In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 2 MK2 and LS50 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 2 II and KEF LS50 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon 2 II | KEF LS50 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-25k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.73kg / 17lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 11-15/16" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"
303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Opticon 2 II and KEF LS50 Meta 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 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
Both Opticon 2 MK2 and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
DALI Opticon 2 IIKEF LS50 Meta
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 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 LS50 Meta features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz whereas LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 59Hz, the Opticon 2 MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Meta's min frequency of 79Hz.
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 LS50 Meta 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 LS50 Meta's is rated at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon 2 II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50 Meta, 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 LS50 Meta 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 2 MK2 features Post type posts and LS50 Meta has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 2 II's Post terminals
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon 2 MK2 and LS50 Meta 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 KEF LS50 Meta'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 KEF LS50 Meta has external dimensions of 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm (11-15/16 x 7.875 x 11-1/16inch).
KEF LS50 Meta is 48mm shorter and 16mm less deeper than DALI Opticon 2 II but it is also 5mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 2 II and KEF LS50 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 2 II and KEF LS50 Meta 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 KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The Opticon 2 MK2 requires 3% more surface area than the LS50 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage 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 KEF LS50 Meta 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 KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Meta 1% heavier than the Opticon 2 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 2 MK2 and LS50 Meta'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 KEF LS50 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Meta:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
59 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
564cm2
vs
582cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
DALI Opticon 2 MK2 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Brand |
DALI |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
59-25k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
351.0mm (13.8") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
196.0mm (7.7") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
25-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
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 | A | DALI Opticon 2 II digs deeper - 59Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | DALI Opticon 2 II is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF LS50 Meta 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 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 Meta sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,500 vs $1,600 a pair). |
A DALI Opticon 2 II B KEF LS50 Meta
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?
DALI Opticon 2 II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate DALI Opticon 2 II the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 Meta for near-field listening and a small room.
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.