Dali speakers User manual

MANUAL
www.dali.dk

DALI is renowned among music lovers throughout the world for its
unique speakers and cables, all constructed and designed based on
uncompromising design and sound requirements. Our ultra-modern
factory in Denmark is fully equipped with facilities for production
and development of quality speakers.
In the same building you will nd the R&D department, where rst-
class equipment and know-how, built up over many years, ensure
constant development and optimisation of existing and future
models.
We always keep our goal rmly in view for each and every DALI
speaker: To recreate sound experiences in your home that will carry
you away, making you forget time and place...
It is important to us that your new DALI speakers be set up and con-
nected optimally. This manual contains our recommendations for
setup, connection and maintenance.
Enjoy!
anish udiophile oudspeaker ndustries
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English
DALI

Please clean the housing using a soft, dry cloth for
optimum results. If they are very dirty, use a soft
cloth soaked in a mild universal cleaning solu-
tion and rmly wrung out.
Take great care when wiping off the speaker
diaphragms, as these are highly sensitive. The
fabric framework can be cleaned using a vacuum
cleaner and may also be wiped using a well-wrung-
out lint-free cloth and a mild universal cleaning solu-
tion.
Maintenance
The oor-standing DALI Piano speakers come with 4 cones to be mounted
under the base. It is vital that these cones be positioned correctly to ensure
the stability of the speakers. Please use the accompanying template, which
can be found at one end of the packaging, for mounting the 4 self-
adhesive cones.
Unpacking
Congratulations on the purchase of your new DALI Piano speakers. This
manual contains information on setup, tuning and maintenance of Piano
Noble, Agile, Ambient, Vocal and Forte subwoofer.
Manual
Piano Forte wall-mounted subwoofer
DALI strongly recommends that wall-mounting of Piano Forte be carried
out by trained staff, who can ensure that the tting is securely fastened
to the wall. For wall-mounting, the tting that accompanies the speakers
must be used.
This manual also contains information on DALI Piano Forte.
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English

Running-in
Like any other mechanical system, a speaker needs to be "run in", so you
can look forward to a gradual improvement in sound quality over the ini-
tial period. Unlike other mechanical systems, a DALI speaker does not wear
out - in fact, regular use will extend its lifetime.
Connection
The connection to your amplier is extremely important for your sound
experience.
Always turn off your amplier before connecting any cables or altering
any connections.
Always use cables of the same type and length for left and right speak-
ers. We recommend using special speaker cables from DALI, available from
your dealer.
For the perfect sound experience, the right speaker must be connected to
the output terminal marked "R" or "Right" on your amplier and the left
speaker to the terminal marked "L" or "Left".
A detail that is often overlooked is connection in the correct phase, i.e. the
red terminal (+) on the amplier should be connected to the red terminal
(+) on the speaker, and the black terminal
(-) on the amplier should be connected
to the black terminal (-) on the speaker.
(Fig. 1) If just one speaker in a stereo or
surround sound system is not connected in
phase, the bass will be weak and the over-
all sound will be diffuse.
Always switch off your amplier before adjusting any of the cables!
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English
Fig. 1. Stereo connection

The same guidelines apply irrespective of the number of speakers in your
sound system: speakers positioned to the right must be connected to the
amplier output terminal marked "R" or "Right", and any to the left must
be connected to "L" or "Left".
You must ensure that the cable ends are
rmly pushed into the terminals, and
that there are no loose wires, which
could cause a short circuit and damage
the amplier. (Fig. 2)
Surround sound ampliers have
similar output terminals to stereo
speakers, usually labelled "Front",
"Centre" and "Rear". (Fig. 3)
For further information, please
refer to the manual.
Using inferior cables for your new DALI speakers is just the same as putting
cheap tyres on a thoroughbred racing car. Using cables from DALI, which
have been specially designed, will ensure a perfect sound experience every
time.
Fig. 3. Surround connection
WAVE
Talk to your authorised DALI dealer about cables - or visit www.dali.dk
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English
Fig. 2. Terminal connection

Connecting Piano Forte
If supplementing your stereo or surround sound
system with Piano Forte, the active subwoofer from
the Piano range with active crossover network and
amplier, you have various connection options. You
can choose from four options:
Amplier with separate subwoofer output terminal (Fig. 4)
If you have an amplier with a separ-
ate subwoofer output terminal, you
can connect this to the line input
terminals on Piano Forte. Your front
speakers are operated directly by
the amplier and so must not be
connected to Piano Forte. Surround
sound ampliers generally have a sep-
arate subwoofer output terminal.
Amplier without preamplier/subwoofer output terminal
You should only employ the passive
solution if you do not have a preampli-
er output terminal on your amplier.
Piano Forte is operated by the speaker
signal from your amplier/surround
sound receiver.
Connect the front speakers to the
speaker output terminals on Piano
Forte
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Take your time over tuning Piano Forte - it's well worthwhile!
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English
AMPLIFIER

