Dali Kubik One
£800
FOR Engaging sound; good connections; striking design
AGAINST Nothing of note Dali has come up with some great hi-fi over the years – stereo and surround speakers, mostly. Still, we were surprised to hear, a few years back, that the Danish company was moving into soundbars.
Dali says the Kubik One is not exactly a soundbar – it’s a system in its own right, rather than a mere extension of your TV. Whatever the appropriate label, one thing is for sure: it’s brilliant.
Cool jets
We dive straight into Guardians Of The Galaxy, and it’s hard not to notice the size of the sound. It’s a wide, spacious soundstage, giving jets and spaceships ample room to manoeuvre. Even the more hectic scenes don’t sound crowded.
It’s accurate too, the Dali managing to ping effects around meticulously, and with impressive clarity. It also makes the most of speech; voices are detailed, maintaining their textures, but never sounding harsh.
There’s ample low-end heft to thicken the sound, but it’s nicely controlled. Add good timing and agility and you have yourself a punchy, dynamic sound bar that wipes the floor with its rivals.
Whether you watch a film or listen to music, the Kubik One’s greatest strength is its ability to seize your attention. It’s a thoroughly involving experience, and one we don’t tend to get from soundbars very frequently.
Dali hasn’t focused on just the sound – the exterior is just as appealing. Soundbars don’t tend to be particularly attractive, but we think this one is really quite pretty. Those grilles are removable: red, white and black come as standard, but you can also choose from six others, ranging from purple to lime green.
Under the fancy exterior, a single piece of aluminium forms the chassis – designed to keep walls thin yet sturdy enough to suppress unwanted resonances. It’s heavy and solidly built, with a finish luxurious enough to match that price tag.
Face facts
It’s not just a pretty face, however. This is a serious bit of kit. You’ll also find two 25mm soft-dome tweeters and two 13cm wood-fibre cones. At the back, there is a fair offering of connections. Inputs include two optical, and one analogue RCA. We’re pleased to see a micro-usb input too, which means you can hardwire a Mac or PC into the Kubik One.
There’s also good news for anyone who has a library of hi-res tracks stored on there – the soundbar can handle tracks up to 24-bit/96khz.
For wireless input, there’s Bluetooth. The Kubik One handles aptx Bluetooth, which means you get higher-quality wireless streaming, provided you are using a compatible device.
A sub-out socket lets you hook up your own subwoofer should you feel the need. You probably won’t, however. There’s also a switch to adjust the amount of bass depending on the position of the soundbar.
The ‘Neutral’ position offers the least bass, and is best when the soundbar is near a wall. (There are keyhole-type mounts at the back, in case you want to mount the Kubik One onto a wall.)
At the other extreme is ‘Bass Boost’, which does exactly that. This setting is best for filling larger rooms (or blowing the roof off smaller ones). The compromise between the two points is ‘Bass Enhance’, which in our set-up – with the Kubik One on a rack, in front of a TV – provides a balanced sound.
Your TV might need to be fairly elevated to avoid the bottom of your screen being blocked off by the Dali. At 16cm high, this soundbar might conceivably justify its own shelf. Once in place, though, it’s easy to use. Power, input and volume buttons are at the top of the soundbar, and on a remote control.
Whether it should technically be classed as a soundbar or a sound system, the Dali Kubik One is a massive success. We are impressed by its design and features, and we love the way it sounds. This is a gorgeous, complete package. Good work, Dali.