Dali speakers are one of those brands that I hear and always think how nice they sound...those clean, clear, effortless upper mids and top end. And at the same time I always think "Why don't I love these more?"
I'm pretty sure it has to do with the ribbon drivers. I always, always hear them in the mix. So listening I can't help thinking "ribbon driver, ribbon driver, ribbon driver..."
At the recent Montreal Audio show there were several rooms with Dali speakers, and I had the same impression every time.
But this is a "it's me, not you" thing. I don't hate on the Dali speakers at all, they sound beautiful. I just can't seem to get past that issue.
I guess it's that coherence issue that is one of the things that make me prefer the Thiels.