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.
| Key Specs | Dali Opticon VOKAL II | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood Fiber | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 65-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 80-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.23kg / 20.3lbs | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8-1/16" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Opticon VOKAL MK2 and Silver C250 7G are 3-way speakers.
Dali Opticon VOKAL IIMonitor Audio Silver C250 7G
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
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.
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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Silver C250 7G can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Silver C250 7G.
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.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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
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 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations 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 loudspeakers
- Grille
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Dali Opticon VOKAL II digs deeper - 47Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,199 vs $1,100 a pair). |
A Dali Opticon VOKAL II B Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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?
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.