Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
Phantom H-120
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Frequency Range [+/- 3] dB [Hz]: 32 - 25,000
- Nominal Impedance [ohms]: 4
- Maximum SPL [dB]: 112
- Crossover Frequencies [Hz]: 850 / 4,000
- Recommended Amp. Power [Watts]: 50 - 400
- Low Frequency/Midrange Driver(s): 1 x 5½" / 1 x 12"
- High Frequency Driver(s): 1 x 28 mm soft dome
- Sensitivity [2.83V/1m] [dB]: 90
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- The brand utilizes a unique "2.5-way plus half" hybrid driver configuration, blending active and passive crossover elements to optimize performance across the frequency spectrum.
- DALI emphasizes creating speakers that are versatile in placement, suitable for stand, shelf, or even wall mounting, ensuring they integrate easily into diverse listening environments.
- They develop and manufacture their own wood fiber cones and other drivers in-house, allowing for precise control over material composition and sonic characteristics.
- DALI often incorporates their patented SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) technology in driver construction, aiming to minimize distortion and improve audio clarity.
Select products
DALI Oberon 9
- Positioning: The largest model in the DALI Oberon series, designed for high-end Hi-Fi experiences.
- Description: Offers a refined sound with a wide dispersion pattern that reduces distortion, making it ideal for large rooms. Its wood fibre cones and patented SMC technology provide a relaxed midrange and detailed sound, distinguishing it from the Opticon 8 MK2, which focuses more on dynamic accuracy.
DALI Opticon 8 MK2
- Positioning: The flagship model of the Opticon MK2 series, suited for large listening spaces.
- Description: Known for its dynamic accuracy and rich bass, features a hybrid tweeter and SMC technology for reduced distortion. Compared to the Oberon 9, it offers a more detailed high-frequency response.
DALI Rubikore 8
- Positioning: A high-end model in the Rubikore series, designed for ambitious home Hi-Fi and theatre systems.
- Description: With its Clarity Cone Technology and SMC-KORE inductors, delivers powerful sound with natural warmth. It stands out from the Epicon 8 by offering a wider bandwidth and is better suited for larger spaces due to its enhanced bass integration.
DALI Epicon 8
- Positioning: The pinnacle of the Epicon series, offering a rich and detailed sound.
- Description: Features patented SMC technology and a hybrid tweeter, providing a smooth and wide dispersion of sound. It differs from the Rubikore 8 by focusing more on reducing distortion and providing a more intimate soundstage.
DALI Kore
- Positioning: The flagship model of DALI, representing the culmination of 40 years of loudspeaker design.
- Description: Features Balanced Drive SMC technology and an EVO-K Hybrid Tweeter for exceptional fidelity and clarity. It is the most advanced in the lineup, offering the highest level of performance and is best for those seeking the ultimate in sound quality and are willing to invest in the best.
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Used
Dali
What if you spend more?
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Product Strengths
- Delivers full, rich, and detailed sound with a hybrid tweeter module, an 8" wood fiber driver, and a 10" passive carbon fiber radiator
- Offers a significant level of adjustability and customization to suit individual audio preferences and spatial requirements, and can be installed vertically or horizontally
- Features a slim design and dogleg mounting system for easy installation on any standard wall
- Meticulously designed and crafted with high-quality materials and rigorous testing processes
Product Considerations
- Its high price point might make it less accessible for some customers
- To achieve optimal sound, the speaker should be installed with the tweeter at ear height, which may require additional consideration during installation
- The manufacturing origin of the speaker is not mentioned
Takeaway: The DALI Phantom S-180 is an excellent in-wall speaker that provides great sound and can be adjusted to fit individual needs. It's a worthwhile investment for a top-notch audio experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Delivers high-quality audiophile sound.
- Runs cleanly even at extremely high volumes.
- Treble dispersion creates a surprisingly wide sweet spot.
- Provides excellent precision in sound location, even when placed against a wall.
