The new DALI Kupid will be available for the end of the year 2025 holidays, and is a bold move from the Danish company, that will probably create more valuable brand recognition than its flagship DALI Kore ( €100,000 per pair) loudspeaker did. No doubt, the Kore is probably one of the best hifi loudspeakers ever designed, one that could easily challenge many "luxury" products costing up to another "0".
DALI tried to capitalize on the huge investment that was to engineer and design the Kore, launched in 2022, with a rapid succession of announcements in the Epikore and Rubikore series. From a product marketing standpoint, that was not the best strategy, but understandable since the large and extremely heavy Kore proved sometimes more expensive to transport and deliver than its selling price. Completely designed and manufactured in Denmark, the DALI Kore is an object of desire by those who can afford it, but still needs to be moved around the world.
In contrast, the Epikore series translated the epitome of DALI's recent loudspeaker research and development efforts, condensing all KORE innovations in trickled-down premium hifi models that fit in many more homes and don't need to be a logistical nightmare. DALI now apparently wants to move to the other extreme and score a win-win: to boost the brand outside the niche hifi circles, and make a statement to the industry about its abilities and ambitions as a leading speaker designer and manufacturer.
"Kupid is about simplicity and sound," says Krestian Pedersen, DALI's Head of Product Management. "It’s for anyone who wants a real hifi experience without any fuss. We’ve poured everything we know about speaker design into a form factor that’s easy to live with and easy to love. Kupid is designed to fit in, stand out, and make the most of your music."
At its core, DALI says that the Kupid remains proudly designed and engineered in-house in Denmark, "following the same sonic philosophies behind our high-end flagship products like the Kore and Epikore. It shares their DNA of precision, performance, and musicality — but delivers it in a smaller, more approachable package ideal for modern living spaces." Yet, to achieve that record-low selling price and large quantities, the Kupid is manufactured in China.
Still remarkable, given that the Kupid is built with advanced technologies for its price point. That includes a proprietary 4.5" paper and wood fiber bass/midrange driver (the paper and wood fiber cones are one of DALI's signature formulas in its high-end designs), with a ferrite magnet system (no neo, of course), and low-loss rubber surround, paired with a custom-developed 26mm ultra-light soft dome tweeter, and a baffle design carefully tuned for seamless integration between the two drivers.
The two-way design features a very compact crossover board with carefully selected components, while the cabinet uses a "dual flare" bass reflex port, precisely time-aligned to optimize airflow and minimize unwanted resonances. This also helps ensure that the Kupid will work well at both low and high volumes. The cabinet is effectively small enough to fit almost anywhere and be placed on a shelf and just one inch from a wall. Textured magnetic grilles remind users of the Scandinavian aesthetic.
As DALI further explains: "Built around a “keep it simple” philosophy, Kupid is a single-model offering that makes it effortless for first-time hifi buyers to get started. With no confusing product tiers or tech jargon, it’s a straightforward path to better sound."
The DALI Kupid speakers will launch in five finishes: Black Ash, Walnut, Caramel White, Golden Yellow, and Chilly Blue, each featuring color-matched bass/midrange cones and grilles. Wall brackets are included in the package alongside rubber feet, making setup easy in any home.
DALI predicts that the Kupid speakers will launch in Q4 2025, priced at €338 Euros per pair, or equivalent in non-Euro countries in Europe, before taxes. Of course, no one knows what these will cost in the US after the Trump tax is added, but there's no margin to eat the extra cost imposed on American consumers. Many pairs will probably just be smuggled from Canada.
www.dali-speakers.com
