In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 1 II and DALI Opticon 2 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon 1 II | DALI Opticon 2 II |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.75" Wood Fiber | 6.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 62-26k Hz | 59-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm | 13-13/16" x 7-11/16" x 11-11/16"
351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm |
|---|
Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2 are members of DALI's Opticon Mark II series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Opticon Mark II Series
History
What size room are the DALI Opticon 1 II and DALI Opticon 2 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* |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
DALI Opticon 2 II |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Opticon 1 IIDALI Opticon 2 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 |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
DALI Opticon 2 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Opticon 1 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon 2 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz whereas Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 59Hz, the Opticon 2 MK2 can go slightly deeper then 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
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
Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Opticon 1 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Opticon 2 MK2's is at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon 2 II a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 1 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 1 MK2 and the Opticon 1 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
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.
Opticon 2 MK2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Opticon 2 MK2.
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
Opticon 1 MK2 features Post type posts and Opticon 2 MK2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
DALI Opticon 2 II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
DALI Opticon 2 II Port
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 Opticon 1 II's and DALI Opticon 2 II's external dimensions. DALI Opticon 1 II has external dimensions of 254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm (10 x 6 x 9-1/4inch) whereas DALI Opticon 2 II has external dimensions of 351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm (13-13/16 x 7-11/16 x 11-11/16inch).
DALI Opticon 2 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 43mm wider, 97mm taller and 62mm deeper than DALI Opticon 1 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 1 II and DALI Opticon 2 II in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 1 II and DALI Opticon 2 II 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 Opticon 1 II is approximately 359.6cm2 / 55.7inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 2 II is approximately 582.1cm2 / 90.2inch2. The Opticon 1 MK2 requires 38% less surface area than the Opticon 2 MK2 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 Opticon 1 II and DALI Opticon 2 II 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 Opticon 1 II weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the DALI Opticon 2 II weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the Opticon 2 MK2 72% heavier than the Opticon 1 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 1 MK2 and Opticon 2 MK2'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 Opticon 1 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon 1 MK2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 2 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 2 MK2:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
254mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
359cm2
vs
582cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
59 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
DALI Opticon 1 MK2 |
DALI Opticon 2 MK2 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
62-26k Hz |
59-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
254.0mm (10") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
153.0mm (6") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
24-26" |
| 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 |
Siblings in DALI's Opticon Mark II series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI Opticon 2 II digs deeper - 59Hz against 62Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Opticon 2 II takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Opticon 1 II is easier to place; DALI Opticon 2 II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | DALI Opticon 1 II is cheaper - $1,099 against $1,500, about 27% less. |
A DALI Opticon 1 II B DALI Opticon 2 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?
The usual trade-off: DALI Opticon 2 II measures better, DALI Opticon 1 II costs about about 36% 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. Match it to your room: we rate DALI Opticon 1 II the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and DALI Opticon 2 II for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, DALI Opticon 2 II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Opticon 1 II 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.