Dali launched a brand new floorstanding speaker in honor of its 40-year anniversary -- the Epikore 11. This model features top-of-the-line tech used in the flagship Kore model.

This week's High End Munich spotlight is another Dali release. In addition to the new IO-12 headphones, the iconic Danish brand revealed a new Epikore floorstanding speaker. Going along with the trend most hi-fi companies seem to be following, this model features flagship Dali technology fitted into a more affordable package compared to their highest-end line. The Epikore lineup is a happy medium between the Kore and the wallet-friendly Spektor lines. 

That's right, the Epikore 11 has the SMC Gen-2, which was first introduced in the much pricier Kore speaker last year. This magnet material technology is one of the core ingredients that make Dali's speakers uniquely great. The specific material excels at minimizing hysteresis, flux modulation, and eddy currents, which can all lead to distortion.

The tweeter in the Epikore 11 also borrows advanced tech from more high-end models: the EVO-K hybrid tweeter is a combination of Dali's ultra-thin ribbon tweeter and a 35mm soft dome tweeter. There are four 8-inch bass drivers in the new Epikore, with powerful magnet systems that deliver booming bass with minimal loss. The bass drivers and the 6/5-inch midrange driver both have paper and wood fibre cone construction, and the midrange has a complex embossed geometric structure (the same one used in the Kore line) to further reduce distortion.

The crossover inductors (with the first-ever SMC Gen-2 inductor cores) allow for reduced DC resistance compared to traditional air-core inductors, a shorter signal path, and less vulnerability to crosstalk between the inductors.

All of these magnificent goodies are packed within a real wood veneer cabinet with brand new binding posts and oversized thumbscrews to help secure the internal hardware. The speaker is available in high gloss black, maroon, and walnut. The die-cast baffles feature acoustically inert material that minimizes cabinet vibration and keep the speaker stiff and steady even at high volumes. Finally, twin dual-flare bass reflex ports help the bass drivers deliver powerful low frequencies without distortion. The company describes this model as an "aesthetic and acoustic masterpiece".

You can expect to see the Epikore 11 hit the market officially in August 2023. Stay tuned for more High End Munich deep-dives.