Behind the Scenes in Denmark: Fanthorpe HiFi Visits DALI and Lyngdorf

At Fanthorpe HiFi, we're always striving to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the world's finest audio brands. We believe this enables us to offer our customers the very best advice and experience possible. Recently, we were delighted to have Dave from our Sales team invited on an exclusive trip to Denmark, where he had the opportunity to visit two of the most respected names in high-fidelity sound: DALI and Lyngdorf.

Over two days, A first-hand insight was gained into the artistry, engineering, and technology that define these manufacturers. The visit proved to be both educational and inspiring, strengthening understanding of what makes these brands so special.

Day One: DALI HQ, Nørager

The visit began at DALI's headquarters in Nørager, a 30 minute drive south of Aalborg, with a very warm welcome by CEO Lars Worre. After introductions over a morning coffee, Lars provided an overview of DALI's philosophy and dedication to in-house craftsmanship — a message that resonated throughout the rest of the visit.

Product demonstrations followed, hosted by Krestian Pedersen (Head of Product Management) and Thomas Holm (Senior Product Specialist). The group had the opportunity to experience the Epikore loudspeaker range in one of DALI's dedicated listening rooms, powered by a Hegel H30A amplifier, Mola Makua DAC/preamp, and Bluesound streaming transport.

Listening began with the Epikore 3, a stand-mount model that has impressed with its clarity, timing, and surprising bass response. Moving up to the Epikore 7, the presentation became more expansive, with greater bass extension and scale — a clear benefit for those who prefer the added richness that floorstanding designed speakers offer.

Onto the Epikore 9 which offered a slightly more relaxed, forgiving sound character, while the Epikore 11 delivered outstanding powerful dynamics, midrange detail, and refinement. The session concluded with The Kore, DALI's statement loudspeaker — a breathtaking performance across genres, from choral to electronic. A real treat for any audio enthusiast, As Krestian described it, the Epikore 11 is like a high-performance sports car — thrilling yet versatile — while The Kore is closer to an F1 racing machine, capable of extraordinary precision when driven by the right partnering equipment.

Key technical highlights of the session were DALI's SCM magnet technology, which helps reduce distortion and ensures ultra-precise control of the drive units. By optimising the magnetic field around the voice coil, SCM allows for greater linearity and detail, a fundamental part of DALI's "low loss" design philosophy. Also, the use of Hybrid High Frequency units which give you the best of both worlds — The dispersion and tonal character benefits of soft dome design, coupled with the extended frequency response of the AMT unit which sits just above.

DALI Custom Install & Home Theatre

Next came an introduction to DALI's Custom Install (CI) range, led by CI Product Manager Michael Munch. The session covered everything from the versatile Phantom in-wall/in-ceiling speakers to the durable Gardian outdoor models, which feature IP67 weatherproof certification. DALI's M80A angled speakers and Phantom K-60 LP low-profile design also stood out as clever solutions for discreet installations.

A demonstration in DALI's CI Home Theatre suite showcased the potential of these hidden systems. With scenes from Blade Runner and Top Gear: Maverick, the room delivered an immersive, cinematic performance — proving that high-impact sound doesn't have to come at the expense of a clean aesthetic.

Factory Tour

The afternoon was spent touring DALI's production facilities with Thomas Holm, offering a fascinating glimpse into the company's craftsmanship and quality control. Unlike many brands, DALI produces almost everything in-house from driver and crossover assembly to cabinet construction and finishing.

Every detail is meticulously considered: even the amount of adhesive used in driver assembly is carefully measured for consistency. Crossovers are hand-built, cabinets are hand-finished, and each speaker is thoroughly tested using both spectral analysis and critical listening to ensure it meets DALI's exacting standards.

Day Two: Lyngdorf, Skive

The second day took us to Lyngdorf's headquarters in Skive, home to another world-renowned name in high-end audio. The visit began with a factory tour and demonstrations of Lyngdorf's latest systems, including the FR2, CUE-100, and flagship Model D loudspeakers.

Of particular interest was Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect room correction technology — an innovative system that calibrates playback to deliver consistent tonal balance and clarity, regardless of room acoustics or speaker placement.

Listening sessions demonstrated the precision and openness Lyngdorf is known for. The FR2's wall-mountable design offered excellent performance with minimal visual impact, while the CUE-100 impressed with its combination of elegant styling and commanding sound. The Model D, Lyngdorf's flagship, showcased true reference-level performance.

After listening to these various stereo systems, it was time to experience Lyngdorf's line array home theatre system, which delivered a seamless, enveloping wall of sound, creating an immersive cinematic effect unlike anything produced by conventional speaker layouts.

Back to DALI: Rubikore 8 & V-16 F Subwoofer

Returning to DALI in the afternoon, the group turned its attention to the Rubikore range, with a particular focus on the Rubikore 8. Despite its imposing presence, the Rubikore 8 delivered impressive agility and control, creating a balanced and engaging soundstage that remained deeply musical and enjoyable across a wide variety of recordings.

In addition to the Rubikore 8 demo, we were introduced to DALI's new high-end subwoofer, the DALI V-16 F. Built with a 16-inch driver and 1,500 W Class D amplification, the V-16 F is designed to go deep while remaining articulate and in control, extending cleanly down to around 19 Hz in-room. Hearing the new V‑16 F subwoofer in a dedicated cinema system, where two of them were deployed alongside DALI M675 wall-mounted speakers and M250 in-frame speakers, creating a fully integrated, high-impact home theatre experience. It proved that even with a huge amount of Sub frequency power a home theatre system can sound fast and delicate with lots of fitness. These big powerful subs can easily disappear sonically, underpinning the soundstage with discretion and ease.

Reflections

This two-day trip provided an invaluable insight into two brands that continue to shape the future of high-end audio. From DALI's dedication to in-house craftsmanship and technological precision to Lyngdorf's pioneering digital innovation, the experience has further strengthened our appreciation of their shared pursuit of sonic excellence.

We'd like to thank both DALI and Lyngdorf for their hospitality and for sharing their passion and expertise with us.

If you'd like to experience the incredible sound of DALI or Lyngdorf for yourself, we invite you to visit us at Fanthorpe HiFi. Our demonstration room allows you to hear these systems in person, and our knowledgeable team — now even better informed after this fantastic trip — will be happy to help you find the perfect solution for your home.

For more information about Dali or Lyngdorf call us on 01482 223096 or email shop@fanthorpes.co.uk