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Dali Helicon 400 or Acoustic Zen Adagio?

Has anyone heard both the Dali Helicon 400 and the Acoustic Zen Adagio. Both are the same price, and from what I can tell, are slightly on the warm side. How to choose?
carinaram
connorjr33's avatar
connorjr33
15 posts
 
I bought the Adagio's after listening to many, many top notch speakers. I considered the Dali but was actually sampling and considering the next top of the line Dali and felt the AZ Adagio clearly beat it out on stage, clarity, and diversity. The dali did not seem to play all music well as tunes with more bass seemed to vibrate thru the room instead of producing a natural blended sound. I love the Acoustic Zens and can't say enough good things about them!
salamon67
24 posts
 
Get Adagios guy I just got them new and put few hours on them they sound great with BAT VK-300x integrated.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
The DALIs are very amp sensitive. The bass can sound very woolly without a good bit of power and damping to handle the woofers. I heard them with 4 amps and each sounded very different.

Dave
mike60
275 posts
 
I have owned the 400 and the 800mk2, with different amps, and heard them with many other amps. I disagree that they are amp sensitive. The sound good on an average amp, but will reveal the flaws to some extent, and they are superb with a great amp. I have also read comments from others that confirm dali's arent as amp fussy as other speakers. I would suggest above 100w will drive and control them very nicely in moderate room.
Tremendous speakers - i tried many, many, brands...
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
05-02-08: Mike60 said:
"I have owned the 400 and the 800mk2, with different amps, and heard them with many other amps. I disagree that they are amp sensitive. The sound good on an average amp, but will reveal the flaws to some extent, and they are superb with a great amp. I have also read comments from others that confirm dali's arent as amp fussy as other speakers. I would suggest above 100w will drive and control them very nicely in moderate room."

IME, 100 Class AB watts (Primare) was grossly inadequate. 200 watts was better and 500 watts was much better. I think they need 200 watts.

I'm going back with another amp to give them another chance. I'll take my Conrad JOhnson CA200, which should be almost 300 watts into the DALI load. We'll see if that doesn't work.

Dave
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