- First class clarity
Product Considerations
- Bass extension is fairly limited without a subwoofer
- Mounting depth is 104mm
- High frequency dispersion can be problematic if used horizontally without rotating the tweeter module
Takeaway: The Dali Phantom S-80 is a superb installation loudspeaker that delivers high-quality sound and runs cleanly at high volumes, perfect for someone looking for great audio in a discreet package. Its clarity and precision make it a worthwhile addition to any audio setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Made under U.S. Patent 9247339
Proprietary 4-way loudspeaker design
Proprietary controlled directivity – acoustically superior proprietary wide dispersion, triple-ring radiator high frequency array. This array disperses a precisely focused acoustical power pattern of that of a horn or waveguide without the audible ringing influence of horn flare walls constraining the soundwave for acoustically superior mid-range high frequency performance
Product Strengths
- Tonally rich and natural sounding
- Amazing detail that rivals the best electrostatics in terms of the pure level of detail and resolution
- They create an incredibly large, deep soundstage that will fill the room and place within that soundstage images as clear and precise as any speaker
- They handle pretty much every other aspect of what a speaker should do in an exemplary fashion
- Very easy to drive
Product Considerations
- These proved to be the most time consuming speakers to position that one has ever had in one's rooms
- Toe-in angle was critical, distance from the wall behind them was super critical, and all totally room dependent
- These are very directional speakers
- The bass response has to be looked at in conjunction with the room one is using them in
- They also require a relatively long 100 hour "break-in" period before they really start to loosen up a little and really shine
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Tekton Lore, they do everything better than the Lores
Takeaway: The Double Impact is a stunning achievement in speaker design that offers an immersive and detailed listening experience. If one appreciates natural sound, exceptional detail, and a wide soundstage, these speakers are definitely worth considering for an audio setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The first THX® Certified Dominus in-wall loudspeaker for very large home cinemas with both vertical and horizontal installation flexibility
M&K Sound has combined a high-performance one-inch soft dome tweeter with a precision-crafted aluminum waveguide to ensure accurate and focused vertical and horizontal dispersion characteristics. The design marks the first time M&K Sound has developed a horn-loaded loudspeaker which guarantees real and natural delivery, whether placed vertically or horizontally.
The IW500 combines two Kurt Muller three-inch soft dome midrange drivers (800 Hz to 2500 Hz) with shallow waveguides. These pair with a complex crossover network to promote an audible smoothness and non-fatiguing character across the frequency range. By consolidating excellent vertical response from the crossover with excellent horizontal dispersion from the vertical driver array, the IW500 produces a profoundly flat power response.
The IW500's onboard dual 8-inch woofers employ large magnets and carbon fiber cones to achieve its high sensitivity rating (92 dB SPL @ 1 meter with 2.83V), enabling a full-bodied and visceral low-frequency response. M&K Sound's proprietary 'Capacitive Coupling' design feature in the crossover allows for a much smaller enclosure than normally required. It also ensures tighter bass response, increased impedance (easier to drive) and less distortion.
The IW500's revolutionary crossover is responsible for the loudspeaker's smooth frequency and polar responses. Transition between high, mid and bass frequencies is seamless, a trademark designfeature of M&K Sound's reference loudspeakers. The IW500 includes newly developed transducerswith extra-large magnets for less compressed and less distorted sound.
Product Strengths
- THX Certified Dominus means it is optimized for room volumes of up to 6,500 cubic feet
- Can be used as a left, center, or right speaker and is the most powerful reference loudspeaker produced to date by M&K Sound
- Can be mounted either vertically or horizontally as a center channel
- Designed for use in high-end home theaters or hifi systems, it boasts an 80 Hz – 20 kHz (+/-1.5 dB) frequency response and a maximum SPL of greater than 117 dB
- Combines a high-performance one-inch soft dome tweeter with a precision-crafted aluminum waveguide to ensure accurate and focused vertical and horizontal dispersion
Product Considerations
- Should ideally be paired with one or more subwoofers, such as M&K Sound's THX Certified Dominus X15+ subwoofer
- Requires an amplifier with 100-500 watts of power
Takeaway: The IW500 is designed for large home theater installations, bringing sonic precision, neutrality, and articulation. Its THX Dominus certification ensures high performance and makes it a great choice for those looking for unrivaled audio in large environments.
