The cabinet bottom of the Epicon 2 houses the frequency crossover in a separate chamber. In addition it is also screwed tightly and vibration-proof to the underside. Instead of merely passing the crossovers over a soldering shaft, they are hand-soldered at Dali’s – according to the Danes, experience has shown that the contacts are cleaner and above all more long-term stable. The crossover gets the signal from the bi-wiring terminal on the shortest possible path. In addition to blank litz wire, which is not recommendable, it accepts cable lugs and banana plug connectors. For the latter a kind of plier function has been provided, a reversed WBT mechanism, if you will, to exert pressure on the plug and to lower the contact resistance.

Matching game partners and the correct position

But despite all the visual allures of the Epicon 2, which are quite easy to fall for, the sound quality still remains of paramount importance. As it happens quite often in the high-quality sector, getting the Dali started wasn’t a smooth affair, either. Supplied by Audionet’s DNA reference integrated amplifier, at first the music was bubbling way too much in the bass department and sticked to the loudspeaker. The operating manual, whose consultation is quite helpful in such cases, recommends a break-in period of at least one hundred hours for the Epicons. Four days of music all around the clock. In our opinion it may well be even a bit longer, because the flabby low-end cheeks disappear completely and transparency is greatly enhanced.

Another essential insight is that the Epicon 2 achieves a very high quality level already with well-priced integrated amplifiers which may come e.g. from Arcam or Naim. This happens only once in a blue moon! In terms of cabling there is also no need to go to the limits of technical feasibility, for instance with an HMS Gran Finale Jubilee. The Concertato from HMS in single bi-wiring configuration is one of several suitable connecting solutions. It’s just a great thing that the Dali does make demands on the material, but they all remain within reach.

This is also true of the the speaker position. Dali always gives clear set-up recommendations which only know one direction: parallel to the rear wall. Deviations are not only allowed, but called for. In the i-fidelity.net listening room the Epicon 2 was playing under a 10-degree inward angled set-up with the best stage imaging in the dimensions of width and depth. With the coupling spikes it’s also worthwhile to trim the two front ones a bit higher so that the loudspeaker is tilted back ever so slightly. At the end of the day it should be obvious that for the maximum sound experience with the Epicons a minimum of know-how is required.