Those doyens of the dependable driver DALI are back with another Danish delight, The Kupids are looking to appeal to a more lifestyle-focused customer for whom sound is important, but money and space are at a premium. Can they pull it off?
The popularity of affordable all-in-one streaming amplifiers, resurgence in turntables, as well as factors such as cost of living and space constraints all mean the time is right for a new generation of speaker that can sound great, look great, adapt to a variety of use cases and take up as little space as possible in both lounges and wallets. DALI clearly got the design brief, because their recently-released Kupid speakers are frankly little short of a miracle.
I speak with people every day who are getting into vinyl, looking to experience high quality streaming, and would like their TV to sound a lot better, but they also don’t expect to have to spend a fortune in doing so. DALI are definitely at an advantage here for a couple of reasons: they have as much pedigree in affordable speakers as they do higher-end fare, and their signature sound is wonderfully rounded and forgiving of amplifier choices. Building on those foundations they’ve absolutely knocked it out of the park with the Kupids, and I’ve yet to find a scenario in which they perform anything less than admirably, more often beautifully.
The most important thing about any set of speakers is always going to be their sound, and the smaller the cabinet the harder it becomes to maintain a given level of performance at volume. I mean, that’s just physics. DALI, however, seem untroubled by such things as fundamental laws of reality, because the Kupids are detailed, energetic and above all fun throughout the frequency range, with a decent bass performance that belies their size and informs their versatility.
Enjoy the sound of DALI in more places and spaces than ever, with the compact yet big-hearted KUPID.
Aesthetically I really do think DALI are onto a winner here too, with a subtle departure from their usual design language, leaning into new colour options with matching coloured drivers and neat radial details, and with variants that offer a bit of pop (hello, Golden Yellow) as well as “living space safer” picks like Dark Walnut and Black Ash. The build quality is good, if not quite as solid as some others in this price bracket, though it certainly doesn’t seem to impact sound quality. Ultimately, if a slightly lighter construction is the trade-off for getting these onto shelves for under £300 then it’s one I’d be more than happy to make.
I tried the Kupids with a variety of popular mini systems, including the Denon DM41 and the Marantz Melody, and every time they proved a formidable pairing that brought out the best characteristics in their host amplifier, whether the source was CD, Spotify, internet radio or even humble DAB. I was especially impressed by how entertaining they made the WiiM Amp Ultra sound, as despite it being a well featured bit of kit I don’t normally find it to be all that engaging of a listen.
Where I really appreciated the Kupids’ fun character was in pairing them with a good quality entry level turntable and affordable amp, in this case the Argon TT2 and a refurbished Cambridge AXR85. With a sensitivity of 86dB the Kupids appreciated the extra bit of grunt afforded by the Cambridge, and while the Argon turntable’s stock AT3600 cartridge is far from audiophile kit this combination proved that you can really experience the benefit of vinyl’s character without spending a small fortune.
I happened to take delivery of a vinyl copy of Mutations by Beck the other day, one of my favourite albums from a favourite artist, and I thought I’d have my first listen on the Kupids. The production on that album isn’t necessarily the most challenging of Nigel Godrich’s works, but it it is well defined, occasionally anarchic and often haunting, and on this session, despite the affordability of the system, I immediately found myself emotionally engaged.
Another of my favourite albums is 1964’s Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and João Gilberto, and its smooth Bossa nova vibe, full of muted saxophones and drum brushes, is a great test of how engaging a speaker can be with less energetic material. The Kupids ate it up, proving they’re just as happy offering insight into something more laid back; sure, they might not have the most epic soundstage, but they really let you focus on the character of the music above all else, and I’m here for that.
In summation, DALI are onto a winner, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find the Kupids going down in history as a bit of a classic. They’ve already proved exceptionally popular with customers just a couple of months into their launch window, and as a result I wouldn’t be surprised to see other manufacturers following their lead.
Student looking to pair your turntable with something that will fit comfortably in your digs? Get some Kupids on it. Just bought a compact streaming amp for a second system? Get some Kupids on it. Need tidy bookshelf speakers to sit either side of your TV in that media wall? Get some Kupids on it. Stubborn stains on your shirt that other detergents won’t shift? You know what to do.
Author: Ewan, Chester Store
