DALI Katch G2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless, Compact, Outdoor Speaker, 30 Hours Playtime, With Fabric Dust Cap, Pressure Level 95 dB, Chilly Blue

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We switch to Pandemonium by Masked Wolf, and the jangling of keys and unbolting of prison cell bars are jagged and impactful through the treble. These are expertly separated from the hard-hitting hip-hop beat too, proving the Dali doesn’t scrimp on veracity or grip when it comes to the low notes, either. Vocals are three-dimensional and emotive. Stream Berwyn’s Heartache & Chest Pains, and while the pensive keys are accurate across the frequencies and held dutifully within the cohesive mix as the beat comes in, vocal stylings are central, textured and nuanced. Old favourite “Blue In Green” by Miles Davis is an absolute treat in that respect – Coltrane’s sax lines are solid and substantial, but they’re also laced with silky, expressive detail. Treble reproduction is smooth and refined, making hi-hats sound like they’re being played rather than spat out. The speaker’s fully digital Class-D amp musters 2 x 25W of power. There’s a Bluetooth 4.0 receiver with high-quality aptX streaming from compatible devices and, thanks to NFC, owners of Android phones will save themselves precious seconds when pairing.

DALI Katch G2 (Iron Black) | Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Richer Sounds DALI Katch G2 (Iron Black) | Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Richer

If you don’t care about daisy-chaining several (or a hundred) of Bluetooth speakers at the push of a button, the Dali Katch G2 is simply the classiest and best-sounding speaker of its kind you can buy for the money. You can stereo-pair two of them, and while there is no button on the G2 to automatically pause the music should you walk into the room with an urgent problem, we would advise you to simply let that accurate, clear, agile and neutral presentation soothe your cares away. Sonically, the Katch G2 is nothing short of a delight. As we increase the volume, we find the Katch G2’s room-filling sound neither loses clarity nor errs toward harshness either –no small achievement from something with such bijou proportions.

The Dali Katch is a stunning Bluetooth speaker; not for everyone, but a wonderful-sounding Bluetooth speaker

Overall, there’s a warm tone to the sound, but the top end could be sweeter. Beats on the cymbals can be a touch tinny and even the high, sad brass echo in Let It Be is not quite as rich as it might be. By class standards though, these are minor complaints that pale next to everything the Katch One does so well. Meanwhile, the dual 3.5-inch woofers use a specially designed chassis, inverted aluminium membranes and special spider suspension. These may sound like comic book super powers but they’re actually things that help produce the bass of a traditional woofer within the confines of the shallow cabinet. The woofers are reinforced by two 73 x 52mm passive bass radiators. There are two audio profiles that cater for use in different surroundings. The Clear mode has a more neutral frequency response suitable for most listening situations, while Warm mode boosts the bass frequencies for larger rooms. I really like the AptX HD support. It seems to be dying out. I can easily tell the difference between normal Bluetooth and the AptX so one of the main reasons for choosing this speaker.

DALI Katch G2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless, Compact, Outdoor DALI Katch G2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless, Compact,

Running along the top edge are five firm, responsive buttons that govern volume, power, Bluetooth pairing and sound modes (more on those later). Four lights surround the standby button, which light up incrementally to indicate the volume level, as well as denoting the sound mode, pairing and power status. Indeed, the Dali Katch doesn’t have any significant weaknesses. It perhaps isn’t the bassiest of speakers. Even with its “warm” audio profile engaged, you’ll find the really low bass notes missing from its armoury. This is not the speaker for you if you’re obsessed by thumping bass. However, as I found with the renowned KEF Muo, which had a similarly lean sound profile, it’s very easy to get used to this. The depth and richness of the mids and the sweetness and sheer clarity of treble offset this speaker’s ineffectiveness down low. Dali Katch review: Price and competition Using a long-throw DALI woofer, soft dome tweeter and ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator), the Katch G2 delivers a smooth, dynamic sound. For enhanced detail and reduced distortion, the cabinet now features internal speaker divides, giving each speaker the room to ‘breathe’.

