Loudspeakers

DALI's specification for the KORE was largely met on test. Its complex crossover maintains a sub-9ohm impedance from 46Hz-12.4kHz, hitting a 3.2ohm minimum at 67Hz (a nominal 4ohm) which, with max/min phase angles of +36°/–65° (+44°/10Hz), results in a minimum EPDR of 1.2ohm/58Hz. However with a controlled ±10° impedance phase (and >5.0ohm EPDR) from 200Hz-10kHz, the KORE remains an easy drive for all likely partnering amplifiers. Sensitivity at 87.8dB/1kHz and 88.2dB/500Hz-8kHz is not too far off the rated 89dB and, with its max. 1.5kW amplifier rating, suggests that exceptional SPLs will be achievable at very low distortion (sub-0.5% from 50Hz-20kHz at 90dB SPL). The magnetically-attached grille has an influence through mid and presence [blue trace, Graph 1] and should be removed, though the U-shaped mid and boosted presence/treble of the 32mm dome [black/red traces, Graph 1] flattens out with increased listening distance and toe-out (up to 20° off axis).

The ±2.9dB response errors occur between 4-13kHz but pair-matching is a creditably tight 0.5dB (200Hz-20kHz). This is tricky to achieve with a complex multi-way system, although the paper pulp/wood fibre bass and mid drivers themselves are not entirely clean of breakup modes [see Graph 2]. By contrast the 32mm dome/55mm planar 'EVO-K' hybrid tweeter array is impressively free of any aggressive breakup. The upper and lower bass units both have a 42Hz-112Hz (–6dB) bandpass, peaking at 63Hz, and port tuning of 24Hz, but the lower unit extends more gently out to 300Hz (–10dB). Drivers and ports combine to yield a deep, diffraction-corrected extension of 28Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). PM