In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI SONIK CINEMA is a Center Channel speaker whereas the KUPID is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK CINEMA and DALI KUPID first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI SONIK CINEMA | DALI KUPID |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber | 4.5" Paper/wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 63-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 83 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.82kg / 21.6lbs | 2.91kg / 6.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-3/4" x 22-1/2" x 8-7/16"
172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm | 9-11/16" x 5-15/16" x 7-13/16"
247.0 x 151.0 x 199.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SONIK CINEMA and KUPID are 2-way speakers.
DALI SONIK CINEMADALI KUPID
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 CINEMA |
DALI KUPID |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/4-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
SONIK CINEMA features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the KUPID features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Paper/wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
SONIK CINEMA has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas KUPID has a frequency range of 63-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the SONIK CINEMA can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the KUPID's min frequency of 63Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 CINEMA is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the KUPID which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the KUPID can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SONIK CINEMA sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the KUPID's is rated at 83 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK CINEMA a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI KUPID, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
KUPID can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas SONIK CINEMA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the KUPID.
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 CINEMA features Binding post type posts and KUPID 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 CINEMA's and DALI KUPID's external dimensions. DALI SONIK CINEMA has external dimensions of 172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm (6-3/4inch x 22-1/2inch x 8-7/16inch) whereas DALI KUPID has external dimensions of 247.0 x 151.0 x 199.0mm (9-11/16inch x 5-15/16inch x 7-13/16inch).
DALI KUPID is 421mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than DALI SONIK CINEMA but it is also 75mm 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 SONIK CINEMA is approximately 1229.8cm2 / 190.6inch2 and base area of the DALI KUPID is approximately 300.5cm2 / 46.6inch2. The SONIK CINEMA requires 309% more surface area than the KUPID which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK CINEMA?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SONIK CINEMA:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- Manual
- Quick Start Guide
- Registration Card
What's in the Box of DALI KUPID?
Here are the items that come with the KUPID:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Wall-mount brackets
- Four #8 x 0.5\" self-tapping screws
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- QR Code Registration Card