In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 6 MK2 and S55, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from DALI and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 6 II and Polk S55 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the DALI Opticon 6 II and Polk S55 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Opticon 6 II and Polk S55 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Opticon 6 MK2 is a 3-way design whereas the S55 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
DALI Opticon 6 II |
Polk S55 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Opticon 6 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz. On the other hand, the S55 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon 6 MK2 has a frequency range of 49-30k Hz whereas S55 has a frequency range of 32-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the S55 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 6 MK2's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 6 MK2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the S55 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 6 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon 6 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the S55's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk S55 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 6 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
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
Both Opticon 6 MK2 and S55 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Opticon 6 MK2 has a rear firing port whereas S55 has a bottom firing ports. Polk S55's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 6 II with its rear-firing 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 6 II's and Polk S55's external dimensions. DALI Opticon 6 II has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 195.0 x 340.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 7-5/8 x 13-3/8inch) whereas Polk S55 has external dimensions of 1056.0 x 299.0 x 315.0mm ( 41-9/16 x 11-3/4 x 12-3/8inch) .
DALI Opticon 6 II is 104mm narrower and 46mm shorter than Polk S55 but it is also 25mm deeper.
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 6 II is approximately 663.0cm2 / 102.8inch2 and base area of the Polk S55 is approximately 941.9cm2 / 146.0inch2. The Opticon 6 MK2 requires 30% less surface area than the S55 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 6 II weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs and the Polk S55 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the S55 4% heavier than the Opticon 6 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 6 MK2 and S55's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 6 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon 6 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
What's in the Box of Polk S55?
Here are the items that come with the S55:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Height |
1010mm
vs
1056mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
663cm2 (195x340mm)
vs
941cm2 (299x315mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
658USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
DALI Opticon 6 MK2 |
Polk Audio Signature S55 |
Brand |
DALI |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
49-30k Hz |
32-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
800Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
1056.0mm (41.6") |
Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
Weight |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |