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  1. Home
  2. DALI Speakers
  3. DALI SONIK 7 vs DALI Sonik On-Wall

DALI SONIK 7 vs DALI Sonik On-Wall Comparison

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DALI SONIK 7

Passive Floor-standing | 36-30k Hz

DALI SONIK 7
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DALI Sonik On-Wall

Passive On-wall | 55-26k Hz

DALI Sonik On-Wall
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DALI SONIK 7 DALI SONIK 7
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DALI Sonik On-Wall DALI Sonik On-Wall
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DALI SONIK 7
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DALI Sonik On-Wall
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DALI SONIK 7 vs DALI Sonik On-Wall Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI SONIK 7 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Sonik On-Wall is a On-wall speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of DALI SONIK 7 and DALI Sonik On-Wall first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsDALI SONIK 7DALI Sonik On-Wall
BrandDALI
Denmark · founded 1983
DALI
Denmark · founded 1983
Design3-way2-way
Tweeter0.6875 x 1.75" Planar1.14" Soft-Dome
Midrange1.125"—
Woofer2 x 7.0" Wood fiber5.25" Wood fibre
Frequency response36-30k Hz55-26k Hz
Sensitivity88.5 dB87 dB
Impedance6 ohms6 ohms
Power range30-180 watts25-100 watts
Weight16.23kg / 35.7lbs—
Dimensions (H x W x D)39-9/16" x 12" x 13"
1005.0 x 305.0 x 331.0mm
15.16" x 9.65" x 4.84"
385 x 245 x 123 mm

SONIK 7 and Sonik On-Wall are members of DALI's Sonik series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

DALI Sonik Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
DALI SONIK 1
  
Bookshelf 51-26k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
DALI SONIK 7
Floor-standing 36-30k Hz 88.5 dB6Ω 2 x 7.0"
DALI SONIK 3
  
Bookshelf 47-26k Hz 87 dB6Ω 1 x 7"
DALI SONIK 5
  
Floor-standing 39-26k Hz 88 dB6Ω 2 x 5.25"
DALI SONIK 9
  
Floor-standing 34-30k Hz 90 dB6Ω 3 x 7.0"
DALI SONIK CINEMA
  
Center Channel 46-20k Hz 89.5 dB6Ω 2 x 5-1/4"
DALI Sonik On-Wall
On-wall 55-26k Hz 87 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"

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 SONIK 7 is a 3-way design whereas the Sonik On-Wall 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.

Midrange - 1.13 inchWoofer - 7 inchWoofer - 7 inch
DALI SONIK 7
Tweeter - 1.14 inchWoofer - 5.25 inch
DALI Sonik On-Wall

TweeterMidrangeWoofer

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 7 DALI Sonik On-Wall
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 0.6875 x 1.75-inch 1.14-inch
Midrange 1 x 1.125-inch -
Woofer 2 x 7.0-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

SONIK 7 features a 0.6875 x 1.75" Planar Tweeter, a 1.125" Midrange and 2 x 7.0" Wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Sonik On-Wall features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.

Frequency Response

SONIK 7 has a frequency range of 36-30k Hz whereas Sonik On-Wall has a frequency range of 55-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the SONIK 7 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonik On-Wall's min frequency of 55Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

SONIK 7
Sonik On-Wall
Min
Average
Median

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 7 and Sonik On-Wall have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SONIK 7 sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Sonik On-Wall's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 7 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Sonik On-Wall, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

SONIK 7
Sonik On-Wall
Min
Average
Median

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 7 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Sonik On-Wall has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the SONIK 7.

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.

DALI SONIK 7
 
DALI Sonik On-Wall
 

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

SONIK 7 features Binding post type posts and Sonik On-Wall has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

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 7's and DALI Sonik On-Wall's external dimensions. DALI SONIK 7 has external dimensions of 1005.0 x 305.0 x 331.0mm (39-9/16inch x 12inch x 13inch) whereas DALI Sonik On-Wall has external dimensions of 385 x 245 x 123 mm ().

DALI SONIK 7 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 620mm taller and 208mm deeper than DALI Sonik On-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 SONIK 7 is approximately 1009.6cm2 / 156.5inch2 and base area of the DALI Sonik On-Wall is approximately 301.4cm2 / 46.7inch2. The SONIK 7 requires 235% more surface area than the Sonik On-Wall which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 7?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of SONIK 7:
  • 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


Reasons to choose DALI SONIK 7 over DALI Sonik On-Wall

Max Input Power 180 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity 89 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size 7.0 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
Low Frequency Response 36 Hz vs 55 Hz Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 26k Hz Generates higher frequency

Reasons to choose DALI Sonik On-Wall over DALI SONIK 7

Height 385mm vs 1005mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 301cm2 vs 1009cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 1200USD vs 2800USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

DALI SONIK 7 vs DALI Sonik On-Wall Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General DALI SONIK 7 DALI Sonik On-Wall
Brand DALI DALI
Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker On-Wall speakers
Power Range 30-180 watts 25-100 watts
Sensitivity 88.5 dB 87 dB
Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
Frequency Response 36-30k Hz 55-26k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2 1
Woofer Size 7.0" 5.25"
Woofer Composition Wood fiber Wood fibre
Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
Tweeter Size 0.6875 x 1.75" 1.14"
Tweeter Type Planar Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver 1.125" No
Crossover Frequency n/a 2400Hz
Firing Direction rear n/a
Physical Specs
Height 1005.0mm (39.6") 385.0mm (15.2")
Width 305.0mm (12") 245.0mm (9.6")
Depth 331.0mm (13") 123.0mm (4.8")
Weight 16.23kg (35.7lbs) n/a
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Finish MDF/Wood-grain laminate n/a
Available Colors Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut n/a
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

Verdict

Siblings in DALI's Sonik series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.

AreaBetterWhy
BassADALI SONIK 7 digs deeper - 36Hz against 55Hz.
Amplifier needsADALI SONIK 7 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
HeadroomADALI SONIK 7 takes more power (180W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room.
SizedependsDALI Sonik On-Wall is easier to place; DALI SONIK 7 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
TypedependsA Passive Floor-standing against a Passive On-wall - a different job rather than a better one.
PriceBDALI Sonik On-Wall is cheaper - $1,200 against $2,800, about 57% less; arguably a different class.

A DALI SONIK 7  B DALI Sonik On-Wall
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 7 measures better, DALI Sonik On-Wall costs about about 133% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI Sonik On-Wall much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, DALI SONIK 7 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Sonik On-Wall is the easier speaker to get right.

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.


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