In this review, we will be comparing Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Opticon VOKAL MK2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Dali Opticon VOKAL II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB | Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" AS XR cone | 6.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-50k Hz | 47-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 160 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.00kg / 26.4lbs | 9.23kg / 20.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.5" x 20" x 9.8"
190 x 500 x 248 mm | 7-15/16" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"
202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Dali Opticon VOKAL 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* |
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
| 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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Opticon VOKAL MK2 are 3-way speakers.
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GBDali Opticon VOKAL II
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has a frequency range of 34-50k Hz whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon VOKAL MK2'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
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Opticon VOKAL MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the Opticon VOKAL MK2's is at 88 dB.
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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB 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.
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS, whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB.
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.
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a front firing ports. Dali Opticon VOKAL II's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB 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 Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB's and Dali Opticon VOKAL II's external dimensions. Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has external dimensions of 190 x 500 x 248 mm (7.5 x 20 x 9.76 inches) whereas 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).
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is 12mm shorter and 65mm less deeper than Dali Opticon VOKAL II but it is also 65mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II needs about 10% more floor or shelf area. Dali Opticon VOKAL II is 65mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Dali Opticon VOKAL II is 12mm taller.
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 Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is approximately 1240.0cm2 / 192.2inch2 and base area of the Dali Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2. The Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB requires 9% less surface area than the Opticon VOKAL MK2 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 Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB weighs 12.00kg / 26.4lbs and the Dali Opticon VOKAL II weighs 9.23kg / 20.3lbs. This makes the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB 30% heavier than the Opticon VOKAL MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and Opticon VOKAL MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB
What's in the Box of Dali Opticon VOKAL II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon VOKAL MK2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
190mm
vs
202mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1240cm2
vs
1361cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
Dali Opticon VOKAL MK2 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 160 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-50k Hz |
47-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2400 Hz |
2400Hz and 14.000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Depth |
248.0mm (9.8") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
12.00kg (26.4lbs) |
9.23kg (20.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB digs deeper - 34Hz against 47Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (160W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Dali Opticon VOKAL II sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,199 vs $1,199 a pair). |
A Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB B Dali Opticon VOKAL II
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?
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB 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 47Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.