I got my daline 3.1 speakers 3 years ago fur $600.00,best money i have ever spent.
I can play any kind of music and the speaker provides everything you can ask for
best speakers cant wait to get the 6.1`s to finish a great system wall to wall...

I have only just brought these Focal Daline 3.1's secondhand and I must admit to being a little surprised by their overall performance, you see I am an avid BBC LS3/5a affectionardo and never thought that I would change my views about the accuracy of the mid-band of these diminutive broadcast monitors, but I may have had my mind put through a 180 degree turnaround.

When I first listened to them I was quite disapointed, the HF was lacking in sparkle, the extreme LF was there, but sloppy, and the upper LF was almost non existent, so I set about a couple of minor tweaks and now I am amazed at the difference these changes have made to the overall presentation and tonal character of these small TL speakers.

The HF is now very sweet with fine resolution and detail which has also opened up the sound stage immensely, and now they have 3D not the flat "in the box" original sound. The upper LF has improved too, not quite there yet but they do have a lot more attack and grip to the upper bass and the extreme LF has also benefitted from a tighening of the individual notes and given much improved pace and timing.

How have I achieved this? easy, change the 3.9 ohm series resistor in the HF section of the x-over to a 2.2 ohm, and fill the TL opening with acoustically transparant foam to fit neatly and exactly insde the port opening like a little brick resistive loading, these 2 minor modifications have taken these spekaers to another level and is highly recommended. My next step will be to add some Long Haired wool to the cavity directly behind the bass/mid driver to remove some of the resonant nodes that upset the mid band frequency response, this will also help the upper bass further and then they will be the finest slim TL speakers around.

Very musical (to the emotional point) Sweet extended highs clear open midrange and accurate bottom end

out of production so needs to be purchased on the used marker

These speakers strike a delicate balance they are detailed yet very smooth on top. Midrange is accurate open and clear.Soundstage is extraordinary (better than the audiophysic sparc in my opinion). Also speaker plays music it has an emotional element. Bass is accurate and tight but does not reproduce the lowest octave. All in all a very easy speaker to live with and unduplicated by the newer JM Lab line. This is a cult item if you run accross these you are lucky.

Similar Products Used:

B&W matrix 805 Maggie smgc Gershman avante garde rx20 audiophysic sparc.

good!

After extensive searching I found the speaker that I can live with long term. I listened to many and was left wanting. Thiel CS.5 were a little to lean and harsh. Platinum Studio 3 sounded too cold. PSB Silver too bright. The JM labs just disappeared. I found them transparent, detailed. If anything, the Dalines were slightly warm. This was not at the expense of the high part of the treble range which is quite extended. They worked especially well with my Acurus DIA-100 which tends to be a little bright at the high end. I love em.

Superb timing, warmth, elegence of real wood finish.........absolutely a stunning proposition. What captures my attention to these spaekers are the focal tweeters.... quite simply one of the best in the business.....I am more inclined to he british HiFi scene..... and they work extremely well with british high-ends....
Personally, i have them hooked up to a electrocompanient ECI-2 and a marantz cd17, great sound stage.......great Jazz music(Fourplay is pretty good).....exhilerating air guitar factor......flamenco style(Nova Menco.....rules)
Oh, yes Ruben Gonzales still the best.......superb timing....

I made these speakers from a Focal kit, supplied by Falcon Acoustics here in England. The cost, including extravagances such as Indian Rosewood veneer and Focal Cones for the feet, was about £400. I've no idea what the Daline 3.1s retail for here, but whatever it is, it's a bargain. These are astonishing things - I expected something special, having played around with Focal units before, but these things are superb. They play music like nothing else I've heard in my system; my old Epos ES14s certainly played music, but lacked the accuracy and fluidity of the Dalines. The overall presentation is so even that initially I suspected that something might be missing, but this isn't the case. I cannot think of another speaker that's so easy to listen to, yet so musical too.

I upgraded to the Daline 3.1s from my B&W DM620 speakers. Mids and highs are forward and open, especially when bi-wired. Bass is deep and strong. One speaker had gold-plated nuts on the connecting posts, while the other had red/black plastic pieces (reminded me of my Mom's former Peugeot 505). Also, one of the crossovers had a loose connection, which was quickly fixed by the dealer. The Dalines in the Auburn finish are beautiful! Lastly, the included spikes were a boon in my carpeted living room.

I must agree with the aforementioned reviews on this product. The Daline 3.1 is an exceptional product in it's price class. One word of extreme importance though; don't even consider reviewing until you have 300 plus hours on them. I initially heard a pair right out of the box and was very unimpressed. ( I should have known better. ) I am currently running them with Audio Analogue's supreme Puccini SE integrated and although not the last word in inner detail and performance, I've heard stuff at triple the price which was less emotional. Room placement and choice of electronics will determine the end result. Also, use a "fast" cable and bi-wiring is a must for openess. Why JM Lab discontinued this excellent speaker is beyond me, but in all catagories: finish, build quality, sound, price etc it is hard not to give them a 4.5 rating

open sound from a slim cabinet

original tweeter was overly bright; better since 1999 upgrade; limited bass, but hey these guys are only 7" wide

Very nice looking, downright tiny floorstanders, with a bigger sound than you would ever expect. I am often tempted to upgrade, but I put on some hard bop, sit back and close my eyes and the feeling passes. Downfall is trying to play some hard rock. Fat electric guitar sound never comes out quite right on the Dalines. So, if you are into acoustic music they are fine.