In this review, we will be comparing KUPID and SONIK 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI KUPID and DALI SONIK 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI KUPID | DALI SONIK 3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Paper/wood fiber | 7" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-25k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 83 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.91kg / 6.4lbs | 6.42kg / 14.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-11/16" x 5-15/16" x 7-13/16"
247.0 x 151.0 x 199.0mm | 13-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-1/16"
351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both KUPID and SONIK 3 are 2-way speakers.
DALI KUPIDDALI SONIK 3
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 KUPID |
DALI SONIK 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
KUPID features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Paper/wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
KUPID has a frequency range of 63-25k Hz whereas SONIK 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SONIK 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the KUPID's min frequency of 63Hz.
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
KUPID is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the SONIK 3 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 KUPID can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. KUPID sensitivity is rated at 83 dB and the SONIK 3's is rated at 87 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI KUPID, 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.
SONIK 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas KUPID has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the SONIK 3.
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
KUPID features Binding post type posts and SONIK 3 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 KUPID's and DALI SONIK 3's external dimensions. DALI KUPID has external dimensions of 247.0 x 151.0 x 199.0mm (9-11/16inch x 5-15/16inch x 7-13/16inch) whereas DALI SONIK 3 has external dimensions of 351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm (13-13/16inch x 7-7/8inch x 12-1/16inch).
DALI SONIK 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 104mm taller and 108mm deeper than DALI KUPID.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI KUPID and DALI SONIK 3 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI KUPID and DALI SONIK 3 Size and External Dimensions
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 KUPID is approximately 300.5cm2 / 46.6inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2. The KUPID requires 51% less surface area than the SONIK 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of DALI KUPID and DALI SONIK 3 on a Media Console
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 DALI KUPID weighs 2.91kg / 6.4lbs and the DALI SONIK 3 weighs 6.42kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the SONIK 3 121% heavier than the KUPID.
Here is a comparison of how KUPID and SONIK 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI KUPID?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of KUPID:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Wall-mount brackets
- Four #8 x 0.5\" self-tapping screws
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- QR Code Registration Card
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 3?
Here are the items that come with the SONIK 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Sef-adehsive rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
247mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
300cm2
vs
617cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
83 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
DALI KUPID |
DALI SONIK 3 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
83 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
63-25k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper/wood fiber |
Wood fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
247.0mm (9.7") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
151.0mm (5.9") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
199.0mm (7.8") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Weight |
2.91kg (6.4lbs) |
6.42kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Caramel White,Chilly Blue,Dark Wanut,Golden Yellow |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
Fixed bracket |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-32" |
22-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - DALI SONIK 3 costs roughly 2x what DALI KUPID does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI SONIK 3 digs deeper - 47Hz against 63Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI SONIK 3 is more sensitive (87dB vs 83dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | DALI SONIK 3 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | DALI SONIK 3 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI KUPID is easier to place; DALI SONIK 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | DALI KUPID is cheaper - $600 against $1,200, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A DALI KUPID B DALI SONIK 3
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?
The usual trade-off: DALI SONIK 3 measures better, DALI KUPID costs about about 100% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI KUPID much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, DALI SONIK 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI KUPID is the easier speaker to get right.
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.