In this review, we will be comparing Epicon 2 and 805 D5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Epicon 2 and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Epicon 2 | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.14" Soft-Dome | 1" Diamond dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 42-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 50-1000 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 16.40kg / 36.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.20" x 8.43" x 14.41"
386 x 214 x 366 mm | 17-5/16" x 9-1/2" x 14-5/16"
439.0 x 241.0 x 363.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Epicon 2 and 805 D5 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Epicon 2Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
DALI Epicon 2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Epicon 2 features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the 805 D5 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Epicon 2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas 805 D5 has a frequency range of 42-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the 805 D5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Epicon 2's min frequency of 47Hz.
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
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
Epicon 2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 805 D5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Epicon 2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Epicon 2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 805 D5's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Epicon 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
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.
805 D5 can handle a max power of 1000 watts RMS, whereas Epicon 2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 800 watts less than the 805 D5.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Epicon 2 and 805 D5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
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 DALI Epicon 2's and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5's external dimensions. DALI Epicon 2 has external dimensions of 386 x 214 x 366 mm () whereas Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 has external dimensions of 439.0 x 241.0 x 363.0mm (17-5/16 x 9-1/2 x 14-5/16inch).
DALI Epicon 2 is 27mm narrower and 53mm shorter than Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 but it is also 3mm 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.
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 needs about 12% more floor or shelf area. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is 53mm 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 DALI Epicon 2 is approximately 783.2cm2 / 121.4inch2 and base area of the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is approximately 874.8cm2 / 135.6inch2. The Epicon 2 requires 10% less surface area than the 805 D5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.