In this review, we will be comparing Silver 100 7G and Opticon 2 MK2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer
- 35-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-120watts
- Weight:9.43kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 377.0" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"( 377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm )
DALI Opticon 2 II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 59-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 86.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 351.0" x 7-11/16" x 11-11/16"( 351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 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* |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
DALI Opticon 2 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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 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 Silver 100 7G and Opticon 2 MK2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
DALI Opticon 2 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Silver 100 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer . On the other hand, the Opticon 2 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Silver 100 7G has a frequency range of 35-35k Hz whereas Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Silver 100 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 2 MK2's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
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
Silver 100 7G is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 2 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 2 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Silver 100 7G sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the Opticon 2 MK2's is rated at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 2 II, 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. 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.
Silver 100 7G can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Silver 100 7G has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Opticon 2 MK2.
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
Silver 100 7G features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon 2 MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 2 II's Post terminals
DALI Opticon 2 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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's and DALI Opticon 2 II's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G has external dimensions of 377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm ( 14-13/16 x 9-1/8 x 13-1/16inch) whereas DALI Opticon 2 II has external dimensions of 351.0 x 196.0 x 297.0mm ( 13-13/16 x 7-11/16 x 11-11/16inch) .
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 36mm wider, 26mm taller and 35mm deeper than DALI Opticon 2 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 II in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 2 II is approximately 582.1cm2 / 90.2inch2. The Silver 100 7G requires 32% more surface area than the Opticon 2 MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and DALI Opticon 2 II on a Media Console
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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs and the DALI Opticon 2 II weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 22% heavier than the Opticon 2 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 100 7G and Opticon 2 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Silver 100 7G:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumpers (pre-installed)8 Rubber feet2 Foam port plugsHex-keyOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 2 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 2 MK2:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrille4 Rubber feetQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card