DALI (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries) lives as much as its identify by making superb-sounding audio system, together with the recently reviewed Rubicon 6. The firm has additionally dipped its toes into the wireless-headphone pool with the IO-4 and IO-6, which I like for its wealthy, luxurious sound.
So, it’s hardly shocking that DALI would enterprise into the realm of soundbars. The Katch One is predicated on the corporate’s Katch Bluetooth speaker, which I can be reviewing quickly. Meanwhile, I received to spend a while with the Katch One, and underneath the precise circumstances, it sounds wonderful.
This assessment is a part of TechHive’s protection of the best soundbars, the place you’ll discover critiques of competing merchandise, plus a purchaser’s information to the options it is best to take into account when buying.
Features
Available in three colours to match quite a lot of décors, the Katch One is a slender however very tall soundbar, requiring way more room than most beneath a TV. Measuring 33.9 x 6.5 x 2.7 inches (WxHxD) and weighing a complete of 8.2 kilos, the cupboard and entrance baffle are molded from fiberglass-reinforced ABS, which kinds a extremely inflexible construction that resists resonances because the drivers vibrate.
The cupboard is designed so sound from each the front- and rear-firing drivers flows towards the listener.
Speaking of the drivers, they embrace two 0.8-inch soft-textile dome tweeters with neodymium magnets and 4 3.5-inch aluminum-cone woofers with a textile cap. In addition, there are 4 4.5-inch steel-cone passive radiators within the bass-reflex system. The shallow woofers are stated to permit the total tour of a standard woofer by utilizing a specifically designed chassis, inverted diaphragm, and customized spider suspension.
Two woofers and two radiators face ahead with the tweeters, whereas the opposite two woofers and radiators face backward. This design is meant to strengthen the low frequencies with the soundbar mounted on or close to a wall. The Katch One comes with quick leather-based straps for wall mounting, or you need to use the extra standard brackets on the again. Alternatively, the included ft let it stand freely on a floor.
The drivers are powered by 4 50W Class D amplifiers with a signal-to-noise ratio of 100dB. A strong DSP gives an energetic crossover and operates internally at a decision of 24 bits/96 kHz, although the unit can settle for inputs as much as 24/192 (that are downconverted to 24/96). According to DALI, “The surplus of computing power lets the DSP step in before the amplifier or the drivers get over extended, and at the same time giving it the ability to go completely hands-off, allowing the drivers to deliver a coherent and undistorted audio signal.” Altogether, the drivers, amp, and DSP help a frequency response from 46Hz to 25kHz (±3 dB) and a most output of 101dB SPL.
In addition, the DSP gives two sound modes: Focus and Wide. Focus mode delivers a targeted stereo sign, whereas Wide mode is alleged to develop the sound past the bodily dimensions of the cupboard.
DALIThe again of the DALI Katch homes two 3.5-inch energetic woofers and two 4.5-inch passive radiators.
Connections embrace one HDMI enter, which usually connects to a TV’s HDMI ARC enter whereas supply units like a streaming field, disc participant, and/or sport console are linked to the TV’s different HDMI inputs. As chances are you’ll know, ARC stands for Audio Return Channel, which sends audio from that enter again alongside the cable that usually brings audio and video alerts to the TV from one thing like an AV receiver. In that case, audio from the TV’s built-in apps and over-the-air tuner are despatched again to the AVR alongside the identical cable.
With the Katch One, nevertheless, the TV’s HDMI ARC enter acts like an audio output, sending audio to the soundbar from the opposite HDMI inputs in addition to the TV’s inner apps and tuner. Unfortunately, meaning the TV’s ARC enter can’t be used for a supply system, and in some instances, the ARC enter is the TV’s highest-bandwidth HDMI enter. Also, it’s potential that some TVs may not route the audio from different HDMI inputs to the ARC output. It’s additionally price noting that the Katch One doesn’t help the higher-bandwidth model of ARC—eARC—discovered on the latest-model sensible TVs (click here for a deeper exploration of the 2 requirements).
Scott Wilkinson / IDGThe connections embrace (prime to backside) USB-C for energy and repair, subwoofer output, 3.5mm aux enter, optical enter, TV optical enter, and HDMI enter.