Amplier with separate preamplier
output terminal and detachable power
amplier (Fig. 6)
Piano Forte is operated by a signal from
your preamplier/surround decoder.
Piano Forte operates the front speakers
via the built-in active crossover network
and a separate power amplier.
Amplier without separate preamplier
output terminal and detachable power
amplier (Fig. 7)
With this solution you have the option of
using a more powerful power amplier for
the front speakers. The partially passive
solution means that Piano Forte is operated
by the speaker signal from your amplier
and converts this signal into a line signal
that operates both the subwoofer and the
power amplier for the front speakers.
Piano Forte should be positioned with the speaker unit facing the wall.
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English
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

In many cases one Piano Forte in one of the listed setups will provide a
good solution, but the absolute perfect solution is two Piano Fortes in
stereo setup. This solution should be connected in exactly the same way,
but you only connect the left channel to one input terminal on the left
Piano Forte and the right channel to one input terminal on the right Piano
Forte. In other respects, follow the instructions given above - simply with
separate channels. If necessary, obtain advice from your dealer.
Tuning Piano Forte
Once you have chosen the connection you wish to use, you must begin the
task of tuning the system. Following the procedure below will help you to
achieve good results. Use a piece of music that you know well, ideally with
rhythmic bass tone content such as bass drums, electric bass or similar.
Begin by setting "Volume" and "Crossover Frequency" to the central pos-
ition ("12 o'clock"). Set the "Phase" change-over switch to position 180°,
and set both "Auto Shut Off" and "Power" to the "ON" position.
1. Mains lead
2. Power, on/off switch
3. On/off indicator
4. Auto Shut Off
5. Speaker level, speaker signal
6. Line level, Line signal
7. Volume, volume control
8. Phase, 0 and 180 phase switch
9. Crossover Frequency
10. Ventilation grill, DO NOT COVER!
Always switch off Piano Forte before adjusting any of the cables!
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Setting level
Adjust the volume on your Piano Forte so the bass sound matches the level
from the front speakers. Adjust it so that you can hear the sound contri-
bution from Piano Forte - but without the bass being too dominant. The
bass should be stable and precise. If you set the volume too high, there is a
risk of the subwoofer being overloaded, which would have a detrimental
effect on the vital playback of mid-range tones from the front speakers.
Choice of crossover frequency
Once the volume level is set you can tackle the equally important adjust-
ment of the crossover between the front speakers and Piano Forte. You
do this by adjusting the "Crossover Frequency" up and down until you can
hear the bass running evenly and with no gaps. You may need to readjust
the volume slightly for this adjustment.
Phase setting
In most cases you will achieve the best results with "Phase" set to 180°.
However, this will depend on the front speakers you are using. Once again,
your ears must be the judge. Use the trial-and-error method for both set-
tings - and you may also want to try readjusting the volume and crossover
frequency. In all cases it is a good idea to listen to the system for several
days and readjust as required. The same setting will not always be ideal for
both surround sound and 2-channel stereo. So it is useful to make a note
of your preferred settings for each type.
The "Auto Shut Off" function will set Piano Forte to stand-by mode after
approximately 15 minutes with no signal to the input terminal. When
Piano Forte receives a signal again, the system will switch on automatic-
ally.
The "Power" button is the main switch for the system. It is best to switch
off the system completely when it is not going to be in use for long
periods. When making any changes to connections, always shut down the
system completely.
Find out more about world-renowned WASATCH cables from your dealer.
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Overloading
When playing at a loud volume, listen out for possible dissonance and dis-
tortion. Piano Forte is protected against temporary overloading, but if
you often play at a loud volume, you should use a permanent lower setting
for the volume level on Piano Forte. If you position Piano Forte in a corner,
this will increase the bass level. For more information on this, see "Tuning
Piano Forte".
Once you have connected up your new Piano speakers, you need to begin
the process of nding the optimum position for your speakers in relation
to your listening position - and adjusting the surround sound amplier, if
applicable. It is worth spending a little time experimenting, as the correct
setup and tuning will provide a signicantly better sound experience. Here
are some useful pieces of advice:
Avoid placing objects between the speakers and your listening position, as
obstructions can cause incorrect tonal balance.
Try to ensure that the distance between the left and right speakers is equal
to the distance from your listening position to the speakers. If you have sur-
round sound, the distance between all the speakers should be symmetrically
identical (Fig. 8).
DALI Piano has been designed using the Linear
