In this review, we will be comparing Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | and Opticon 1 MK2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Aperion and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | and DALI Opticon 1 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | | DALI Opticon 1 II |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" | 4.75" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-35k Hz | 62-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 Watts watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.90kg / 13lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13" x 7.5" x 9"
330.2 x 190.5 x 228.6mm | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | and DALI Opticon 1 II speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | and Opticon 1 MK2 are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |DALI Opticon 1 II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | features a 1.1" Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the Opticon 1 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 1 MK2's min frequency of 62Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 1 MK2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 1 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Opticon 1 MK2's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon 1 II a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | features Post type posts and Opticon 1 MK2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |'s and DALI Opticon 1 II's external dimensions. Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | has external dimensions of 330.2 x 190.5 x 228.6mm (13 x 7.5 x 9inch) whereas DALI Opticon 1 II has external dimensions of 254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm (10 x 6 x 9-1/4inch).
DALI Opticon 1 II is 37.5mm narrower and 76.2mm shorter than Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | but it is also 6.4mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | is 76mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | is approximately 435.5cm2 / 67.5inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 1 II is approximately 359.6cm2 / 55.7inch2. The Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | requires 21% more surface area than the Opticon 1 MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs and the DALI Opticon 1 II weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | 31% heavier than the Opticon 1 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | and Opticon 1 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers |
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 1 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 1 MK2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
254mm
vs
330mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
359cm2
vs
435cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | |
DALI Opticon 1 MK2 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 Watts watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-35k Hz |
62-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.2mm (13") |
254.0mm (10") |
| Width |
190.5mm (7.5") |
153.0mm (6") |
| Depth |
228.6mm (9") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Weight |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | digs deeper - 40Hz against 62Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Opticon 1 II is easier to place; Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,099 vs $1,099 a pair). |
A Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | B DALI Opticon 1 II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 62Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Verus V5B Bookshelf Speakers | the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.