If your TV has an ARC enter, its audio output should be set to stereo or PCM, because the Katch One doesn’t present a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder. Also, if the TV gives CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), you’ll be able to management the essential capabilities of the Katch One (quantity, mute, energy on/off) with the TV’s distant.
Other connections embrace two Toslink optical digital-audio inputs, one labeled TV and the opposite labeled merely Optical. What’s the distinction? The TV optical enter mechanically powers on the soundbar and selects that enter when it receives any gentle, whereas the opposite one powers up and selects the enter solely when it receives an optical audio sign. Apparently, some CD gamers and streamers go away the optical service on, even when there’s no sign, whereas TVs solely ship the service once they ship a sign.
Rounding out the bodily connections is a 3.5mm stereo analog enter, a 3.5mm subwoofer output that connects to an non-obligatory sub, and a USB-C port that’s primarily used for firmware upgrades. It will also be used to energy a Google Chromecast or Amazon Echo system, including voice management and help for TuneIn and Spotify in addition to different streaming companies.
The Katch One additionally helps Bluetooth 4.0 utilizing the AAC and aptX codecs. This can be utilized to connect with a Bluetooth-enabled cellular system or TV.
DALIThe top-mounted controls and indicators present full management, however they will’t be simply seen from a standard listening place.
User interface
The prime of the Katch One homes all onboard controls and indicators. The central energy on/off button is ringed by 4 quarter-circle LEDs that point out the quantity degree, which is managed with the “+” and “-“ buttons to the precise. The subsequent button toggles between the Focus and Wide sound modes, that are indicated with two LEDs. To the left of the ability button are a Bluetooth pairing button and a source-select button that cycles by way of the inputs, every of which has its personal LED indicator.
As I discussed earlier, the Katch One mechanically powers on and selects the enter that receives a sign at both of the optical inputs. But it additionally does the identical factor when any of the inputs, together with Bluetooth, receives an energetic sign. You can disable this perform if you want.
The included distant is kind of easy; it has solely 10 buttons. At the highest are energy on/off, mute, and sound-mode choose, beneath that are quantity up and down. The 5 remaining buttons instantly choose any of the inputs. The Bluetooth button serves double responsibility as a transport management, letting you play/pause and skip to the following or earlier monitor. The buttons are flush with the casing with no separation or tactile differentiators, making them troublesome to search out by really feel.
DALIDALI’s distant is tremendous easy, however the buttons are troublesome to search out by really feel.
The consumer interface has one main shortcoming: The solely option to see the standing of the soundbar is on the highest, which is kind of invisible from a typical listening place. Many soundbars have an alphanumeric show that momentarily shows the quantity, enter, and different data by way of the entrance grille, however the Katch One doesn’t have that specific function. I discovered myself wishing for it many occasions.
Performance
I began by inserting the Katch One on a stand beneath and in entrance of my bed room TV and connecting the TV’s optical-audio output to the soundbar’s TV optical enter. As promised, after I turned on the TV, the soundbar powered on and switched to that enter.
TV audio sounded pretty clear, open, and vivid, however there wasn’t a lot bass. I think that’s as a result of there was no place to place the Katch One up towards a wall, which is the location it’s designed for. In my room, it was up towards an gear cupboard with glass doorways, however one of many doorways is lacking, so there was no repeatedly stable floor instantly behind it.
DALIOne distinctive wall-mounting choice is a pair of included leather-based straps.
For my formal listening, I performed music from the Tidal Master library from my iPhone XS by way of Bluetooth. From its location on the stand in entrance of the TV, the sound was fairly wimpy, so I attempted inserting it on prime of the Harman Kardon Enchant 800 soundbar that sits a lot nearer to the TV. That put the Katch One instantly in entrance of the TV display, which drastically improved its sound high quality. But the soundbar additionally blocked 1 / 4 of the TV display, so I couldn’t use it on this place to look at TV.
