In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. DALI Opticon LCR MK2 is a On-Wall speaker whereas the M8 SP2 is a On-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon LCR II and Revel M8 SP2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Opticon LCR II | Revel M8 SP2 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 2 x 3" Micro Ceramic Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-30k Hz | 110-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 10-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 1.57kg / 3.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19" x 11-1/4" x 5"
483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm | 11-11/16" x 4-1/4" x 4-5/8"
297.0 x 108.0 x 118.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Opticon LCR MK2 is a 3-way design whereas the M8 SP2 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.
DALI Opticon LCR IIRevel M8 SP2
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 LCR II |
Revel M8 SP2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 3-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 M8 SP2 features a 1" MCC (Micro Ceramic Composite) Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 3" Micro Ceramic Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Opticon LCR MK2 has a frequency range of 70-30k Hz whereas M8 SP2 has a frequency range of 110-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 70Hz, the Opticon LCR MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M8 SP2's min frequency of 110Hz.
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 M8 SP2 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 M8 SP2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon LCR II a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M8 SP2, 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.
Opticon LCR MK2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas M8 SP2 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Opticon LCR 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 LCR MK2 features 5-way post type posts and M8 SP2 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon LCR II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon LCR MK2 and M8 SP2 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.
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 Revel M8 SP2'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 Revel M8 SP2 has external dimensions of 297.0 x 108.0 x 118.0mm (11-11/16 x 4-1/4 x 4-5/8inch).
DALI Opticon LCR II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 178mm wider, 186mm taller and 9mm deeper than Revel M8 SP2.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
DALI Opticon LCR II needs about 185% more floor or shelf area. DALI Opticon LCR II is 186mm taller.
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 Revel M8 SP2 is approximately 127.4cm2 / 19.7inch2. The Opticon LCR MK2 requires 185% more surface area than the M8 SP2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Revel M8 SP2?
Here are the items that come with the M8 SP2:
- 2 Satellite loudspeakers
- 2 Wall-brackets
- 4 Wall-mount end-caps
- 2 Rubber foot pads
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual