In this review, we will be comparing F5E and SONIK 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F5E and DALI SONIK 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F5E | DALI SONIK 3 |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 7" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-38k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 90 W watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.90kg / 8.6lbs | 6.42kg / 14.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.6" x 6.9" x 9"
269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm | 13-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-1/16"
351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both F5E and SONIK 3 are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F5EDALI SONIK 3
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 F5E |
DALI SONIK 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
F5E features a " Tweeter and x 5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz. On the other hand, the SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
F5E has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz whereas SONIK 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SONIK 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the F5E's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
F5E is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SONIK 3 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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.
SONIK 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas F5E has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the SONIK 3.
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
F5E features Binding post type posts and SONIK 3 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 F5E's and DALI SONIK 3's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F5E has external dimensions of 269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm (10.6 x 6.9 x 9inch) whereas DALI SONIK 3 has external dimensions of 351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm (13-13/16inch x 7-7/8inch x 12-1/16inch).
DALI SONIK 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25.7mm wider, 81.8mm taller and 78.4mm deeper than Fyne Audio F5E.
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 SONIK 3 needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. DALI SONIK 3 is 78mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI SONIK 3 is 82mm 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 F5E is approximately 400.7cm2 / 62.1inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2. The F5E requires 35% less surface area than the SONIK 3 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 Fyne Audio F5E weighs 3.90kg / 8.6lbs and the DALI SONIK 3 weighs 6.42kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the SONIK 3 65% heavier than the F5E.
Here is a comparison of how F5E and SONIK 3'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 3?
Here are the items that come with the SONIK 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Sef-adehsive rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Online Registration Card
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
269mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
400cm2
vs
617cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Fyne Audio F5E |
DALI SONIK 3 |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 90 W watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-38k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
7" |
| 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 |
1800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
269.2mm (10.6") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
175.3mm (6.9") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
228.6mm (9") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Weight |
3.90kg (8.6lbs) |
6.42kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Ash, Natural Oak,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-24" |
| 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 - DALI SONIK 3 costs roughly 1.7x what Fyne Audio F5E 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 | B | DALI SONIK 3 digs deeper - 47Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F5E is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | DALI SONIK 3 takes more power (150W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F5E is easier to place; DALI SONIK 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Fyne Audio F5E is cheaper - $699 against $1,200, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F5E B DALI SONIK 3
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?
DALI SONIK 3 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 72% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Fyne Audio F5E looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the DALI SONIK 3 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Fyne Audio F5E much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, DALI SONIK 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fyne Audio F5E 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.