In this review, we will be comparing Reference 5 2023 and Epikore 7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Canton and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 5 2023 and DALI Epikore 7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 5 2023 | DALI Epikore 7 |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.38" Hybrid dome + planar |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.66" Black ceramic tungsten | 2 x 7" Wood fibre |
|---|
| Frequency response | 21-40k Hz | 35-34k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 200-370 watts | 40-400 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.92kg / 79lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40" x 11.8" x 18"
1016.0 x 299.7 x 457.2mm | 44.13" x 15.00" x 16.50"
1121 x 381 x 419 mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 5 2023 and Epikore 7 are 3-way speakers.
Canton Reference 5 2023DALI Epikore 7
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference 5 2023 |
DALI Epikore 7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.38-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.66-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
Reference 5 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 8.66" Black ceramic tungsten Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 170 / 3000 Hz. On the other hand, the Epikore 7 features a 1.38" Hybrid dome + planar Tweeter and 2 x 7" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 / 2500 / 12500Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 5 2023 has a frequency range of 21-40k Hz whereas Epikore 7 has a frequency range of 35-34k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Reference 5 2023 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Epikore 7's min frequency of 35Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 5 2023 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Epikore 7 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 5 2023 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Epikore 7 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Reference 5 2023 has a max power handling value of 370 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Epikore 7.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Epikore 7 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Reference 5 2023 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference 5 2023's and DALI Epikore 7's external dimensions. Canton Reference 5 2023 has external dimensions of 1016.0 x 299.7 x 457.2mm (40 x 11.8 x 18inch) whereas DALI Epikore 7 has external dimensions of 1121 x 381 x 419 mm ().
Canton Reference 5 2023 is 81.3mm narrower and 105mm shorter than DALI Epikore 7 but it is also 38.2mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
DALI Epikore 7 needs about 17% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference 5 2023 is 38mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI Epikore 7 is 105mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Canton Reference 5 2023 is approximately 1370.2cm2 / 212.4inch2 and base area of the DALI Epikore 7 is approximately 1596.4cm2 / 247.4inch2. The Reference 5 2023 requires 14% less surface area than the Epikore 7 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.