In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 2 MK2 and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 2 II and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon 2 II | B&W 706 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-25k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.73kg / 17lbs | 8.05kg / 17.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-13/16" x 7-11/16" x 11-11/16"
351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm | 13.5" x 7.8" x 11.9"
340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Opticon 2 II and B&W 706 S2 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 2 II |
B&W 706 S2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
Drivers
Both Opticon 2 MK2 and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Opticon 2 IIB&W 706 S2
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 2 II |
B&W 706 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Opticon 2 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 706 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 2 MK2'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
Opticon 2 MK2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 706 S2 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 2 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon 2 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the 706 S2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 2 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 2 MK2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 706 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 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
706 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon 2 MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 2 II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon 2 MK2 and 706 S2 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 2 II's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. 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) whereas B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm (13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch).
DALI Opticon 2 II is 4mm narrower and 4mm less deeper than B&W 706 S2 but it is also 11mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 2 II and B&W 706 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 2 II and B&W 706 S2 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 2 II is approximately 582.1cm2 / 90.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The Opticon 2 MK2 requires 3% less surface area than the 706 S2 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 2 II and B&W 706 S2 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 2 II weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the 706 S2 4% heavier than the Opticon 2 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 2 MK2 and 706 S2'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 2 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon 2 MK2:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 706 S2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Base Surface Area |
582cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
340mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
DALI Opticon 2 MK2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
59-25k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
351.0mm (13.8") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
196.0mm (7.7") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
8.05kg (17.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
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 |
A generation apart: DALI Opticon 2 II is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | B&W 706 S2 digs deeper - 50Hz against 59Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 706 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | DALI Opticon 2 II takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 706 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | DALI Opticon 2 II is cheaper - $1,500 against $1,999, about 25% less. |
A DALI Opticon 2 II B B&W 706 S2
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: B&W 706 S2 measures better, DALI Opticon 2 II costs about about 33% 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 59Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI Opticon 2 II much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 706 S2 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.