In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CI and Opticon VOKAL MK2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus Faber and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center I and Dali Opticon VOKAL II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Sonetto Center I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
- 60-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-200watts
- Weight:6.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 242.0" x 20" x 12"( 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm )
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 Sonus Sonetto Center I 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* |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
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 Sonus Sonetto Center I 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 Sonetto CI 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 |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.550 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
Sonetto CI has a frequency range of 60-25k 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 significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto CI's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Sonetto CI and Opticon VOKAL MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto CI sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Opticon VOKAL MK2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center I a more sensitive speaker compared to Dali Opticon VOKAL 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 Sonetto CI and the Sonetto CI can provide this impedance level.
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.
Sonetto CI can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Sonetto CI.
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
Sonetto CI features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonetto CI 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I's and Dali Opticon VOKAL II's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto Center I has external dimensions of 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm ( 10 x 20 x 12inch) 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 60mm narrower and 40mm shorter than Sonus Sonetto Center I but it is also 10mm deeper.
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 Sonetto Center I is approximately 1499.9cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Dali Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2. The Sonetto CI requires 10% more surface area than the Opticon VOKAL MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.