Directivity principle, which means that the tonal
balance will be perfect, even if your listening pos-
ition is not quite central. So, it is not necessary
to angle the front speakers towards your listening
position, unless the front speakers are very far
apart.
Positioning
Fig. 8. Stereo positioning
Correct setup is extremely important for your sound experience.
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The central Piano Vocal speaker has been specially designed to be pos-
itioned close to the large surface of the TV screen - and can be placed
either above or below the screen, as required. Whether you position the
central speaker above or below your TV, we recommend having the front
of the speaker in line with the front of the TV screen.
The rear Piano Ambient speakers are designed to be positioned at least
1.5 metres off the oor, ideally on a side wall slightly behind the listening
position. If positioning them on a side wall, please note that the speaker
marked "A" on the back is intended for the left rear channel and the one
marked "B" for the right rear channel. If positioning the rear speakers on
a back wall, it is the other way around.
For the best surround sound experience, you need to be in a central listen-
ing position, but, of course, you can still enjoy surround sound, even if you
are not sitting in the exact ideal position. (Fig. 9)
As mentioned, it is well worthwhile to spend some time adjusting your
surround sound amplier for optimum performance. You can do this by
adjusting delay times, distance between speakers and listening position
etc. Follow the instructions in the manual for your surround sound ampli-
er carefully - and you will achieve a perfect spatial sound image.
Fig. 9. Surround positioning
Piano Vocal is shielded to prevent magnetic radiation interfering with your TV.
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The listening room
Every room has its own distinctive acoustics, which inuence the way we
experience the sound from a speaker. In actual fact, it's a matter of how
the room accommodates the sound and then dampens it. You can inu-
ence the acoustics of your listening room in various ways.
Some of the sound you hear comes not from the actual speakers but from
reections from oor, ceiling and walls. These reections are dampened
by objects such as furniture, plants and carpets. If the sound is bright,
soft items such as curtains and carpets can help. If the room has large
window panes, drawing the curtains will prevent reections from the glass
surfaces.
Both the amount and quality of the deep bass depend on the size and
shape of the room, and the position of the speakers. If positioned near
a side or back wall, this will accentuate the bass. A corner location will
accentuate it even more, but will also increase the reections. The decision
is yours, so experiment with different positions to nd which provides the
ideal sound for you.
As a general guide, avoid large, hard reective surfaces immediately
around the speakers, as these will act as a "ghost speaker" and ruin the
spatial perspective of the sound image. Try placing a wall hanging behind
the speakers, laying a rug in front or placing a large plant at the side - it's
surprising how much this can affect the precision of the sound image.
Once you are happy with the positioning of your speakers, it is important
to ensure that they are completely stable. For oor models it is essential
that you use the accompanying cones. If you wish to mount Piano Forte
on the wall, we strongly recommend having the accompanying bracket
mounted on the wall by trained staff.
The task of mounting Piano Forte on a wall should be entrusted to experts.
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Power and acoustic pressure
How loud a speaker is able to play and still sound good is completely
dependent on the signal it has to reproduce. So, in practice, you cannot
dene an unequivocal level for use in comparing different speakers.
Obviously, lots of pure, undistorted output
from a large amplier is better than a dis-
torted signal from a small amplier stretched
beyond its capacity. The signal from a distort-
ing (clipping) amplier contains much more
high-frequency information than an undis-
torted signal, and therefore puts a heavy
strain on the treble unit. Consequently, speak-
ers are most often damaged by small ampli-
ers having to work too hard - and very rarely
by large ampliers, which are practically run-
ning idle.
It is worth noting that when the tone controls
are turned above the neutral setting this sig-
nicantly burdens both speakers and ampli-
er. On a good sound system tone controls
should only be used to compensate for poor
recordings and not to permanently compen-
sate for weaknesses elsewhere in the system.
So, DALI recommends that the tone controls
generally be set to the neutral position, and
you achieve your desired sound image through
correct positioning of the speakers.
Ensuring that you keep the volume low enough so the sound remains clear
and undistorted will minimise the strain on both speakers and amplier.
Remember that tone controls are only intended for temporary compensation.
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CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELRCTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE BACK PANEL. NO USER-
SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
1. Read Instructions - All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the appliance is operated.
