In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 1 MK2 and EVO4.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 1 II and Wharfedale EVO4.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon 1 II | Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.75" Wood Fiber | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 62-26k Hz | 64-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm | 13.1" x 8.2" x 11.6"
335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Opticon 1 II and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Opticon 1 MK2 and EVO4.1 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Opticon 1 IIWharfedale EVO4.1
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 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 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 EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz whereas EVO4.1 has a frequency range of 64-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 62Hz, the Opticon 1 MK2 can go slightly deeper then the EVO4.1's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.1 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 Opticon 1 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon 1 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the EVO4.1's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 1 II, 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.
Opticon 1 MK2 and EVO4.1 have the same power range of 25-100 watts.
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
EVO4.1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon 1 MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
Wharfedale EVO4.1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Opticon 1 MK2 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 1 II with its rear-firing 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 Wharfedale EVO4.1'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 Wharfedale EVO4.1 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm (13.1 x 8.2 x 11.6inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 57mm wider, 81mm taller and 60mm deeper than DALI Opticon 1 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 1 II and Wharfedale EVO4.1 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 1 II and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 Wharfedale EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2. The Opticon 1 MK2 requires 42% less surface area than the EVO4.1 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 Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 Wharfedale EVO4.1 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the EVO4.1 73% heavier than the Opticon 1 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 1 MK2 and EVO4.1'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 Wharfedale EVO4.1?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
62 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
254mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
359cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Opticon 1 MK2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
62-26k Hz |
64-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
254.0mm (10") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
153.0mm (6") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (62Hz vs 64Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | DALI Opticon 1 II is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is cheaper - $799 against $1,099, about 27% less. |
A DALI Opticon 1 II B Wharfedale EVO4.1
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?
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take DALI Opticon 1 II if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO4.1 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.