In this review, we will be comparing Menuet SE and SONIK 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Menuet SE and DALI SONIK 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Menuet SE | DALI SONIK 3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Wood fibre | 7" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-25k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 6.42kg / 14.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.84" x 5.91" x 9.06"
250 x 150 x 230 mm | 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 Menuet SE and SONIK 3 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Menuet SEDALI 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 Menuet SE |
DALI SONIK 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Menuet SE features a 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Menuet SE has a frequency range of 59-25k 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 Menuet SE's min frequency of 59Hz.
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
Menuet SE 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 Menuet SE can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Menuet SE sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SONIK 3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Menuet SE, 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 Menuet SE has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 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
Menuet SE 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 Menuet SE's and DALI SONIK 3's external dimensions. DALI Menuet SE has external dimensions of 250 x 150 x 230 mm () 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 51mm wider, 101mm taller and 77mm deeper than DALI Menuet SE.
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.
DALI SONIK 3 needs about 79% more floor or shelf area. DALI SONIK 3 is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI SONIK 3 is 101mm 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 Menuet SE is approximately 345.0cm2 / 53.5inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2. The Menuet SE requires 44% less surface area than the SONIK 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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