2. Retain Instructions - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings - All warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
4. Follow Instructions - All operating and use instructions should be followed.
5. Water and Moisture - The appliance should not be used near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink,
laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool and the like.
6. Carts and Stands - The appliance should be used only with a cart or stand if recommended by the manufacturer.
7. Wall or Ceiling Mounting - The appliance should be mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer.
8. Ventilation - The appliance should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with proper
ventilation. For example, the appliance should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block
the ventilation openings; or placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet, that mayimpede the ow of
air through the ventilation openings.
9. Heat - The appliance should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
appliances that produce heat.
10. Power Sources - The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions
or as marked on the appliance.
11. Power Cord Protection - Power-supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by
items placed on or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point
where they exit from appliance.
12. Cleaning - Do not use any liquid cleaners. Use only a dry cloth to wipe off dust and grease.
13. Non-use Periods - The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long
period of time.
14. Object and Liguid Entry - Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure
through openings.
15. Damage Requiring Service - The appliance should be serviced by qualied personnel when:
a. The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or
b. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the appliance; or
c. The appliance has been exposed to rain; or
d. The appliance does not appear to operate normally, or exhibits a marked change in performance; or
e. The appliance has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
16. Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating
instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualied service personnel.
The lightning ash within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert you to the pres-
ence of uninsulated „dangerous voltage“
within the product’s enclosure that may be
of sufcient magnitude to constitute an
electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert you to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
Safety
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
The ventilation grill on Piano Forte must not be covered.
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Specications
Model: Piano Forte subwoofer
Design Principle Active (built-in amplier and crossover) Sealed enclosure
Basenhed 10", Air-dried pulp cone, ventilated magnet system
Forstærker 120 watt RMS
Inputs Fully balanced stereo speaker level, Input impedance: 1.0 kohm
Stereo line level RCA phono, Input impedance: 15 kohm
Automatic summation of all inputs
Outputs Fully balanced stereo speaker level, 1st order highpass crossover
Stereo line level, 2nd order 150 Hz highpass crossover, Output imp. 200 ohm
Controls Volume level, Lowpass crossover (50-150 Hz), Phase (0˚ or 180˚)
Frequency response 29 - 150 Hz (variable crossover)
Max. SPL 109 dB
Power consumption 230 VAC 50 - 60 Hz
Finish/dimensions Aluminium, Height 56.6 cm, Width 57.2 cm, Depth 21.2 cm
Weight 19 kg/42 lbs
There are countless methods for evaluating speakers. However, none of
them actually represent how a speaker really sounds. It is up to the indi-
vidual to decide whether one speaker sounds better than another. So we
only give you the specications that are of real value to you. The DALI
Piano range has been designed to reproduce music as honestly as possible
- and we know we have succeeded. Enjoy your new speakers!
Enjoy the DALI Piano range!
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Model: NOBLE AMBIENTVOCALAGILE
Frequency response +/-3dB (Hz)
Impedance (ohms)
Bass Reflex System Resonance (Hz)
Crossover frequency (Hz)
Recommended amp. (8 ohm)(W)
Sensivity (@2.83V/1m) (dB)
Max. SPL (dB)
Placement
Rec. distance from rear wall (cm)
Weight (kg/lbs)
41 - 24000
10-80
109
89.5
40-160
2800
45,5
44
78 - 24000
47 - 24000
Floor
11.3/24.9 10.0/22.0
10-80
Floor
106
87
40-150
2600
54
4
-
2800
40-150
89
109
On top/belowTV
-
4.6/10.1
65 - 24000
Height (cm)
Width (cm)
Depth (cm)
116.0
19.2
23.2
99.0
18.2
21.1
13.7
40.8
17.9
28.7
12.6
18.6
2.9/6.4
-
Wall
105
87
40-80
2300
-
4

The DALI Piano range
The right accessories
Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
This is particularly relevant when it comes to
Hi-Fi systems. Transferring the ne signal from
a perfect amplier to perfect speakers natu-
rally requires perfect cables.
Original DALI signal and speaker cables
are available from your dealer - or why
not buy the ultimate product:
The exceptional WASATCH cables - totally
uncompromising in all respects. The very
best for your system and your ears!
Wave DALI cables for DALI speakers.
16
English
The Piano range consists
of two oor-standing
models, Piano Noble and
Agile, a wall-mounted
rear speaker, Piano Ambi-
ent, the central speaker,
Piano Vocal, and the
unique subwoofer, Piano
Forte.