The PHANTOM S-80 is the most compact built-in speaker in its range. Featuring an 8” woofer for bass and midrange combined with a rotating hybrid tweeter module, it delivers clean, crisp reproduction – including surprising bass treatment.

DALI PHANTOM S-80 keys

• Wide dispersion: all DALI speakers are designed with wide dispersion in mind. This involves optimizing off-axis reproduction. A perfect technology to use with recessed speakers, since these are mounted on walls and ceilings.

• Thin housing: one of DALI's objectives with PHANTOM S was to create a high-end recessed light so thin that it allowed great flexibility when installing it. They have achieved this with a housing of only 103 mm, which allows them to be installed on any standard wall. 

• SMC Technology: The advanced Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) eliminates the variation of flow forces in the magnet. Minimizes distortion compared to traditional drivers.

• Magnetic grille: The floating front grille, with magnetic grip, completes the visual presence of the PHANTOM S speakers. The discreet, simple and modern design is non-intrusive, very pleasing to the eye and practically invisible.

DALI PHANTOM S-80 details

The relatively compact nature of the PHANTOM S-80 makes it perfect for placing anywhere in the multichannel system. Front, center, rear or top. The compact, slim enclosure offers full frequency response equivalent to that of a tower speaker, but without sacrificing living space. It offers unspoiled reproduction for a built-in speaker using technologies that have proven their worth. This includes DALI wood fiber cones, low-loss rubber damping, solid MDF front baffle, the signature hybrid tweeter module and the innovative magnetic design including an SMC polarized piece.

All models are built around a mobile hybrid tweeter module, making it easy to install for any use – stereo, center channel or surround.

DALI has optimized the 8" main wood fiber woofer for both bass and midrange. Working together with the moving hybrid tweeter module, it delivers crisp, clear audio reproduction – including stunning bass treatment. This ensures that PHANTOM S-80 stands out from the competition.

The ultra-slim 103mm case can be installed on virtually any standard wall.

Housing design

The PHANTOM S-80's compact design fits into most standard walls. It was a challenge for DALI to build an enclosure with only 103 mm depth, while maintaining the perfect interior volume for the woofer.

The housing is constructed of solid MDF which holds the bolt clamping system and terminals. The front of the PHANTOM S-80 integrates elegantly with the wall thanks to the extruded aluminum frame and the magnetic front grille, which completes the visual presence of the PHANTOM S series.

The discreet, simple and modern design is not intrusive and at the same time pleases the eye.

SMC

Thanks to its superior precision and minimal distortion, DALI has based the PHANTOM S-80 main woofer on the SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) magnetic system originally developed for the EPICON series.

SMC has the unique ability to offer very high magnetic conductivity and very low electrical conductivity, thereby drastically reducing the effects of hysteresis and eddy currents in the magnetic part. In Christian: it reduces distortion levels to a minimum. At the same time, it offers all the virtues desirable in a good magnetic system.

By wrapping the SMC bias piece with aluminum rings and a 1.5" four-layer voice coil, DALI achieves optimal control, low distortion, and high power output. The low-loss damping and cone structure are optimized for midrange reproduction, as is the dust cover. The smaller-than-usual dust cover features a steeper concavity as part of the optimization.

All of this together offers high-bandwidth playback and impressive detail, as well as the ability to deliver well-controlled bass and midrange reproduction.

PHANTOM S-80 drivers

The 8" woofer developed especially for the PHANTOM S-80 was designed and optimized for bass and midrange reproduction. DALI chose to base its core on the SMC magnetic system developed for the EPICON series. The SMC was chosen for its unique ability to drastically reduce the level of distortion.

Offering 70% more surface area, the 8” woofer can move more air and deliver greater sound pressure in the low frequencies compared to a traditional 6½” woofer. All this, reproducing with detail, a rich midrange and a full frequency response equivalent to that of a tower speaker.

The mobile hybrid tweeter module of the PHANTOM S-80 is the perfect solution for high frequencies, combining the soft dome tweeter with the ribbon tweeter. This ensures exceptional high-frequency performance and dispersion that surpasses any other tweeter technology.

Both the soft dome and ribbon tweeters are free of problems such as resonances or high EQ peaks at all assigned frequencies. The hybrid tweeter module enables wide, smooth horizontal dispersion – one of the defining characteristics of DALI. Even the faceplate ornamentation of the tweeter module has been designed for optimal horizontal dispersion.

The characteristics of the soft dome tweeter are low resonance frequency, high power support, extreme excursion and exceptional management of high sound pressure levels.

The registered magneto-static ribbon tweeter is a true master of horizontal high-frequency distribution, and a perfect partner for the soft dome tweeter's unique ability to reproduce frequencies from as low as 2 kHz.

DALI PHANTOM installation

When mounting the PHANTOM S-80 on the wall, the dome tweeter should be positioned at ear level. For this reason, DALI decided to rotate the speaker up and down, changing the classic positions of the tweeter and woofer. This means they can be mounted higher, in line with the TV rather than underneath.

With this installation, DALI has verified that they sound better. The integration with the room and the floor makes the bass sound better.

DALI has also rotated the hybrid tweeter module in PHANTOM S-80 to keep the dome tweeter close to the mid-range woofer. This ensures optimal transfer from the woofer to the part of the tweeter that is responsible for the lowest frequencies. The physical distance between these drivers is optimized for the best woofer and tweeter output. 

If the PHANTOM S-80 is mounted horizontally as a center channel, it is necessary to place the ribbon tweeter as close to the listener's ears as possible to benefit from the dispersion ability of the ribbon. As a master of dispersing high frequencies horizontally, it is less effective at expanding sound vertically. This is where the dome tweeter excels and why DALI has placed the ribbon tweeter lower on this device.

In summary: place the dome tweeter close to the midrange woofer and the ribbon tweeter as close to ear height as possible.

Wide dispersion

By designing its drivers for wide dispersion, DALI makes speakers easy to integrate into any room, delivering smooth, coherent sound in a wider listening position.

This technology is perfect for the PHANTOM S-80, taking into account that it will always be embedded in the wall.

Off-axis optimization ensures that the listener will have a larger sweet spot in which the acoustic scene is perfect, but it also guarantees high quality sound outside of this zone.

By optimizing the audio signal for off-axis distribution, both the direct and reflected signals have the same high quality. This means high, consistent sound quality over a much wider area.

Even dispersion over a larger listening area ensures smooth, even distribution in the room, which is another crucial factor for consistent, well-balanced tonality.

DALI PHANTOM S-80 specifications

Product series: PHANTOM INSTALL SPEAKERS

Frequency range (+/-3 dB) [Hz]: 59 - 25,000

Sensitivity (2.83 V/1 m) [dB]: 88.0

Nominal impedance [ohms]: 6

Maximum SPL [dB]: 108

Recommended amplification [W]: 40 - 200

Crossover frequency [Hz]: 2,800 / 15,000

Hybrid tweeter module, high frequency driver, quantity: 1 x 17 x 45 mm

Hybrid tweeter module, high frequency driver, diaphragm type: Ribbon

High frequency driver, quantity: 1 x 28 mm

High frequency driver, diaphragm type: Textile soft dome

Low frequency driver, Quantity: 1 x 8"

Low frequency driver, diaphragm typeWood Fiber Cone

Housing type: closed

Input connection: Single Wire

Recommended position: recessed; center/sound bar

Size (HxWxD) [mm]: 648 x 403 x 110

Cutting size (HxWxD) [mm]: 615 x 370 x 103

Weight [kg]: 13.5

Accessories included: Manual, cutting template, 3mm allen key

Finishes: Aluminum frame, white grille