DALI Katch G2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless, Compact, Outdoor Speaker, 30 Hours Playtime, With Fabric Dust Cap, Pressure Level 95 dB, Chilly Blue

Product Information

If you’re in the market for a superb-sounding Bluetooth speaker, and money is no object, then I haven’t heard many better performers than the DALI KATCH. Its ability to produce a powerful, detailed and composed sound from a slender cabinet is nothing short of miraculous, while lengthy battery life, suave design and fuss-free operation further justify the price tag. The Danish-made Dali Katch is possibly the best of the lot, though, at least in terms of the way it sounds. Dali Katch review: What you need to know

Dali Katch G2 review - What Hi-Fi? Dali Katch G2 review - What Hi-Fi?

Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 2nd November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) And it doesn’t matter where you put it, either. With a trio of drivers beneath the grilles on both sides – one low-profile 3.5in aluminium dome woofer, a 21mm tweeter and a rectangular passive membrane for the bass – this is a speaker that sounds as good from behind as it does from the front. Indeed, the Dali Katch doesn’t have any significant weaknesses. It perhaps isn’t the bassiest of speakers. Even with its “warm” audio profile engaged, you’ll find the really low bass notes missing from its armoury. This is not the speaker for you if you’re obsessed by thumping bass. However, as I found with the renowned KEF Muo, which had a similarly lean sound profile, it’s very easy to get used to this. The depth and richness of the mids and the sweetness and sheer clarity of treble offset this speaker’s ineffectiveness down low. Dali Katch review: Price and competition Operation is every bit as easy as you’d expect from a Bluetooth speaker. Pairing is problem-free and, helpfully, KATCH remembers devices when you turn them on again later. DALI’s drivers might not have much room to manoeuvre, but they can certainly move air. There’s plenty of bass, which thumps forth with tremendous heft, while the bold mid-range adds body to voices and instruments.Old favourite “Blue In Green” by Miles Davis is an absolute treat in that respect – Coltrane’s sax lines are solid and substantial, but they’re also laced with silky, expressive detail. Treble reproduction is smooth and refined, making hi-hats sound like they’re being played rather than spat out. These days it’s pretty easy to find cheap Bluetooth speakers that sound reasonably good, but a great-sounding speaker will still cost you a pretty penny. That’s the category of audio products in which the Dali Katch competes, alongside rivals from Bose, Libratone and KEF. Even Apple has joined the party in recent times with the HomePod, a smart speaker that also happens to sound absolutely stunning.

DALI KATCH ONE | Acclaimed Soundbar with Hi-Fi sound | DALI Speakers DALI KATCH ONE | Acclaimed Soundbar with Hi-Fi sound | DALI

Positioning is critical as the sound comes out of both sides and gives a wide sound, but does vary as you move you or it about. It's hard to get it just right so I'll enjoy experimenting. The original DALI Katch was one of the best Bluetooth speakers in its class. The Katch G2 takes all that’s great about the original – great sound, unique style and long battery life – and makes it even better. Improvements to the sound, connectivity and battery life simply make the best better still. Our comparison speaker for testing is the five-star JBL Xtreme 3, but in direct comparison the JBL feels just a tad over-emphasised through the bass and just slightly muddier through the low end as a result. It’s a small difference, but still noteworthy. Verdict Running along the top edge are five firm, responsive buttons that govern volume, power, Bluetooth pairing and sound modes (more on those later). Four lights surround the standby button, which light up incrementally to indicate the volume level, as well as denoting the sound mode, pairing and power status. The most striking aspect of the KATCH’s design is the sheer slimness of the cabinet – 47mm to be precise. That makes it compact and easy to carry around, despite the inherent heft of the high-quality cabinet. There’s a leather carry handle at one end that slides away from the main body, which not only aids portability, but also looks nice when stowed away.

The Dali Katch is a stunning Bluetooth speaker; not for everyone, but a wonderful-sounding Bluetooth speaker

Using a long-throw DALI woofer, soft dome tweeter and ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator), the Katch G2 delivers a smooth, dynamic sound. For enhanced detail and reduced distortion, the cabinet now features internal speaker divides, giving each speaker the room to ‘breathe’. The speaker’s fully digital Class-D amp musters 2 x 25W of power. There’s a Bluetooth 4.0 receiver with high-quality aptX streaming from compatible devices and, thanks to NFC, owners of Android phones will save themselves precious seconds when pairing.