In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. DALI Opticon LCR MK2 is a On-Wall speaker whereas the R3 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon LCR II and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon LCR II | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-30k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19" x 11-1/4" x 5"
483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Opticon LCR II and KEF R3 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 LCR II |
KEF R3 |
| 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 LCR MK2 and R3 are 3-way speakers.
DALI Opticon LCR IIKEF R3
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 LCR II |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Opticon LCR MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz and 14.000Hz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon LCR MK2 has a frequency range of 70-30k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon LCR MK2's min frequency of 70Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the On-Wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
On-Wall 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 LCR MK2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R3 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 LCR MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon LCR MK2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon LCR II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
On-Wall 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.
R3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Opticon LCR MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the R3.
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
R3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon LCR MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon LCR II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon LCR MK2 and R3 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.
KEF R3 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 LCR II's and KEF R3's external dimensions. DALI Opticon LCR II has external dimensions of 483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm (19 x 11-1/4 x 5inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
KEF R3 is 87mm narrower and 60mm shorter than DALI Opticon LCR II but it is also 210mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon LCR II and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon LCR II and KEF R3 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 LCR II is approximately 363.2cm2 / 56.3inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Opticon LCR MK2 requires 46% less surface area than the R3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon LCR II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon LCR MK2:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber bumpers
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information