Dali Zensor 7
Product Name: Dali Zensor 7
Product Description: Floorstanding speaker
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Design - 8.8/10
8.8/10
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Movies Performance - 9.4/10
9.4/10
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Music Performance - 9.4/10
9.4/10
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Inputs and Features - 9.5/10
9.5/10
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Price / Quality - 9/10
9/10
Summary
Total Score
Pros
- Good overall performance
- Nice mid-range balance
- Good price for their quality
Cons
- Not suited for small rooms
- A lot of competition in this price range
- Requires some breathing space for optimal results
Cheapest Places to Buy :
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Once again we have the pleasure to review a pair of speakers from Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries, better known as DALI. The last time we checked on this company we did a review on the Zensor 5 speakers which performed very well but were mostly suited for small to middle sized rooms. Quality in general was very good and they deserved to bear the name of such a respectable audio company. You can find our review of these speakers HERE.
So now it was time to take it up a notch and review the big brother in the series, the DALI Zensor 7. Now having reviewed it’s smaller brother we had a small idea of what to expect as both speakers share many identical components but at the same time we were intrigued to find out what differences the increase in size would bring to the whole audio performance and if it is a worthy set for consideration. Without further delay let’s start our DALI Zensor 7 review.
Design, Inputs and Features
With a size of 994mm x 257mm x 320mm (HxWxD) the Zensor 7 is the biggest speaker in this specific series and they are not shy at all of their size. These speakers are definitely destined for larger areas and home theater rooms and although the word “large” by itself cannot put specific limits to where these speakers would be optimal to be used they certainly ask for some breathing space in order to show their quality.
And although the Zensor 7 may be the biggest model in the series design wise it has many similarities with the lower Zensor 5 model but also some distinct differences. As such the front has a similar high-gloss lacquered finish while the rest of the cabinet is made of medium density fibreboard. In the Zensor 7 we also find the same aluminum base with it’s distinct design that keeps the speaker steady but also elevates it a little from the floor.
Following the same construction for the whole series the cabinet is CNC machined MDF board while this model along with the Zensor 5 features internal bracing in order to reduce structural resonances. Similarly in order to improve the bass and mid-range the Zensor 7 comes with damping material on the sides, top and bottom but not on the rear side of the front baffle as this creates a more direct contact between the woofer and the bass port.
The front face is rather simple with it’s long squarish column shape including a cloth cover grill for the drivers, a bass port under it and the Dali logo the only elements that brake a bit this black monotony. Dali decided to place the bass port in the front instead of the back which makes things a bit easier when it comes to placing these monsters near some wall. Placing the port in the back would require a bit more breathing space but this is not a problem here although it is still recommended to leave a minimum distance from the walls. As with the Zensor 5 removing the cloth grill we find a similar drivers array with a Tweeter-Midrange-Midrange configuration. Having a bigger size means that Dali chose to use bigger drivers this time going for dual 7″ wood fibre woofers that feature the same 4-layer voice coils that we saw in the rest of the series in order to provide more precise sound reproduction.
Above them we find the same 1″ (25mm) soft textile dome tweeter we saw in the Zensor 5s. Dali put a lot of engineer thought into it in order to increase power handling and minimize compression by making it more lightweight than the usual tweeter and by using a vented voice coil former. Also the damping material under the dome minimizes reflections from the pole piece. The Zensor 7 speakers have a frequency range of 40Hz – 26,5kHz and a crossover frequency of 2,4kHz with 90dB of sensitivity and 6 Ohms of nominal impedance.
At the back we find the speaker wire terminal on the bottom and they are very well constructed with gold-plated binding and plastic screws so you can either connect bare wires or use some special banana plugs if you prefer.
The Zensor 7 come in three colors with black ash and light walnut having a black front while the white one covers all sides.
Performance
Time to test these fine speakers has come so we connected the pair of Zensor 7 to our Onkyo AV receiver, run through a few calibration tests to bring the whole audio setup into balance and we were ready to go.
Movies
All our movie testings nowadays focuses on 2 feature films with the first one being Battleship in 4K UHD. The film comes with a DTS:X audio track and we know that it can provide any quality speakers with the necessary audio information that would make you hold tight on your seat. And having these big speakers only made us more anxious to listen what they have to offer. First test scene is the first encounter between the Navy destroyers and the alien ship when the explosive pegs are launched and hit the human ship completely destroying it.
The results were exactly as we would expect them to be from the big brother of the Zensor series. The front soundstage felt so alive and full while it felt more expanded compared to smaller speakers we tested before. Bass felt to us a bit better this time compared to the Zensor 5 and although most of the work will be done by the subwoofer the front speakers had very good bass clarity and precision. Mid-range felt very balanced while high frequencies were delivered exactly as we would like without being distracting. And a film like Battleship has a lot of high frequency sounds and we were a bit worried if it would feel too excessive but the Zensor 7 speakers managed to throw all our worries away.
