by a Denon AVR-2307CI or by the Emotiva RSP-1/RPA-1 combo. All critical listening tests were done with the Emotiva combo. Analogue cabling was Blue Jeans with digital supplied by Impact Acoustics. The Denon DVD-3910 provided source material for the critical listening tests.

Measurements & Testing

For laboratory measurements I used the Sencore SP395A FFT Audio Analyzer and a Sherbourn 2/75B amp, I measured the DALI LEKTOR 8's in-room on- and off-axis frequency response with 1/12th octave resolution

DALI LEKTOR 8 1 Meter Frequency Response (1/12th Octave) On Axis
Note - this is NOT a 1 watt measurement

Our measurements indicate the LEKTOR 8’s tweeter response is set a tad too high as indicated by the rising frequency response at the tweeter crossover point. We noticed the same phenomenon when we tested the MENTOR 1’s but DALI explained this is deliberately done for a more uniform off axis power response. We suggest little to no toe-in to prevent listening fatigue.

DALI LEKTOR 8 1/2 Meter Frequency Response (1/12th Octave)
Pink - On axis, Orange - 15 degrees off axis, Yellow - 30 degrees off axis

The LEKTOR 8’s frequency response looks best around 30 degrees off axis exhibiting a very linear response throughout the entire frequency spectrum. Its quite unusual for a speaker to have such a flat response this far off axis but it seems to serve the system well for those that like very articulate if not a lively top end response.

DALI LEKTOR 8 Impedance

The Sencore consistently measures impedance one ohm low. The impedance measurement indicates a tuning frequency around 40Hz as specified by DALI. Given the moderately high efficiency rating and fairly benign impedance profile, this speaker shouldn’t be too difficult for any decent multi-channel receiver to drive.