In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI SONIK 1 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the SONIK 5 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI SONIK 1 | DALI SONIK 5 |
|---|
| 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 | 2 x 5.25" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-26k Hz | 39-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.10kg / 9lbs | 10.82kg / 23.8lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 32-7/16" x 9-13/16" x 10-9/16"
824.0 x 250.0 x 269.0mm |
|---|
SONIK 1 and SONIK 5 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 5 are 2-way speakers.
DALI SONIK 1DALI SONIK 5
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 5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
SONIK 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the SONIK 5 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
SONIK 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz whereas SONIK 5 has a frequency range of 39-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the SONIK 5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 5 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 5's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 5 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 5 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 5.
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 5 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 5 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 5'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 5 has external dimensions of 824.0 x 250.0 x 269.0mm (32-7/16inch x 9-13/16inch x 10-9/16inch).
DALI SONIK 5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 88mm wider, 549mm taller and 45mm deeper than DALI SONIK 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 5 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI SONIK 1 and DALI SONIK 5 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 5 is approximately 672.5cm2 / 104.2inch2. The SONIK 1 requires 46% less surface area than the SONIK 5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 5?
Here are the items that come with the SONIK 5:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 8 Rubber feet (M8 threads)
- 8 Spike-feet (M8 threads)
- Eight M8 hex-nuts
- Eight M8x15mm counter-sunk hex-screws
- Hex-key
- Hex-wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card