In this review, we will be comparing Vestia No3 and Opticon 8 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia No3 and DALI Opticon 8 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Vestia No3 and DALI Opticon 8 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Vestia No3 and DALI Opticon 8 II 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
Both Vestia No3 and Opticon 8 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Vestia No3 |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Vestia No3 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 3100Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
Vestia No3 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Opticon 8 MK2 can go slightly deeper then the Vestia No3's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Vestia No3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 8 MK2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 8 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Vestia No3 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Opticon 8 MK2's is rated at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Vestia No3 and Opticon 8 MK2 has the same power range of 40-300 watts.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vestia No3 has a front firing port whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a rear firing ports. Focal Vestia No3's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 8 II with its rear-firing port.
DALI Opticon 8 II 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 Focal Vestia No3's and DALI Opticon 8 II's external dimensions. Focal Vestia No3 has external dimensions of 1121.0 x 258.0 x 375.0mm ( 44-1/8-inch x 10-1/8-inch x 14-3/4-inch) whereas DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) .
Focal Vestia No3 is 29mm shorter and 84mm less deeper than DALI Opticon 8 II but it is also 13mm 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 Focal Vestia No3 is approximately 967.5cm2 / 150.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2. The Vestia No3 requires 14% less surface area than the Opticon 8 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 Focal Vestia No3 weighs 26.50kg / 58.3lbs and the DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 40% heavier than the Vestia No3.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia No3 and Opticon 8 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 8 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
92 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 |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1121mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
967cm2 (258x375mm)
vs
1124cm2 (245x459mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3598USD
vs
4200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Focal Vestia No3 |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
| Brand |
Focal |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-30k Hz |
38-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280Hz and 3100Hz |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1121.0mm (44.1") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
26.50kg (58.3lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |