In this review, we will be comparing Lumina V and Opticon 8 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus faber and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina V and DALI Opticon 8 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina V | DALI Opticon 8 II |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" paper cone | 2 x 8" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-24k Hz | 38-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 40-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.50kg / 49.5lbs | 37.10kg / 81.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.3" x 11" x 14.7"
1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm | 45-1/4" x 9-1/2" x 18-1/16"
1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Lumina V 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Sonus Lumina V |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Lumina V and Opticon 8 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina VDALI Opticon 8 II
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina V |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Lumina V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 and 2600 Hz. 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
Lumina V has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Lumina V and Opticon 8 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina V sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Opticon 8 MK2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Lumina V a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina V and the Lumina V can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though Lumina V is rated 50-300 watts and Opticon 8 MK2 40-300 watts.
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
Both Lumina V and Opticon 8 MK2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina V has a bottom firing port whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a rear firing ports. Sonus Lumina V's bottom-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
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 Sonus Lumina V's and DALI Opticon 8 II's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina V has external dimensions of 1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm (41.3 x 11 x 14.7inch) 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).
Sonus Lumina V is 101mm shorter and 86mm less deeper than DALI Opticon 8 II but it is also 35mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina V and DALI Opticon 8 II in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina V and DALI Opticon 8 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 Sonus Lumina V is approximately 1044.4cm2 / 161.9inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2. The Lumina V requires 7% 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 Sonus Lumina V weighs 22.50kg / 49.5lbs and the DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 65% heavier than the Lumina V.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina V 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 Sonus Lumina V?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina V:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Under spikes
- 4 Spikes locks
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 8 MK2:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes (with lock nuts)
- 4 Rubber pads
- 4 Screws
- Hex-key
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
1049mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1044cm2
vs
1124cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2799USD
vs
4200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina V |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-24k Hz |
38-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
260 and 2600 Hz |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1049.0mm (41.3") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
280.0mm (11") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Depth |
373.0mm (14.7") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
22.50kg (49.5lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 38Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Sonus Lumina V is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Lumina V: bi-amping; DALI Opticon 8 II: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Sonus Lumina V is cheaper - $2,799 against $4,200, about 33% less. |
A Sonus Lumina V B DALI Opticon 8 II
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?
Sonus Lumina V has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Sonus Lumina V is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,401 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.