In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 2 MK2 and Bronze 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 2 II and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
DALI Opticon 2 II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 59-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 86.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 351.0" x 7-11/16" x 11-11/16"( 351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm )
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" C-CAM Woofer
- 42-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:5.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.0" x 7.2" x 11.0"( 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm )
What size room are the DALI Opticon 2 II and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Opticon 2 II and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Opticon 2 MK2 and Bronze 2 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
DALI Opticon 2 II |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
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 Bronze 2 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz whereas Bronze 2 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Bronze 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 2 MK2's min frequency of 59Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. 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 Bronze 2 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 Bronze 2's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Opticon 2 MK2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Opticon 2 MK2.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Bronze 2 features 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
Opticon 2 MK2 has a rear firing port whereas Bronze 2 has a front firing ports. Monitor Audio Bronze 2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 2 II with its rear-firing port.
DALI Opticon 2 II Port
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2'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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm ( 13.7 x 7.2 x 11.0inch) .
DALI Opticon 2 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11mm wider, 1mm taller and 16mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 2 II and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 2 II and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is approximately 519.9cm2 / 80.6inch2. The Opticon 2 MK2 requires 12% more surface area than the Bronze 2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 on a Media Console