In this review, we will be comparing Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Silver C250 7G, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Monitor Audio .
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 )
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer
- 3" Midrange
- 65-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:80-200watts
- Weight:10.63kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 205.0" x 18-15/16" x 10-3/4"( 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm )
What size room are the Dali Opticon VOKAL II and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Silver C250 7G are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer .
Frequency Response
Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k 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 Silver C250 7G's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver C250 7G which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Opticon VOKAL MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon VOKAL MK2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Silver C250 7G's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to Dali Opticon VOKAL II, 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. 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Silver C250 7G.
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 Binding post type posts and Silver C250 7G has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post terminals
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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm ( 8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch) .
Dali Opticon VOKAL II is 47mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G but it is also 39mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G in scale.
Comparison image of Dali Opticon VOKAL II and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2. The Opticon VOKAL MK2 requires 3% more surface area than the Silver C250 7G 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 Opticon VOKAL II weighs 9.23kg / 20.3lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs. This makes the Silver C250 7G 15% heavier than the Opticon VOKAL MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Silver C250 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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 loudspeakerGrille6 Rubber bumpersQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver C250 7G:
Center-channel loudspeakersGrille2 Jumpers (pre-installed)4 Rubber feetHex-keyOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
202mm
vs
205mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
1361cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dali Opticon VOKAL MK2 |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Brand |
DALI |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
80-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-30k Hz |
65-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz and 14.000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
202.0mm (8") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17.1") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
9.23kg (20.3lbs) |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |