Dani 's KATCH G2 is currently the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker on the market, and it is very suitable for use at home or on the road.
Advantages
High definition
Impressive bass
Classic construction
Disadvantages
Cannot multiple Katch G2 connection pairing
Dani KATCH G2 When it arrived here, the scene was very grand. The original KATCH sounds pretty good in terms of size and price, so we gave it a "What Hi-Fi?" 》Wireless speaker awards in 2016 (the year of release) and 2017. Now, Dani has regained this championship with the long-awaited KATCH G2 (second-generation KATCH).
The new Dani KATCH G2 has brought a lot of improvements and has once again topped the rankings. The upgrade includes longer lasting usage, wider Bluetooth support and adjusted audio design. So, are anyone looking forward to KATCH? How will KATCH G2 gain a foothold in an increasingly crowded market? These are the questions we want to answer.
price
Although KATCH G2 has similar appearance and similar functions to JBL's Xtreme 3, KATCH G2 is more expensive. However, if you notice the DALI LOGO and leather handle above and feel the added rubber pad base, you may find it very valuable. That's what we are.
Construction
KATCH G2 has a width of about the same as a hardcover novel, and the weight of 1.1 kg is heavier than you think, but it is still thin enough to tuck into your backpack. It also exudes an elegant atmosphere. In the ocean of barrel Bluetooth speakers, its material and rubber trim seem to point out its distinction. This Bluetooth speaker has a more advanced feel thanks to its metal nameplate, curved lights that adjust volume, leather handles and its sound imaging and battery life indication. We wouldn't be surprised if the trademark really says "Bang & Olufsen" and the price is much higher.
triangle mesh pattern and rubber cover, underneath is a 3.5mm jack and USB-A charging, it can be said that our black iron black sample is very beautiful. While it sounds a bit industrial, the KATCH G2 also has a softer "caramel white" and "ice lake blue" finish.
Dani guarantees that despite the small size of the KATCH G2, the speaker still has enough capacity in the aluminum body to enable its woofer to produce clear, deep bass. The inside of the box is divided into two internal spaces to improve channel separation.
Meanwhile, the speaker's sound field is created by a pair of 25W Class D amplifiers powering two 21mm soft dome tweeters, two 3.5-inch aluminum diaphragm woofers, and two steel cone-basin passive bass radiators. Units located on either side of the speaker help create the widest range of stereo effects possible. This is a solution with a maximum sound pressure level of 95dB (similar to running motorcycle engine in the living room), and it fills our test room during the test.
KATCH generation's 24-hour battery life can already meet daily needs, but the KATCH G2's 3300mAh battery further extends the battery life by 6 hours, thus having up to 30 hours of playback time. However, the total playback time depends on the volume setting and the type of music played. The machine is also equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, which supports aptX HD, aptX and AAC Bluetooth, and is equipped with NFC, which can quickly transmit between compatible devices.
Other high-end features include a dedicated power charging port and an adapter with a UK, EU and US adapter plug to make the speaker suitable for both your home use and your travel plans. Dani encourages you to use it on the go – you even have a well-touch drawstring bag that comes with it to pack it.
Features
Dani implements TWS (true wireless stereo) mode for KATCH G2, allowing users to stereo pair two KATCH G2s to increase volume and resolution, and supports higher quality streaming content at 24bit/48kHz through aptX HD. But please note that the first generation KATCH cannot be stereo paired with the new G2, as the feature is provided by Bluetooth 5.0, while the original 2016 KATCH only supports Bluetooth 4.0. In addition, the new TWS mode is not intended to enable multi-room audio – two KATCH G2s need to be played in the same room.
It is worth noting that Dani does not further realize the function of connecting multiple Katch G2 speakers.
KATCH G2 also does not have integrated wi-fi streaming, application or voice control support. But in the world of portable Bluetooth speakers, we usually don't expect these features. Dani notes that you can use the KATCH G2's USB charging port to connect to the Chromecasttml6 audio dongle or Amazon Echo for home network integration—so this convenient port is not just for charging your phone.
The only feature we don't like is the sound mode switching, and this circular button is located on the far right of the top plate of the device. This toggle key allows you to choose between two EQ presets: "clear" or "warm". To track the sound mode you choose, the four LED lights around the power button (by default, battery life will be displayed as long as the speaker is turned on) will glow like a half-moon shape - the right side lights up to indicate "warm" and the left side lights up to indicate "clear". This is a feature that many Bluetooth speakers don't have, but in our tests we found that "clear" has far better sound characteristics than "warm".
Sound quality
We call out Steely Dan's 2021 album "Northeast Corridor" on Tidal. The live recording (Mohegan Sun Arena) is full of details, from the abstract melody at the beginning to electric guitar , flute and background sound. More importantly, the KATCH G2 is also able to faithfully capture the audience’s feelings—the background texture of the live performance.
We switched to Masked Wolf's "Pandemonium". The jingle of the key and the unlocking of the prison iron fence seemed uneven in the treble, with great differences. These sounds are also professionally separated from the hip-hop beats, which proves that Dani does not lose its accuracy and control in terms of bass.
Voices are three-dimensional and sensual. While Berwyn's Heartache & Chest Pains , while the song's sad melody is accurate throughout the frequency and is dedicated to the cohesive mix as the beat enters, the vocals are still at the center, textured and detailed.
When we raised the volume, we found that the sound of the KATCH G2 filled the room neither lost clarity nor became harsh—a great achievement for such a delicate and compact speaker.
Conclusion
If you don't need the type of Bluetooth speaker that can connect dozens of times by pressing a button, then Dani KATCH G2 is simply the most classic and best sound quality among the same speakers you can buy. You can pair two of them stereo, and while there is no button on the KATCH G2 that automatically pauses the music when you encounter an emergency problem, we recommend soothe your troubles with its accurate, clear, flexible and neutral expression. Soundly speaking, the KATCH G2 is simply a treat.
score
sound 5
function 4
construct 5
