In this review, we will be comparing F500SP and SONIK 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F500SP and DALI SONIK 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F500SP | DALI SONIK 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 5.25" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-34k Hz | 51-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 120 W watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.98kg / 17.6lbs | 4.10kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7" x 7.9" x 12.6"
322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm | 10-13/16" x 6-3/8" x 8-13/16"
275.0 x 162.0 x 224.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both F500SP and SONIK 1 are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F500SPDALI SONIK 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
DALI SONIK 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
F500SP features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the SONIK 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
F500SP has a frequency range of 42-34k Hz whereas SONIK 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the F500SP can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SONIK 1's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
F500SP is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SONIK 1 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F500SP sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the SONIK 1's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F500SP a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
F500SP can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas SONIK 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the F500SP.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
F500SP features Binding post type posts and SONIK 1 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Fyne Audio F500SP's and DALI SONIK 1's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F500SP has external dimensions of 322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm (12.7 x 7.9 x 12.6inch) whereas DALI SONIK 1 has external dimensions of 275.0 x 162.0 x 224.0mm (10-13/16inch x 6-3/8inch x 8-13/16inch).
Fyne Audio F500SP is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38.7mm wider, 47.6mm taller and 96mm deeper than DALI SONIK 1.
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.
Fyne Audio F500SP needs about 77% more floor or shelf area. Fyne Audio F500SP is 96mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fyne Audio F500SP is 48mm 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 Fyne Audio F500SP is approximately 642.2cm2 / 99.5inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 1 is approximately 362.9cm2 / 56.2inch2. The F500SP requires 77% more surface area than the SONIK 1 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 Fyne Audio F500SP weighs 7.98kg / 17.6lbs and the DALI SONIK 1 weighs 4.10kg / 9lbs. This makes the F500SP 95% heavier than the SONIK 1.
Here is a comparison of how F500SP and SONIK 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK 1?
Here are the items that come with the SONIK 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Sef-adehsive rubber feet
- 8 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
275mm
vs
322mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
362cm2
vs
642cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
DALI SONIK 1 |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 120 W watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-34k Hz |
51-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Wood fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
322.6mm (12.7") |
275.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
200.7mm (7.9") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
224.0mm (8.8") |
| Weight |
7.98kg (17.6lbs) |
4.10kg (9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
Fixed keyhole mount |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Fyne Audio F500SP costs roughly 2.2x what DALI SONIK 1 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Fyne Audio F500SP digs deeper - 42Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F500SP is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F500SP is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | DALI SONIK 1 is easier to place; Fyne Audio F500SP is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | DALI SONIK 1 is cheaper - $900 against $1,999, about 55% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F500SP B DALI SONIK 1
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?
The usual trade-off: Fyne Audio F500SP measures better, DALI SONIK 1 costs about about 122% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI SONIK 1 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Fyne Audio F500SP has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI SONIK 1 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.