I started with “What Happened to Our Love?” from nation rocker Margo Price’s new album That’s How Rumors Get Started. As I switched forwards and backwards between Focus and Wide mode, I seen that the soundstage was positively confined to the cupboard in Focus mode, and the sound was considerably skinny with anemic bass, however the vocals have been fairly pronounced. Switching to Wide mode, the sound opened up considerably with extra bass, although the vocals receded a bit. The soundstage was barely wider, however not dramatically so. Still, Wide mode sounded a lot better than Focus, so I used it for the remainder of my listening.
DALIThis soundbar will also be used as a Bluetooth speaker with no TV.
As a facet word, I attempted each modes whereas watching TV, and I may hear no distinction between them in any respect. Perhaps that’s as a result of the soundbar was freestanding and never up towards a wall.
Next up was “Pili Pili” by Polo and Pan from their album Feel Good. This digital world-music instrumental monitor sounded good and clear on the Katch One with good imaging and bass in addition to wonderful delineation between sections with little and plenty of reverb. Overall, the sound was a bit vivid.
For some funk and R&B, I cued up “Right Place Wrong Time” as recorded by Maceo Parker for his album Soul Food: Cooking with Maceo. Wide mode was very efficient on this monitor, casting a soundstage that was a lot wider than the cupboard. The general sound was clear and vivid with nice imaging, good vocals, and average bass presence.
DALIThe shallow woofer’s design permits the identical tour as a standard woofer.
I like jazz bassist and composer Misha Mullov-Abbado’s album Dream Circus, so I listened to the monitor “Little Vision” for this assessment. The Katch One sounded clear and well-balanced with an ideal rendition of the acoustic bass, alto sax, and piano. As earlier than, the general sound tended barely towards the intense facet.
Moving on to classical, I performed the third motion of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms as carried out by the San Francisco Symphony underneath the route of Michael Tilson Thomas. As I had come to anticipate, the Katch One had an open, clear, considerably vivid sound with well-rendered choir and orchestra and good low organ notes.
Comparison with Harman Kardon Enchant 800
As I discussed earlier, I had the Harman Kardon Enchant 800 soundbar readily available (reviewed here), and I began by utilizing it as a stand for the Katch One. I additionally in contrast the sound of the 2 soundbars, switching between them by way of Bluetooth from inside Tidal. I couldn’t actually examine them for TV sound, because the Katch One was blocking a number of the display, and swapping optical cables is fairly clumsy.
In all instances, the Enchant 800 sounded considerably darker and a bit closed in, although it was typically smoother as nicely. On just a few tracks, the bass was barely congested, particularly acoustic bass. Interestingly, the bass was a bit extra ahead on the Stravinsky. But these variations have been comparatively minor general.
Bottom line
There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the DALI Katch One—however solely underneath sure circumstances. It’s a lot taller than most soundbars, so you have to have loads of room beneath the TV for it. And it should be positioned up towards a wall or different giant, flat floor to sound its greatest; it sounds fairly wimpy when freestanding away from the wall.
With the precise placement, its sound is clear, open, and nicely balanced, although it’s a tad on the intense facet. By comparability, the Harman Kardon Enchant 800 sounds darker general and barely closed in. On the opposite hand, the Harman Kardon may be very slender, permitting it to simply match beneath most TVs, and it has an alphanumeric show behind the entrance grille material that momentarily reveals any standing modifications similar to quantity.
DALIThe DALI Katch One’s tall profile would possibly block the underside of your TV’s display if it rests in entrance on a chunk of furnishings (until you set your TV on a riser).
Then there’s the value tag. The Katch One lists for $999, whereas the Enchant 800’s MSRP is just below $700, however as of this writing, it’s on sale for $280 on Amazon and elsewhere. And after all, there are numerous good soundbars in the marketplace that value a fraction of $1,000, a few of which even embrace a wi-fi subwoofer (together with the LG SN8YG reviewed here earlier this week).
If you have got sufficient wall area beneath your TV and also you get pleasure from elegant Danish design, the DALI Katch One is a superb soundbar. It will also be used as a Bluetooth speaker with no TV. On the opposite hand, it’s very costly, and there are numerous such merchandise that carry out very nicely for lots much less. Plus, most of them don’t require a whole lot of area beneath the TV, nor do they have to be positioned up towards a wall to sound their greatest. Whether or not the Katch One is best for you will depend on your circumstances, so the choice is yours.