In this review, we will be comparing Opticon VOKAL MK2 and HDI-4500, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 47-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:9.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 202.0" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"( 202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm )
JBL HDI-4500 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer
- 50-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:20.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"( 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm )
What size room are the Dali Opticon VOKAL II and JBL HDI-4500 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 |
JBL HDI-4500 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Dali Opticon VOKAL II and JBL HDI-4500 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Opticon VOKAL MK2 is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-4500 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.
| Driver |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
JBL HDI-4500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5.25-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 HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can go slightly deeper then the HDI-4500's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Opticon VOKAL MK2 and HDI-4500 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 HDI-4500's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-4500 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dali Opticon VOKAL 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Opticon VOKAL MK2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the HDI-4500.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Opticon VOKAL MK2 features 5-Way post type posts and HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a front firing port whereas HDI-4500 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 JBL HDI-4500 with its rear-firing port.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II slot Port
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 JBL HDI-4500'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 JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) .
JBL HDI-4500 is 5mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than Dali Opticon VOKAL II but it is also 407mm wider.
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 JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The Opticon VOKAL MK2 requires 48% less surface area than the HDI-4500 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.