In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 8 MK2 and Oberon 9, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 8 II and DALI Oberon 9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon 8 II | DALI Oberon 9 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 7" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Wood Fiber | 2 x 9" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-30k Hz | 35-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-300 watts | 50-400 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.10kg / 81.6lbs | 37.10kg / 81.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/4" x 9-1/2" x 18-1/16"
1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm | 46-1/8" x 10-1/4" x 16"
1172.0 x 260.0 x 407.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Opticon 8 II and DALI Oberon 9 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 8 II |
DALI Oberon 9 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Opticon 8 MK2 and Oberon 9 are 3-way speakers.
DALI Opticon 8 IIDALI Oberon 9
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 8 II |
DALI Oberon 9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 7-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 9-inch
|
Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 9 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 7" Midrange and 2 x 9" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 780Hz and 3400Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz whereas Oberon 9 has a frequency range of 35-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Oberon 9 can go slightly deeper then the Opticon 8 MK2's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 8 MK2 and Oberon 9 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Opticon 8 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Oberon 9's is at 90.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 9 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 8 MK2 and the Opticon 8 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Oberon 9 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Oberon 9.
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 8 MK2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon 9 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Oberon 9's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon 8 MK2 and Oberon 9 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 8 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 8 II's and DALI Oberon 9's external dimensions. DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm (45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) whereas DALI Oberon 9 has external dimensions of 1172.0 x 260.0 x 407.0mm (46-1/8 x 10-1/4 x 16inch).
DALI Opticon 8 II is 15mm narrower and 22mm shorter than DALI Oberon 9 but it is also 52mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 8 II and DALI Oberon 9 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 8 II and DALI Oberon 9 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 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 9 is approximately 1058.2cm2 / 164.0inch2. The Opticon 8 MK2 requires 6% more surface area than the Oberon 9 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs and the DALI Oberon 9 weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 8 MK2 and Oberon 9'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 8 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon 8 MK2:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes (with lock nuts)
- 4 Rubber pads
- 4 Screws
- Hex-key
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 9?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 9:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike-feet
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Manua
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1150mm
vs
1172mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
9 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1058cm2
vs
1124cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2500USD
vs
4200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
DALI Oberon 9 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
50-400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-30k Hz |
35-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
9" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
7" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
780Hz and 3400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
1172.0mm (46.1") |
| Width |
245.0mm (9.6") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
459.0mm (18.1") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Weight |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - DALI Opticon 8 II costs roughly 1.7x what DALI Oberon 9 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI Oberon 9 digs deeper - 35Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI Oberon 9 is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon 9 takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | DALI Opticon 8 II: bi-amping. DALI Oberon 9 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | DALI Oberon 9 is cheaper - $2,500 against $4,200, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A DALI Opticon 8 II B DALI Oberon 9
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 Oberon 9 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take DALI Opticon 8 II if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. Match it to your room: we rate DALI Oberon 9 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, DALI Oberon 9 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.