In this review, we will be comparing SONIK CINEMA and Oberon Vokal, two Passive Center Channel speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK CINEMA and DALI Oberon Vokal first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI SONIK CINEMA | DALI Oberon Vokal |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1-1/8" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber | 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.82kg / 21.6lbs | 7.45kg / 16.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 6-3/8" x 17-7/16" x 11-9/16"
162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm |
|---|
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 Oberon Vokal are 2-way speakers.
DALI SONIK CINEMADALI Oberon Vokal
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 Oberon Vokal |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-1/8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/4-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
SONIK CINEMA features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Oberon Vokal features a 1-1/8" ultra-light soft textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
SONIK CINEMA has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the SONIK CINEMA can go slightly deeper then the Oberon Vokal's min frequency of 47Hz.
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 Oberon Vokal 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 Oberon Vokal can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89.5 dBdB.
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.
Oberon Vokal can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas SONIK CINEMA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Oberon Vokal.
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 Oberon Vokal has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SONIK CINEMA and Oberon Vokal have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Oberon Vokal'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 Oberon Vokal has external dimensions of 162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm (6-3/8 x 17-7/16 x 11-9/16inch).
DALI Oberon Vokal is 129mm narrower and 10mm shorter than DALI SONIK CINEMA but it is also 79mm deeper.
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 Oberon Vokal is approximately 1302.4cm2 / 201.9inch2. The SONIK CINEMA requires 6% less surface area than the Oberon Vokal which gives it a small advantage 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 CINEMA weighs 9.82kg / 21.6lbs and the DALI Oberon Vokal weighs 7.45kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the SONIK CINEMA 32% heavier than the Oberon Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how SONIK CINEMA and Oberon Vokal's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
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 Oberon Vokal?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon Vokal:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1229cm2
vs
1302cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5-1/4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
162mm
vs
172mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI SONIK CINEMA |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5-1/4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1-1/8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
172.0mm (6.8") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Width |
572.0mm (22.5") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
215.0mm (8.5") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
9.82kg (21.6lbs) |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: DALI SONIK CINEMA is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (46Hz vs 47Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | DALI SONIK CINEMA is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon Vokal takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | DALI Oberon Vokal is cheaper - $599 against $900, about 33% less. |
A DALI SONIK CINEMA B DALI Oberon Vokal
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, DALI SONIK CINEMA is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $301 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.