Price Paid:  $600.00 from Audioweb

Summary:
The DQ 30i is the last speaker that was made by Jon Dahlquist.They are very open detailed and full. No lack of sound stage. To sum it up, what goes in is what comes out! They were designed as a high end speaker system...(high end sources required)In my opinion,solid state mid to low fi(Adcom,Sony etc.they're all the same) insults the sonic capabilities of these speakers. ("good")Tubes bring them to life.Thanks to a very passive and loving wife I am able to own any speaker system I'd like.This is my choice! She ( a DQ 10 fan)loves them too!

Strengths:
Great imaging.A mid-range second to none.Highs are sweet,smooth and airy.Not bright! Most importantly (to me anyway) The bass is not exaggerated.

Weaknesses:
None that I can't live with.But... if I had to pick one, it would be the bass enclosure could be further dampened.

Similar Products Used:
ARC Classic 60 ARC LS2 mkII w/60's CCa XLO Type 5 Argento Ulitmo interconnects Cal Audio Dynaco FM 3

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Dahlquist Direct

Summary:
EXCELLENT loudspeaker!!! Unique design lends itself to a unique listening experience. These are the last flagship speaker truly developed and produced by DAHLQUIST. 3-way, phased array design with an aluminum dome tweeter, 5" mid and a kevlar reinforced 10" woofer in a bass reflex design. Smooth, neutral to a tad bit bright sounding depending on your room characterisitics. I used to be in the AV world and had the opportunity to purchase these speakers brand new, factory direct when the first were introduced. Stunning looks and even better sound! A+!!!!!!!

Strengths:
Excellent highs and mids. Very smooth. Image very well. Good bass response. Exceptional balance. Stunning looks. Were designed for MUSIC, not for audio/video...while they work well in my 5.1 set up (the Pinnacle Classic Gold center is a great match, same tweeter) these are AUDIO FIRST speakers.

Weaknesses:
A tad bright VERY power hungry, you need a beast of an amp to truly appreciate these speakers. Would only recommend these speakers be driven with a very good POWER amp.

Similar Products Used:
Canton, AR, Klipsch, DefTech, Infinity Kappa

Price Paid:  $900.00 from friend

Summary:
This is the DQ-30. No (i) here. I have tenitis and the above reviewer is correct about listeners and the 30 as I have a hard time not listening. Ive hac the carver amazing and these should be the DQ Amazing. The crossover is top rate point to point with Solens Caps every where. I see the DQ30i is not as top flight having Mylars and two polys and smaller guage wire. With only one 10" woofer this speaker delivers the bass thats there not from your walls becoming the bass instrument. All music from the source is right where it should be. Amen

Strengths:
Clarity, bass and honesty

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
ads ect.

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from San Antonio Audio

Summary:
If you want a clean studio sound the DQ30i will deliver.

Strengths:
Crisp, clean, very trasparent,imaging best I have heard. Owned a pair of DQ10s for 16 years before I bought these. Base is a little thin so I added a yamaha 200 watt sub. Powered with 300 watt Mackintosh amp and pre amp. I looked throughly at many different speakers before I bought the dq30i, but nothing compared in this price range. I have the speakers biwired. I just wish I could find out where to buy another pair.

Weaknesses:
Very inefficient speaker. Requires a alot of power to really fill them out. But, power has never been a problem with my system.

Similar Products Used:
Advent ADS Klipsh

Summary:
My pair of 30i are about 7 years old. They are very good in dynamics, which is why I use them in my HT. However, they are not great from a pure audio perspective. The highs are bright, the midrange dark and the bass is not tight. The soundstage is good, but not too deep. The detail of these speakers at best provides a general idea of where each instrument is in the soundstage.

I use them with an Adcom 5802, Adcom 450 GTP and Denon 460(?) CD player. I had the crossovers upgraded, but that added nothing. I tried an Anthem Pre 1, a low-end B&K preamp (for passive mode) and Adcom 750 preamp, in addition to an Adcom DAC. The only noticeable difference was the Adcom 750 was harsh and the DAC opened the midrange slightly.

I have used them in them is several different environments without any change in sound. Most interesting to me is that my pair of DQ 28s sound exactly the same. For what it is worth, Stereophile did not give the DQ 28s a good review.

I've compared the DQ 30i to PSB Stratus Goldi, Hales Rev Three, Apogee Centaurs and Von Schweikert VR4 Gen II. The first two sounded better in all areas except dynamics. The Apogees easily were better at the mid and high end. The VR 4 Gen IIs simply are better in all respects.

Considering all that I have done with both sets of DQs, I wouln't recommend them unless they were available (obviously used) at a great price.

I'm all ears if someone can tell me how to get more out of them.

Strengths:
Dynamic

Weaknesses:
Really does not stand out.

Similar Products Used:
DQ-28