In this review, we will be comparing RP-504C II and Opticon VOKAL MK2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-504C II and Dali Opticon VOKAL II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch RP-504C II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer
- 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:16.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 32-3/16" x 15-1/8"( 177.0 x 818.0 x 385.0mm )
Dali Opticon VOKAL II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 47-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:9.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 202.0" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"( 202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm )
What size room are the Klipsch RP-504C II 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* |
Klipsch RP-504C II |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch RP-504C II and Dali Opticon VOKAL 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RP-504C II is a 2-way design whereas the Opticon VOKAL MK2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Klipsch RP-504C II |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RP-504C II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1950 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
RP-504C II has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can go slightly deeper then the RP-504C II's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
RP-504C II is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon VOKAL 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 VOKAL MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-504C II sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Opticon VOKAL MK2's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-504C II 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. 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.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RP-504C II features Binding post type posts and Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-504C II's Binding post terminals
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-504C II has a rear 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 Klipsch RP-504C II with its rear-firing port.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II slot 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 Klipsch RP-504C II's and Dali Opticon VOKAL II's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-504C II has external dimensions of 177.0 x 818.0 x 385.0mm ( 6-15/16 x 32-3/16 x 15-1/8inch) 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) .
Dali Opticon VOKAL II is 383mm narrower and 72mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-504C II but it is also 25mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-504C II and Dali Opticon VOKAL II in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-504C II and Dali Opticon VOKAL II 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 Klipsch RP-504C II is approximately 3149.3cm2 / 488.1inch2 and base area of the Dali Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2. The RP-504C II requires 131% more surface area than the Opticon VOKAL MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.