For a true stereo sound, connect two Katches together, wirelessly. This is ideal for larger rooms, parties or simply for enjoying the music as it was originally intended – in spacious stereo sound. If you’re in the market for a superb-sounding Bluetooth speaker, and money is no object, then I haven’t heard many better performers than the DALI KATCH. Its ability to produce a powerful, detailed and composed sound from a slender cabinet is nothing short of miraculous, while lengthy battery life, suave design and fuss-free operation further justify the price tag. Drivers 4x 50W Class-D amplifiers, 4x 11.5cm passive drivers, 4x 9cm low-frequency drivers, 2x 21mm tweeters Our comparison speaker for testing is the five-star JBL Xtreme 3, but in direct comparison the JBL feels just a tad over-emphasised through the bass and just slightly muddier through the low end as a result. It’s a small difference, but still noteworthy. Verdict

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Positioning is critical as the sound comes out of both sides and gives a wide sound, but does vary as you move you or it about. It's hard to get it just right so I'll enjoy experimenting. This soundbar will make a delightful addition to your TV set up. The crisp, dynamic audio is far beyond what you’ll get from your flat panel and this is sonically superior to all of its similarly priced rivals. Just make sure you’ve got the space and inclination to position it properly. The Danish-made Dali Katch is possibly the best of the lot, though, at least in terms of the way it sounds. Dali Katch review: What you need to knowThe original DALI Katch was one of the best Bluetooth speakers in its class. The Katch G2 takes all that’s great about the original – great sound, unique style and long battery life – and makes it even better. Improvements to the sound, connectivity and battery life simply make the best better still. Having seen DALI’s jaw-dropping full-size speakers, it comes as no surprise that KATCH is a beautifully designed unit. Its pill-shaped aluminium cabinet oozes class, with a glinting chamfered edge lending a little razzle dazzle. The main body feels remarkably solid too, the use of aluminium and ABS/polycarbonate baffles allowing DALI’s engineers to create a structure that maximises internal volume without compromising on rigidity. What jumps out is how loud it plays. Hold down the volume “+” key and it just keeps going up and up and up. Before you know it there’s a huge, authoritative sound filling the room, with none of the chuffing or hardness you’d normally associate with a cheap Bluetooth speaker. It holds its composure with ease; the sound remains clear and focused. Operation is every bit as easy as you’d expect from a Bluetooth speaker. Pairing is problem-free and, helpfully, KATCH remembers devices when you turn them on again later.

Dali Katch G2 review - What Hi-Fi? Dali Katch G2 review - What Hi-Fi?

And it doesn’t matter where you put it, either. With a trio of drivers beneath the grilles on both sides – one low-profile 3.5in aluminium dome woofer, a 21mm tweeter and a rectangular passive membrane for the bass – this is a speaker that sounds as good from behind as it does from the front. It’s worth noting that there’s no scope for further wireless daisy-chaining of multiple Dali Katch G2 speakers, which is a much-loved feature of JBL speakers thanks to their PartyBoost button. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 2nd November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) The most striking aspect of the KATCH’s design is the sheer slimness of the cabinet – 47mm to be precise. That makes it compact and easy to carry around, despite the inherent heft of the high-quality cabinet. There’s a leather carry handle at one end that slides away from the main body, which not only aids portability, but also looks nice when stowed away. If all you have to say on the subject of a tiny portable speaker is that it contains some leather on a forum thats set up for reviewing sound and the overall quality of an item then I'm afraid your opinion isn't worth noting.

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KATCH comes in a choice of three colours – Cloud Grey, Moss Green and Dark Shadow, the latter a sort of bluey/grey shade that adorned my test sample. If truth be told, it isn’t the most electrifying selection of colours – the speaker equivalent of GAP clothing – but all three look perfectly tasteful. One year on, the Dali Katch G2 remains the top option at this price.” ’What Hi-Fi?’ 2023 award-winner. Dali has implemented a TWS (True Wireless Stereo) mode for the Katch G2, enabling users to pair two Katch G2s in stereo for increased volume and separation, with aptX HD to support better-quality streams at 24-bit/48kHz. Note, however, that you cannot stereo pair the first-generation Katch with the new G2 as the feature is facilitated by Bluetooth 5.0, and the original 2016 Katch only supports Bluetooth 4.0. Also, the new TWS mode is not meant to enable multi-room audio – the two Katch G2s should really be in the same room and will play stereo sound.