Next film we like to test has a bit of a different setting as we go from a tech filled film to a more fantasy style with the Blu-ray disc of Lord of the Rings. Although the Blu-ray disc comes only with a DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 audio track, no next generation tracks here yet as we will have to wait for the 4K release hopefully for that, the result is breathtaking. Howard Shore’s score accompanies the rest of the audio effects masterfully as the troll brakes into Balin’s tomb and smashes everything in it’s path. The Nazgul scream is being delivered with such a punch while when Gandalf confronts the Balrog your ears will almost bleed from excitement as the Zensor 7 will hit you with a mix of bass and high frequencies all delivered with amazing control.
The performance we got from the speakers was so good that it almost made us watch the whole Lord of the Rings Trilogy but unfortunately our limited time would not allow that. The Zensor 7 left us with the best impressions and if you plan to use them for movies you cannot go wrong. Mid-range and highs felt precise while bass was more than adequate and balanced. If you have adequate space to place them their quality will definitely put a smile on your face.
Music
Sadly we had to move on with our testing and so we proceeded with music to see if we would get the same kind of quality and behavior as we got during our movies testing. For this we got a selection of FLAC music tracks with different rhythms and tunes in order to see what kind of reaction the Dali 7 speakers will show.
Overall we would say they gave a very strong performance. The bass was very precise even if just a bit excessive, the highs were detailed and precise and all of them were brought together by a mid-range that was very balanced and was the strongest point of the Zensor 7 during our music testing. Dynamic shifts were a piece of cake for the speakers and musical instrument separation was great giving a great sense of position in space. Vocals were very precise and clearly distinguishable.
The speakers wouldn’t budge even when pushed to higher volume levels, they managed to stay in control the whole time. We pushed them even to levels that are a bit unpleasant for our tastes but for the shake of testing we were pleased to see that doing so didn’t reveal any audible distortions or crackling.
Final Thoughts
The Dali Zensor 7 speakers are amazing, period. We liked them during our movies testing and we definitely liked them when listening to music. They offer the kind of balance and precision that speakers of this range should offer. Two things you should consider is that you need a good quality AV receiver in order to make them real justice and also you should consider that as with almost all speakers they need some running-in period in order to be able to perform to their maximum. Dali says 100 hours of normal usage is enough to reach their peak performance so don’t be discouraged if hearing a brand new pair doesn’t give you the results you want. Giving them a bit of time will surely makes things a lot better.
These speakers were definitely made for large rooms as they have the kind of power to fill large media rooms and home theaters with all the audio immersion you will ever need. Price is a bit on the high side but if you consider the value you get with their size then they are worth it and we would definitely recommend them to anyone that considers them.
For more reviews you can check our dedicated Floorstanding Speaker reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.
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*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*
Specifications
- Frequency Range (+/-3 dB) [Hz] : 40 – 26,500
- Sensitivity (2,83 V/1 m) [dB] : 90.0
- Nominal Impedance [ohms] : 6
- Maximum SPL [dB] : 110
- Recommended Amplifier Power [W] : 40 – 150
- Crossover Frequency [Hz] : 2,400 Hz
- High frequency driver, Quantity : 1 x 25 mm
- High frequency driver, Diaphragm type : Soft Textile Dome
- Low frequency driver, Quantity : 2 x 7″
- Low frequency driver, Diaphragm type : Wood Fibre Cone
- Enclosure type : Bass Reflex
- Bass Reflex Tuning Frequency [Hz] : 40.0
- Connection Input : Single Wire
- Magnetic Shielding : No
- Recommended Placement : Floor
- Recommended Distance From Wall [cm] : 20 – 80
- Dimensions With Base (HxWxD) [mm] : 994 x 257 x 320
- Weight [kg] : 14.9
Great post and good info.
The small room con dont count for me anymore, we moved to a bigger house and we have plenty of space.
It seems to be a very good one, and we are looking for something like this, because our old one is destroyed during the movement, unfortunately.
Thanks for sharing this with us, I’m going to check it out now!
Hey Emmanuel. I hope you find our review helpful.
I’ve been interested in the Dali Zensor 7 loudspeaker setup for a few months now but as you point out – they are slightly limited if you don’t have the biggest of rooms to set them up in.
How big is the cutoff point for the room? I have a living room that is standard at about 6 meters by 4 meters – will this be big enough to get a decent sound from the Zensors?
The room you mention is large enough to accommodate these Chris so you don’t have to worry about it.
