In this review, we will be comparing SONIK 9 and SONIK 5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK 9 and DALI SONIK 5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI SONIK 9 | DALI SONIK 5 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.6875 x 1.75" Planar | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.125" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 7.0" Wood fiber | 2 x 5.25" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-30k Hz | 39-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.65kg / 54.2lbs | 10.82kg / 23.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44-5/16" x 12-9/16" x 14-13/16"
1126.0 x 320.0 x 377.0mm | 32-7/16" x 9-13/16" x 10-9/16"
824.0 x 250.0 x 269.0mm |
|---|
SONIK 9 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SONIK 9 is a 3-way design whereas the SONIK 5 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.
DALI SONIK 9DALI SONIK 5
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 9 |
DALI SONIK 5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.6875 x 1.75-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.125-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 7.0-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
SONIK 9 features a 0.6875 x 1.75" Planar Tweeter, a 1.125" Midrange and 3 x 7.0" 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 9 has a frequency range of 34-30k Hz whereas SONIK 5 has a frequency range of 39-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the SONIK 9 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SONIK 5's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
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 9 and SONIK 5 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SONIK 9 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the SONIK 5's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK 9 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 5, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 9 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas SONIK 5 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the SONIK 9.
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 9 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 9 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 9's and DALI SONIK 5's external dimensions. DALI SONIK 9 has external dimensions of 1126.0 x 320.0 x 377.0mm (44-5/16inch x 12-9/16inch x 14-13/16inch) 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 9 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 302mm taller and 108mm deeper than DALI SONIK 5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI SONIK 9 and DALI SONIK 5 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI SONIK 9 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 9 is approximately 1206.4cm2 / 187.0inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 5 is approximately 672.5cm2 / 104.2inch2. The SONIK 9 requires 79% more surface area than the SONIK 5 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 9 weighs 24.65kg / 54.2lbs and the DALI SONIK 5 weighs 10.82kg / 23.8lbs. This makes the SONIK 9 128% heavier than the SONIK 5.
Here is a comparison of how SONIK 9 and SONIK 5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 9?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SONIK 9:
- 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
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
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7.0 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
824mm
vs
1126mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
672cm2
vs
1206cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI SONIK 9 |
DALI SONIK 5 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-30k Hz |
39-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7.0" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood fiber |
Wood fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.6875 x 1.75" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Planar |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.125" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1126.0mm (44.3") |
824.0mm (32.4") |
| Width |
320.0mm (12.6") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
377.0mm (14.8") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
24.65kg (54.2lbs) |
10.82kg (23.8lbs) |
| 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 |
| 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 | A | DALI SONIK 9 digs deeper - 34Hz against 39Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | DALI SONIK 9 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | DALI SONIK 9 takes more power (300W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI SONIK 5 is easier to place; DALI SONIK 9 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | DALI SONIK 5 is cheaper - $1,800 against $4,500, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A DALI SONIK 9 B DALI SONIK 5
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 9 measures better, DALI SONIK 5 costs about about 2.5x the price% 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 39Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI SONIK 5 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, DALI SONIK 9 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI SONIK 5 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.