I've owned theese speakers since they were released. This is a 4" speaker that can be attached to a normal amplifier. You can find speakers with similar size, and compact systems that sound bigger and with better bass than theese Menuett's, but if you set them up properly (meaning with space around them on a firm shelf or stand) and give them a powerful amp, you will be rewarded with a very detailed and engaging sound that will leave your JVC boomblaster sounding dull.

It is extremely important to match the amplifier to theese speakers. They sound good on Rotel and nad's but they sound thin and harsh on cambridge or marantz amps. I use it with an old dane, the Thule IA, and it's the best combo I've heard for this speaker. Thoose who recommend tube amps are probably correct in saying so.

Recently I've moved to a bigger flat, and considered selling the Menuetts due to getting a bigger livingroom. Rather than doing so I've bought a 6,5" sub and have to say that even in a large room, the Menuett's can do a good job as long as they are placed correctly.

Place your menuetts on a solid shelf or stand with nothing on their sides, approximatley 20cm from a wall, and attach them to a warm/rock amp and you will not sell them again.

I've used these occasionally for the last several years, attached to an old CD player in my office, but I recently set them up properly. Source: Apple lossless itunes files and older mp3s. Card: Assus Xonar Essence STX, Amp: Virtue Audio.

The speakers are on the corners of my desk, about four feet from my ears. They manage a really concrete soundstage, a little recessed (behind the screen). They're basically ideal in this setup. They don't go terribly low, and there's a slight roll-off, but I don't listen to loud, bass heavy music while I'm working anyway. They manage down to about 80 HZ in a very tuneful way. They're quick and tuneful in a (stereotypical) British way, but they tend to be a little soft and forgiving - not a sharp attack, which I miss on some music, but is a great trade-off for the music in my collection that's at lower bit rates and sounds horrible on more revealing speakers. This is a lot closer to an audiophile experience than I've ever been able to achieve with a computer setup, & I'm happy with it.

I have been thinking to try to find something, perhaps better experience than Dali Royal Menuet,a and lsitened to Amphion speakers side by side. Amphions sounded detailed, open and sharp, came back to the conclusion that Dali were natural, soft and warm to listen with a good balance, the things I felt in love in the first place!

Open, natural, musical sound.

So far nothing (for the size).

Slightly surprised by some of the negative views. I bought these speakers without any prejudice (i.e., magazine reviews etc); Dalis Menuet Royals driven by Cary tube amps were the best sounding system at the Tokyo Hi-End Audio Show a couple of times; the room you keep going back to when fatigued by other hard, bright systems at the show. The Dali-Carys were so musical, open, natural and relaxing. I bought these speakers and have been driving them with 30 year old vintage Luxman amps, and the sound is superb. As an admirer of ProAc designs and an owner of the LS35a, I do feel that my admiration is not based on ignorance of speakers in this category. Perhaps they mate best with tubes is all I can say.

Similar Products Used:

Rogers LS35a

cute

very expensive for what you get. IMHO cheap drivers. I used the in a small room. aprox 10sqm.

These speakers sounded very thinn. Not enjoyable at all. can't see why people like them. I prefer the Dynaudio Audience 42s. Same price, better drivers and box. Although the don't come i real cherry veneer.

Similar Products Used:

Thule IA150B, CD150B, Linn Majik, Dynaudio Audience 42 & Contour 1.1

cute

very expensive for what you get. IMHO cheap drivers. I used the in a small room. aprox 10sqm.

These speakers sounded very thinn. Not enjoyable at all. can't see why people like them. I prefer the Dynaudio Audience 42s. Same price, better drivers and box. Although the don't come i real cherry veneer.

Similar Products Used:

Thule IA150B, CD150B, Linn Majik, Dynaudio Audience 42 & Contour 1.1

Huippu kaiuttimet! Loistavat Jazz-kajarit.

I've listened to quite a few speakers before I made the decision to buy this speaker. After listening to other speakers of comparative price and range, I returned to listen to this pair of speakers once more. I find that they still sounded the best. I was almost fooled by its small size. Despite its size, the sound it produces is very clean and accurate. The bass is also very warm, even without a subwoofer. And when I used bi-wiring connection, it further brings out the highs and lows. Lastly, the finishing touch to the cabinet is very nicely done with cherry colored wood. Not only does this speaker produce good sound, it is also a pleasure to behold.

Definitely a sensational sounding loudspeaker for the (very, very small!) size.....and a really audiophile one. Beside the Castle's the best small bookshelf I have heard. Mark

I finally bought a pair of Dali Royal Menuet II after audition of ProAc-50, the new ProAc-2000, Soliloguy 5.0S. These speakers were all bookshelf and within my Mid-Fi budget range, say: US$550-750. I tend to use the new speakers for both music and home theatre, therefore I tested these speakers with AV amplifiers. The findings are quite interesting: the best sound came from Dali and Soliloguy. Dali demonstrated great details and smoothness in highs and midrange, but a bit weak in bass (due to its superb compact size!). Soliloguy won by its full-range coverage but it sounded too "bright and clear". Afterall, it may not be fair to rank this way, since the audition were conducted separately using different amplifiers and in different showrooms.
As of ProAc-50, this is also a great pair of speakers. I've listened it in different environment and found it excellent with non-AV amplifiers. When I did an AB test with the Dali by the Yamaha DSP-A1, it just can't perform. The ProAc-50 is really designed for music lovers, not AV lovers.

Now I enjoy my new Dali Royal every night on music and AV. It performs best on light jazz, the imaging & sound quality were so good that when I closed my eyes I felt I was in some life music clubs. For AV, I haven't compared much yet, but found it brings out much fuller details of the Gozilla DVD. I couldn't hear the low hum of Gozilla with my original Energy Take-5. With the Dali Royal, it sounds better than the movie theatre!

For whoever looking for compact sized bookshelf speakers, Dali Royal Menuet II would be one of the best choice.