This is a great sound system and it looks great and with great performance also so my question is if it can be found outside the US and European markets because i am yet to see it on the local stores and if not can Amazon do the shipping to my country or to my currency location?
This is something you have to check with Amazon Charles. You can check in the sending options if they support your country.
Great in-depth review. These speakers look good and, from your review, are definitely worth considering, as I am currently looking to upgrade my system.
I think my room could handle the Zensor 7, but not sure I can justify the price hike over the Zensor 5. Do you think it is worth the extra cost?
It depends on the room really. The behavior of the Zensor 5 and Zensor 7 is not so much different so I would go for the ones that would fit better in your room size.
I love the sturdy design of the Dali Zensor 7. With an average rating of about 4 out of 5, I believe this product certainly lives up to expectation. The Dali brand isn’t a popular brand where I live, but from your well-rounded review, I think it’s worth checking out.I am not a movie freak, so if I would go for the Zensor 7 series, it would surely be to have a blast of some of my favorite rock songs…hahaha
Zensor 7 is great for music and if that is your thing then these speakers will definitely offer you some quality time.
This is a great product a friend of mine just got one a few days ago and the quality of sound it produces makes me feel like I am lacking behind. I am now saving to get one of these for myself and what I really love about this speaker is that I looks presentable at home. But I never knew it has soo good. Thanks for the education.
If you have decided to go for it you made a good choice. They are definitely worth it.
Hi! I have been following your site and greatly appreciate your recommendations. I have been satisfied when purchasing what you have recommended. So this has made me visit your site frequently, and to be eager to read your posts.
I need speakers and I’ll undisputedly go with the Dali Zensor 7. The room where they’ll will be placed is a big room. And I’ll be patient during the first 100 hours. I have also read a couple of other reviews and they all agree that they have a good overall performance.
Thank you very much!
I am glad you like our reviews and that you follow us. The Dali Zensor 7 speakers are amazing and you will enjoy them for sure.
Hi Stratos,First I want to congratulate you for your excellent review.
The speakers that you promote are seen in the images, their great quality.
I have a television in my house, in our daily dining room, like the one you showed us.
I love watching movies but I’m not happy with the quality of their sound.
What speaker would you recommend to install?
Thanks for all the help you can give me.
Regards! Claudio
You can check our speakers review section for various recommendations Claudio. You will need to give me a bit more information about your space and requirements if you want me to give you some more specific suggestions.
I personally fell in love with the Dali’s Zensor 5. The Zensor 7 is the largest model in the ZENSOR series. If you are looking for good floor standing speakers that might be a very good choice. Perfect both for music and movies, even without the help of a subwoofer. What colors are available?
They come in three colors. Black, white and light walnut.
Hi Stratos
What (stereo) amplifier would you recommend for Zensor 7?
I have Pioneer A-30, but thinking about Marantz or Yamaha.
Cheers,
Predrag
Personally I would go for Marantz.
Hello,
What are differences between Oberon 7 and Zensor 7 ?
Which one have a more controled bas ?
Thank You
Hello Marcin. The Oberon is one step higher than the Zensor. There is not a whole lot of difference between them but the Oberon 7 is the best of the two.
Hi Stratos,
I see you have also reviewed the Klipsch RP-6000F, also with a very high score. Which would you choose for your own living room?
Regards,
Gordon
Hi Gordon. Between these two? Probably for the RP-6000F.
Thanks, Stratos
I will see if I can find a good deal on some. But I live in Australia and for some reason, the RP-6000Fs are way more expensive than the Dalis. Even the Oberon 7 is about 30% cheaper than the Klipsch!
Regards,
Gordon
Ouch…Look to be honest if you can get the Oberon 7 at 30% cheaper than the Klipsch and you are tight in budget then I would suggest you to go for the Oberon 7. They are a step above the Zensor series and if there are so much cheaper than the Klipsch then you should definitely consider them.
Hi, there..:)
strolling on reviews on Dali Zensor 7 (which I own them since 2018) with an Yamaha N620N (think, is an integrated amp, which is nice, I can tell, for low-mid consumers) I am pleased with the sound and performance… wonder if upgrading to Rubicon 3-5 will be wow, or is better to stay put..:) seems to need some more clarity (can be age? wonder, got 56 this yr..:) but zensor 7 are pleasant.. for sure, I work at home, 70% my time in home-office are filled with zensor… low-volume, obviously..:)
Hello. Well, the Rubicons are certainly a substantial upgrade over the Zensors but by how much it is hard to say. Only you can answer to that question because no matter what I tell you the fact is that you perceive sound differently than me so the difference I feel may not apply to you. But the fact is that the Rubicon series is far above what the Zensor one was in terms of quality, that’s for sure.