In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI Rubikore On-Wall is a On-wall speaker whereas the Opticon LCR MK2 is a On-Wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Rubikore On-Wall and DALI Opticon LCR II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Rubikore On-Wall | DALI Opticon LCR 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 | 6.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-34k Hz | 70-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.31" x 10.94" x 5.59"
465 x 278 x 142 mm | 19" x 11-1/4" x 5"
483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm |
|---|
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 On-Wall is a 2-way design whereas the Opticon LCR 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 On-WallDALI Opticon LCR 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 On-Wall |
DALI Opticon LCR II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Rubikore On-Wall features a 1.14" Hybrid dome + planar Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900 / 14000Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Rubikore On-Wall has a frequency range of 59-34k Hz whereas Opticon LCR MK2 has a frequency range of 70-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 59Hz, the Rubikore On-Wall 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
Rubikore On-Wall and Opticon LCR MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Rubikore On-Wall sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Opticon LCR MK2's is at 89 dB.
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 On-Wall and the Rubikore On-Wall can provide this impedance level.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 150 watts RMS, though Rubikore On-Wall is rated 20-150 watts and Opticon LCR MK2 30-150 watts.
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 On-Wall 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
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 On-Wall's and DALI Opticon LCR II's external dimensions. DALI Rubikore On-Wall has external dimensions of 465 x 278 x 142 mm () whereas DALI Opticon LCR II has external dimensions of 483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm (19 x 11-1/4 x 5inch).
DALI Rubikore On-Wall is 8mm narrower and 18mm shorter than DALI Opticon LCR II but it is also 15mm deeper.
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 On-Wall needs about 9% more floor or shelf area. DALI Rubikore On-Wall is 15mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI Opticon LCR II is 18mm 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 Rubikore On-Wall is approximately 394.8cm2 / 61.2inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon LCR II is approximately 363.2cm2 / 56.3inch2. The Rubikore On-Wall requires 9% more surface area than the Opticon LCR MK2 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 come with the Opticon LCR MK2:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber bumpers
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card