The DALI KUPID Bookshelf Speaker Promises ‘True Hi-Fi Sound’ For $400

DALI (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries) makes some seriously high-end loudspeakers, like the remarkable EPIKORE Series, which my colleague James Larson got to hear at a launch event toward the end of 2024. (See his article DALI Loudspeakers Wow Listeners With High-End EPIKORE Series Demo.) Even the less costly RUBIKORE 8 speakers, which so impressed James when he reviewed them earlier this year, currently sell for a hefty $13K per pair, up from a pre-tariff price of $12K. (See James’s DALI RUBIKORE 8 review.) Recently, DALI has announced that its massive flagship speaker, the KORE floorstanders ($150K per pair) will be available in six new high gloss finishes: Velvet Red, Navy Blue, Steel Grey, Racing Green, White, and Black. There will also be a refined Ammara Ebony Black Metal edition of the KORE. When the speaker originally launched in 2022, the black Ammara Ebony was the only available finish. DALI says that the new color options allow the KORE speakers “to become a personal design statement, tailored to the atmosphere of any home — whether as a bold centerpiece or an understated complement to a luxury interior.”

With its expanded color palette, the DALI KORE is now as visually expressive as it is sonically uncompromising — a true fusion of luxury design and world-class sound.

— DALI

But luckily for the rest of us, you don’t have to be a billionaire to enjoy DALI speakers and bold colors in the same package. The brand has just introduced an all-new standmount speaker called the KUPID, which is expected to sell for just $400 per pair (price pending the tariff situation), putting it squarely in the affordable category for most audiophiles. These attractive little 2-ways will be available in five stylish, premium finishes when they start shipping in October of 2025. You can choose Black Ash, Walnut, Caramel White, Chilly Blue, or (my favorite) Golden Yellow. DALI says that this little gem of a speaker represents “a new entry point to genuine Hi-Fi sound… engineered to introduce a new generation of music lovers to the joy of high quality sound.” While there are other popular speakers in this price range, DALI claims that the KUPID “redefines value in the compact loudspeaker market, combining iconic DALI sound with fresh aesthetics, advanced technology, and a fuss free set-up with all Hi-Fi amplifiers and systems.”

DALI KUPID: Authentic DALI?

While we would not expect a $400 speaker to be lovingly hand-crafted by monastic artisans on some picturesque Danish island, DALI says that the KUPID is “100% DALI, proudly designed and engineered in-house in Denmark,” and that the speaker follows the same sonic philosophies behind the brand’s high-end flagship products, like the aforementioned KORE and EPIKORE. Despite its small size and equally small price, the KUPID reportedly “shares their DNA of precision, performance, and musicality — but delivers it in a smaller, more approachable package ideal for modern living spaces.” One claimed benefit of the KUPID’s acoustical design is that it can deliver the sonic goods even when placed just one inch from a wall. Clearly, DALI has thought about the kind of “real-world” spaces in which a speaker like the KUPID is likely to find a home. This attribute, combined with the speaker’s small footprint and colorful finishes, will likely be key to its success. The speakers come with color-matched, textured magnetic grilles for those who favor a clean Scandinavian aesthetic, but for all the audiophiles out there (who tend to listen to their speakers au naturel), the mid-woofer cones are also color-matched to each finish option — a nice touch.

DALI says that the KUPID was designed around a “keep it simple” philosophy, so there is only one model on offer. Just choose your preferred finish. By focusing on a single model, the folks at DALI believed they could make it easier for first-time Hi-Fi buyers to get started down a straightforward path toward better sound — a path clear of confusing product tiers and tech jargon. 

Of course, Audioholics readers are often rather fond of tech jargon, so let’s take a look under the hood to see what the KUPID has to offer. According to DALI, the KUPID is “a serious loudspeaker built with advanced DALI technologies not seen before at this price point.” The mid-woofer that I mentioned earlier uses a proprietary 4½-inch paper and wood fiber cone with a ferrite magnet system and low-loss rubber surround. DALI says that this driver delivers fast, tight bass and a dynamic midrange — both hallmarks of the brand’s house sound. 

High frequencies are handled by a custom-developed 26mm ultra-light soft dome tweeter, which reportedly delivers detailed, extended highs with smooth dispersion and minimal distortion. The tweeter baffle design is carefully tuned for seamless integration with the midrange driver, according to DALI, resulting in a natural and cohesive soundstage. The custom crossovers, which are said to be designed for “timing accuracy, soft roll-off, and exceptional clarity,” keep both drivers working in perfect harmony, according to the company. 

The cabinet features a “dual flare” bass reflex port, which DALI says is precisely time-aligned to optimize airflow and minimize unwanted resonances. The result, we’re told, is low distortion and impressively deep bass for a speaker of the KUPID’s size. Each KUPID measures just 9.3 inches tall by 5.5 inches wide by 7.6 inches deep.

KUPID is about simplicity and sound. It’s for anyone who wants a real Hi-Fi experience without any fuss. We’ve poured everything we know about speaker design into a form factor that’s easy to live with and easy to love. KUPID is designed to fit in, stand out and make the most of your music. (This speaker) is about falling in love with music again. It’s pure DALI — just distilled, simplified, and reimagined for today’s listener.

— Krestian Pedersen, DALI Head of Product Management

The KUPID’s spec sheet tells us that the speaker has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and a very low sensitivity rating of 83 dB. Nevertheless, DALI says that the speaker is “amplifier-optimized,” presenting a consistent impedance of over 4 ohms to ensure smooth performance across a wide range of amplifiers, including budget-friendly Hi-Fi amplifiers (think Cambridge Audio, NAD, and Emotiva) and all-in-one amplifier/streamers, such as the popular models offered by WiiM, Eversolo, and Bluesound. Depending on the size of your room and your listening preferences, DALI reckons that amps in the range  of 40W to 120W will do nicely. Just don’t expect miracles in the low-bass department; DALI rates the KUPID’s bass response down to 63Hz (±3 dB). The KUPID’s small size means that it should work well in a minimalist desktop system or in a more traditional stereo setup, and DALI says that the speaker is comfortable playing at both low and high volumes. The KUPID was designed to be “at home in all listening and living scenarios,” according to DALI. To that end, the speaker comes with brackets for wall-mounting and rubber feet for desktop duty. Given the low price, the inclusion of these extras is not the norm, but certainly very welcome.

DALI sees the KUPID as the beginning of “a new chapter” in the brand’s mission to make real Hi-Fi accessible to more people. It is reportedly the result of the brand’s renewed focus on “stripping away the unnecessary” to focus on what really matters in an entry-level product: sound quality, build integrity, and aesthetic appeal. In that way, DALI sees the KUPID as “more than just a new speaker.” It is an invitation to everyone to experience music the way it was meant to be heard.

The DALI KUPID will be available from October 1st 2025.

More information: DALI KUPID

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.