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  1. Home
  2. DALI Speakers
  3. Passive Surround Speakers
  4. DALI Alteco C-1
DALI Alteco C-1 Review
DALI Alteco C-1 - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • 0.83" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer
  • 74-26k Hz Frequency Response
  • 83 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range: 40-100 watts
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 10.43"x6.30"x7.87" / 265 x 160 x 200 mm
MSRP: $900 (list price)
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DALI Alteco C-1 Review
DALI Alteco C-1 DALI Alteco C-1
Check price atAmazon›

Made by DALI · Denmark · since 1983 · sold through dealers

DALI Alteco C-1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Surround speaker by DALI. It was released in 2017. It features a 0.83" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer.

DALI publishes the driver complement as: 1 x 4½ inch low/mid, 1 x 21 mm soft dome high frequency.

The speaker has a frequency range of 74-26k Hz and a sensitivity of 83 dB. DALI Alteco C-1 has an MSRP of 900$ per pair.

Frequency Response of the DALI Alteco C-1 Speaker

DALI Alteco C-1 has a Frequency response range of 74-26k Hz and Power Range of 40-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 74 Hz, it is hard to expect a strong bass response from Alteco C-1 so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.

Here we have a comparison of how Alteco C-1's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
DALI Alteco C-1
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the DALI Alteco C-1?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 74 Hz low end
  • Powered subwoofers under $1,000 - a similar price range to these speakers
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Crossover frequency of the DALI Alteco C-1?

The crossover frequency of the Alteco C-1 is set to 2100Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

DALI Alteco C-1 driver frequency bands74-2.1kWoofer 4.5"2.1k-26kTweeter 0.83"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

DALI Alteco C-1's nominal impedance level is 6 ohms and has a sensitivity of 83 dB.

Sensitivity
Surround Speakers
DALI Alteco C-1
Min
Average
Median

Nominal Impedance of the 6 Ohms makes the DALI Alteco C-1 a relatively difficult to drive speaker compared to more frequently found 8 ohms speakers from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 83 dB, DALI Alteco C-1 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the DALI Alteco C-1 plays in your room →

Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →

What amplifier does the DALI Alteco C-1 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 50–100 W per channel into 6 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,000, or every amplifier we cover.

Input Type

Alteco C-1 features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

DALI Alteco C-1 External Dimensions and Weight

DALI Alteco C-1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) (265 x 160 x 200 mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of DALI Alteco C-1 is approximately 320.0cm2 / 49.6inch2.

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →

Cabinet type and Materials

DALI Alteco C-1 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.

Does the DALI Alteco C-1 come with a Grille?

Alteco C-1 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the DALI Alteco C-1.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the DALI Alteco C-1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for DALI Alteco C-1

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

Frequently Asked Questions about DALI Alteco C-1

What amplifier do you need for the DALI Alteco C-1?

DALI rates the DALI Alteco C-1 for 40-100 watts of amplifier power. It is a 6-ohm speaker, which most amplifiers and receivers handle without trouble.

Is the DALI Alteco C-1 easy to drive?

The DALI Alteco C-1 has a sensitivity of 83 dB. That is on the low side, so it needs more amplifier power than average to reach the same volume.

Does the DALI Alteco C-1 need a subwoofer?

The DALI Alteco C-1 reaches down to 74Hz (full range 74-26k Hz). That leaves the lowest octaves out, so a subwoofer will make a clear difference for films and bass-heavy music.

What drivers does the DALI Alteco C-1 use?

The DALI Alteco C-1 is a 2-way design using a 0.83" Soft-Dome tweeter and a 4.5" Wood fibre woofer.

Is the DALI Alteco C-1 sealed or ported?

The DALI Alteco C-1 uses a Ported enclosure. A ported design uses a tuned vent to get more low-end output from the same driver, but it wants some breathing room behind it.

Can the DALI Alteco C-1 be bi-wired or bi-amped?

No. The DALI Alteco C-1 has a single pair of terminals, so bi-wiring and bi-amping are not possible. It uses Binding post terminals.

Does the DALI Alteco C-1 come with grilles?

Yes. The DALI Alteco C-1 comes with removable grilles.

How much does the DALI Alteco C-1 cost?

The DALI Alteco C-1 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $900 per pair.


DALI Alteco C-1 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandDALI
Full Model NameDALI Alteco C-1
Speaker Type2-way Surround
Power Range40-100 watts
Sensitivity83 dB
Impedance6 ohms
Max SPL103 dB
Frequency Response74-26k Hz
Release Date2017
DRIVERS
Woofer Size4.5-inch
Woofer CompositionWood fibre
Tweeter Size0.83-inch
Tweeter TypeSoft-Dome
Crossover freq2100Hz

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypeBinding post
Biamp InputsNo
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height265.0mm ( 10.43-inch)
Width160.0mm ( 6.30-inch)
Depth200.0mm ( 7.87-inch)
Height265.0mm ( 10.43-inch)
Weight—
EnclosureBass Reflex
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty5 Years
Labor Warranty5 Years
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