To Diego Estan,
I hope this isn’t intrusive, but I wanted to tell you I was very impressed with your review of the DALI Menuet SE speaker.
I’m not an audiophile, but I do melt when I hear pure, beautiful sound. I listen to shows like Dreamgirls, singers such as Barbra Streisand, Ella, and Nina Simone, and music like 1940s big band and Motown.
Given the state of my health and the shutdown of London theaters and concert halls due to the pandemic, I’ll be at home a lot this coming winter.
In your opinion, is the massive price difference between the Menuet SE and the DALI Oberon 1 justified, and is my Denon CEOL N11DAB system capable of driving the Menuet SE? I’m not looking for loudness, but purity of sound in a small space. I may already have it, but my dealer is happy to swap out my Oberons. Do you think any benefit I’d get would be worth the extra outlay?
Sincerely and with thanks,
Eric
United Kingdom
Hi Eric, it’s not intrusive at all, and thanks for reading my review.
Unfortunately, I’ve never heard anything in the DALI Oberon line. I have had the DALI Opticon 8 floorstanders in my room for review, however. I’d say I preferred the midrange and top end of the Menuet SE to the Opticon 8 ‑- there was more presence, intimacy, and finesse with the Menuet SE. But, of course, it’s a tiny speaker, so loudness and bass output are its main limitations. If these aren’t a concern for you, I wholeheartedly recommend a pair of Menuet SEs, especially in a small room. They are also quite beautiful. As always, if you can listen before buying, please do.
Your Denon at 60Wpc into 4 ohms should be fine for the Menuet SEs, which are rated at a nominal 4 ohms. I had no issues driving them with my NAD C 316BEE. NAD doesn’t spec the continuous output for 4 ohms, but I measured it as 65Wpc into that load. The Menuets have low sensitivity, so they need more power than speakers of typical sensitivity. But because they are small, they can’t play that loudly. Too much power could damage them, but that shouldn’t be an issue with your Denon. Please do let me know if you end up buying the Menuet SEs. . . . Diego Estan
