In this review, we will be comparing Rubikore Cinema and Opticon VOKAL MK2, two Passive Center Channel speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Rubikore Cinema and Dali Opticon VOKAL II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Rubikore Cinema | Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.14" Hybrid dome + planar | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-34k Hz | 47-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 9.23kg / 20.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.76" x 22.87" x 15.75"
197 x 581 x 400 mm | 7-15/16" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"
202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
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 Rubikore Cinema is a 2-way design whereas the Opticon VOKAL MK2 is a 3-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 Rubikore CinemaDali Opticon VOKAL II
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 Rubikore Cinema |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Rubikore Cinema features a 1.14" Hybrid dome + planar Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 / 14000Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon VOKAL 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 2400Hz and 14.000Hz.
Frequency Response
Rubikore Cinema has a frequency range of 49-34k Hz whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can go slightly deeper then the Rubikore Cinema's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Rubikore Cinema and Opticon VOKAL MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Rubikore Cinema sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Opticon VOKAL MK2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Rubikore Cinema a more sensitive speaker compared to Dali Opticon VOKAL 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 Rubikore Cinema and the Rubikore Cinema can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Rubikore Cinema can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Rubikore Cinema.
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
Rubikore Cinema features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
Dali Opticon VOKAL II slot 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 Rubikore Cinema's and Dali Opticon VOKAL II's external dimensions. DALI Rubikore Cinema has external dimensions of 197 x 581 x 400 mm () whereas Dali Opticon VOKAL II has external dimensions of 202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm (7-15/16 x 17-1/8 x 12-5/16inch).
Dali Opticon VOKAL II is 146mm narrower and 87mm less deeper than DALI Rubikore Cinema but it is also 5mm taller.
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 Rubikore Cinema needs about 71% more floor or shelf area. DALI Rubikore Cinema is 87mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Rubikore Cinema is approximately 2324.0cm2 / 360.2inch2 and base area of the Dali Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2. The Rubikore Cinema requires 71% more surface area than the Opticon VOKAL MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Dali Opticon VOKAL II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon VOKAL MK2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card