In this review, we will be comparing SONIK 1 and SONIK 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI SONIK 1 | DALI SONIK 3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Wood fiber | 7" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-26k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.10kg / 9lbs | 6.42kg / 14.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-13/16" x 6-3/8" x 8-13/16"
275.0 x 162.0 x 224.0mm | 13-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-1/16"
351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm |
|---|
SONIK 1 and SONIK 3 are members of DALI's Sonik series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Sonik Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SONIK 1 and SONIK 3 are 2-way speakers.
DALI SONIK 1DALI SONIK 3
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 SONIK 1 |
DALI SONIK 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
SONIK 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
SONIK 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz whereas SONIK 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SONIK 3 can go slightly deeper then the SONIK 1's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
SONIK 1 and SONIK 3 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SONIK 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SONIK 3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
SONIK 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas SONIK 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SONIK 3.
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
SONIK 1 features Binding post type posts and SONIK 3 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SONIK 1 and SONIK 3 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 SONIK 1's and DALI SONIK 3's external dimensions. DALI SONIK 1 has external dimensions of 275.0 x 162.0 x 224.0mm (10-13/16inch x 6-3/8inch x 8-13/16inch) whereas DALI SONIK 3 has external dimensions of 351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm (13-13/16inch x 7-7/8inch x 12-1/16inch).
DALI SONIK 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 76mm taller and 83mm deeper than DALI SONIK 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 3 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 3 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 SONIK 1 is approximately 362.9cm2 / 56.2inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2. The SONIK 1 requires 41% less surface area than the SONIK 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 3 on a Media Console
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 SONIK 1 weighs 4.10kg / 9lbs and the DALI SONIK 3 weighs 6.42kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the SONIK 3 57% heavier than the SONIK 1.
Here is a comparison of how SONIK 1 and SONIK 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SONIK 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Sef-adehsive rubber feet
- 8 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 3?
Here are the items that come with the SONIK 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Sef-adehsive rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
275mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
362cm2
vs
617cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
DALI SONIK 1 |
DALI SONIK 3 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-26k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood fiber |
Wood fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
275.0mm (10.8") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
162.0mm (6.4") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
224.0mm (8.8") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Weight |
4.10kg (9lbs) |
6.42kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
Fixed keyhole mount |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
22-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in DALI's Sonik series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI SONIK 3 digs deeper - 47Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | DALI SONIK 3 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI SONIK 1 is easier to place; DALI SONIK 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | DALI SONIK 1 is cheaper - $900 against $1,200, about 25% less. |
A DALI SONIK 1 B DALI SONIK 3
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?
The usual trade-off: DALI SONIK 3 measures better, DALI SONIK 1 costs about about 33% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, DALI SONIK 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI SONIK 1 is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $300 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.