Dali Factory Tour

Visiting the DALI Factory – Passion, Precision, and Performance

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the DALI and Lyngdorf factories in Denmark — a trip that perfectly showcased the innovation and craftsmanship that define both brands. After flying into Copenhagen and then connecting onward to Aalborg (as there’s no longer a direct link between the two), our first stop was the home of DALI.

The DALI Experience

We began our day at DALI headquarters with an in-depth introduction to their EpiKore and KORE loudspeakers — their most ambitious designs to date. Guided by Thomas Holm and Krestian, we worked our way up through the range, listening to each model in turn before finishing with the flagship KORE. Both Thomas and Krestian shared some of their favourite tracks while explaining the core philosophies and technologies behind DALI’s design approach.

DALI’s Core Design Principles

DALI’s speakers are engineered with a clear set of goals:

• Stable impedance and easy drive characteristics
• Wide dispersion for realistic imaging
• Low loss to preserve musical detail and dynamics

They achieve these through meticulous in-house development — nothing is off-the-shelf. Key technologies include:

• Wood fibre cones for rigidity and natural sound
• SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) magnet systems that drastically reduce distortion
• Hybrid tweeter modules combining a soft dome and ribbon for the best of both worlds

Their relentless pursuit of excellence extends to cabinet production - DALI owns and operates its own five-axis CNCs, precision milling machinery for some complex curved cabinets and its own water-based UV-cured lacquering system, which is applied and cured by robotics for a consistently perfect finish.  To ensure total quality control DALI always try to manufacture as much in-house as possible.

Listening Sessions

The EpiKore 3 was particularly impressive. Despite its relatively modest stature, it filled their large demo room with ease, a wide and deep soundstage and vocals that conveyed everything the artist intended. As we moved up the range, what struck me most was how each step retained DALI’s unmistakable sonic character; you just simply got more of everything... more scale, more depth, more effortless realism.

And then, of course, came the KORE — a true statement piece. Every detail of this speaker reflects DALI’s finest engineering and craftsmanship. It’s not just a loudspeaker, but a demonstration of what’s possible when design, science, and artistry converge. “If You Knew Me Now” by Christel Alsos is a beautiful track that perfectly captures the intimacy and silky-smooth character of her vocals — something the KOREs excelled in portraying. Most impressive of all was how this emotional connection remained intact even at low volumes, a quality that very few speakers can truly achieve.

Custom Install with Michael Munch

We met Michael Munch, who heads up DALI’s Custom Install division. The range is genuinely impressive — including new outdoor and slim-line in-wall models — all designed to deliver that same “DALI house sound.” By using many of the same principles and technologies as their traditional speakers, these CI products offer exceptional performance even in challenging spaces.

The DALI Cinema Room

Their cinema room features:

• Phantom S-280 front LCR
• Eight S-100 subwoofers form a literal wall of speakers across the front
• S-180 surrounds and sides
• S-80 rears
• Phantom K-80 in-ceiling speakers for Atmos

All powered by Lyngdorf processors and amplifiers. The result? Spectacular - explosive dynamics and ferocious low-end energy for movie content, yet equally capable of nuance and finesse during immersive music playback. That balance of precision and musicality is what makes a Lyngdorf / DALI system so captivating.

Touring the Factory

Our factory tour brought DALI’s ethos into full focus. Their production seamlessly blends high-precision robotics with skilled human craftsmanship. Cabinets are made in-house using five-axis CNC machines, and their new water-based UV-cured lacquer has revolutionised finishing — reducing drying times from weeks to just days while maintaining flawless results.

The assembly floor was alive with activity — from compact Menuets to full-scale KOREs — and it was fascinating to see drivers, crossovers, and cabinets meticulously built, tested, and signed off by individual craftspeople.

Building My Own DALI Menuets

To round off the visit, we were invited to assemble our own pair of DALI Menuet SE speakers. Just like every DALI speaker, each pair is built from start to finish by a single technician who personally signs the finished product. It was great fun and working under the oversight of one of the technicians, you can see their attention to detail from wadding placement to internal cable management. Now have my own personally signed pair of Menuets, which I plan to pair with a Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 as a system for my home office.

Conclusion

That concluded an incredible day at DALI. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and musicality was evident at every stage, from raw materials to final assembly. Everyone we met, from R&D to warehousing, shared a genuine passion for DALI and what the brand represents. Next stop: the Lyngdorf Steinway factory in Skive — a visit that deserves its own story entirely.