Video review
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What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Easy to build in
- Very 'shallow' design with an installation depth of only 10cm
- Since the Phantom already has a back-box (part of the speaker), a separate back-box or other isolation is not necessary
- Nice sound
- The front is paintable / repaintable
Product Considerations
- A subwoofer is recommended, especially for movies
- Lowest point is 60 Hz, which is not really enough for complete reproduction in film
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The S-280 sounds bigger and has more body and grunt than the M-375
Takeaway: The DALI Phantom M-375 is a good choice as it makes it easy to create a hidden multi-channel system in a living room. It provides a nice sound and excellent balance when paired with a subwoofer.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Tool-less design with the Easy Quick Install (EQI) system allows for quick and easy installation
- Flax cone drivers offer light, stiff cones with good natural damping
- The design allows for both horizontal and vertical installation by rotating the high-frequency/mid-range pod
- Delivers impressive dynamics, a clean, neutral balance, and articulate dialogue handling
- Easy to drive with an amplifier
Product Considerations
- The Easy Quick Install (EQI) system may not work in all situations due to space constraints behind the wall
- The open-back design can make the speaker's balance dependent on the installation environment, potentially requiring EQ adjustments
- Adding the included black acoustic cloth to the grille darkens the overall color shade, which is not ideal for color matching applications
- If a clamp breaks on the tool-less design, it is not easily replaceable
- Requires more horizontal spacing than speakers with traditional dogears, requiring installers to be more careful about between-stud placement
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Focal Kanta No. 2: The Kanta No. 2 has a weightier midrange, superlative upper frequencies, more depth, wider soundstage, and improved imaging, though the 300IWLCR6's sound quality is satisfying
- Vs PSB W-LCR: The PSB exhibits a very slight nasal characteristic, which is not noticed on the Focal LCRs
- Vs Martin Logan Axis: The Martin Logan Axis has impressive imaging and upper-end frequency output due to its folded ribbon tweeter, which is very different from the Focals' inverted dome aluminum and magnesium tweeter
Takeaway: The Focal 300IWLCR6 in-wall loudspeaker is easy to install and delivers great sound for music and movies, especially when paired with a good subwoofer. The speaker can be easily installed, and it can fit into various home theater setups.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Sublime and super clear highs without being fatiguing, due to the beryllium dome tweeter
- Tight bass with sufficient volume
- Resolving, yet engaging and fun to listen to, with lots of details in the guitar notes
- Very natural sound and excellent imaging ability
- Exceptionally neutral response over a wide angle, making them flexible in different listening situations
Product Considerations
- For the price, the bass extension may be considered lacking for some, as it does not go as low as some might expect
- The beryllium tweeters are fantastic, but could potentially be poisonous
- The M126Be speakers may not provide a sufficient dynamic range for those who crave the dynamics of a live orchestra, and may want larger speakers
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KEF LS50, the Revel M126Be dominate in most test tracks and are much better overall, with more details in bass, mids, and highs
- Vs ATC SCM19, the Revel M126Be has deeper and louder bass despite its smaller size and weight
- Vs ATC SCM19, the Revel M126Be offers slightly brighter highs with more refinement and clarity, while the ATC SCM19 has richer mids
- Vs Revel Performa3 F206, the M126Be offers more precise imaging and sharper sound, creating more space within the orchestra
Takeaway: The Revel M126Be is a great-looking speaker that sounds very natural and accurate, making them great for listening to different types of music. Their flexibility in placement and electrical characteristics makes them easy to use with any amplifier, so they will be enjoyed for years to come.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Smooth, spacious sound with good weight
- Excellent build and finish quality
- Slim design allows it to be hung on the wall like a picture
- Employs true 3-way full range drivers with pivoting Inverted Dual Concentric mid-range/tweeter modules, and C-CAM bass drivers
- Clever drive unit arrangement ensures that imaging is excellent
Product Considerations
- Midrange colouration can harm timing, potentially leading to a slightly congested presentation with complex rhythms
- Bass presence is limited due to the sealed-box design
- Without the grilles, the speakers have a stark, industrial look
Takeaway: The SoundFrame offers both stylish design and impressive sound quality, making it a good choice for those who want their speakers to blend seamlessly with their home decor. Its innovative features and well-built construction make it a worthwhile investment.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Retains the neutrality, realism, and musicality associated with the M&K Sound design in a discreet enclosure
- The front three IW150 models perfectly match each other in terms of tonality and are utterly transparent
- Capable of a pleasingly open sound that fills the room with wonderful detail and clarity
- The transient response of these speakers is incredible, viscerally delivering the scares as the soundtrack suddenly goes from relative silence to very loud
Product Considerations
- Slightly lacking at the low-end, designed to be used with a subwoofer
- Placement can be non-trivial and orientation moreso because of the multi-woofer/tweeter design, resulting in a weird dispersion that will sound different depending on which side of the speaker one is on
- Putting them in the wall might change its sonic integrity
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- IW150 is an in-wall version of the M&K Sound S150
Takeaway: The IW150 delivers the detail, clarity, and transience of a professional studio monitor from a discreet, in-wall enclosure. If one is looking for in-wall speakers that vanish into their decor, then these are worth an audition.
Video review
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