In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. Dali Opticon VOKAL MK2 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Opticon 1 MK2 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and DALI Opticon 1 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dali Opticon VOKAL II | DALI Opticon 1 II |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 4.75" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 62-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.23kg / 20.3lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-15/16" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"
202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Opticon 1 MK2 are members of DALI's Opticon Mark II series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Opticon Mark II Series
History
What size room are the Dali Opticon VOKAL II and DALI Opticon 1 II speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
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 Opticon VOKAL MK2 is a 3-way design whereas the Opticon 1 MK2 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 Opticon VOKAL IIDALI Opticon 1 II
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 Opticon VOKAL II |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
Opticon VOKAL MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz and 14.000Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon 1 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 1 MK2's min frequency of 62Hz.
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
Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Opticon 1 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Opticon VOKAL MK2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Opticon 1 MK2's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Dali Opticon VOKAL II a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 1 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon VOKAL MK2 and the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can provide this impedance level.
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.
Opticon VOKAL MK2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Opticon VOKAL MK2.
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
Opticon VOKAL MK2 features Post type posts and Opticon 1 MK2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a front firing port whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a rear firing ports. Dali Opticon VOKAL II's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 1 II with its rear-firing port.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II slot Port
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 Opticon VOKAL II's and DALI Opticon 1 II's external dimensions. Dali Opticon VOKAL II has external dimensions of 202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm (7-15/16 x 17-1/8 x 12-5/16inch) whereas DALI Opticon 1 II has external dimensions of 254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm (10 x 6 x 9-1/4inch).
DALI Opticon 1 II is 282mm narrower and 78mm less deeper than Dali Opticon VOKAL II but it is also 52mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and DALI Opticon 1 II in scale.
Comparison image of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and DALI Opticon 1 II 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 Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 1 II is approximately 359.6cm2 / 55.7inch2. The Opticon VOKAL MK2 requires 279% more surface area than the Opticon 1 MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Dali Opticon VOKAL II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon VOKAL MK2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 1 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 1 MK2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card