In this review, we will be comparing Solstice 3 and SONIK 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Solstice 3 and DALI SONIK 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Solstice 3 | DALI SONIK 3 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp | 7" Wood fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.90kg / 28.4lbs | 6.42kg / 14.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-7/16" x 8-11/16" x 14-9/16"
418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm | 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 Solstice 3 and SONIK 3 are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Solstice 3DALI 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 |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
DALI SONIK 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Solstice 3 features a 1" Magnesium alloy dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Solstice 3 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas SONIK 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SONIK 3 can go slightly deeper then the Solstice 3's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Solstice 3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SONIK 3 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solstice 3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the SONIK 3's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Triangle Solstice 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 3, 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. 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 Solstice 3 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solstice 3 has a front firing port whereas SONIK 3 has a rear firing ports. Triangle Solstice 3's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI SONIK 3 with its rear-firing 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 Triangle Solstice 3's and DALI SONIK 3's external dimensions. Triangle Solstice 3 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm (16-7/16 x 8-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) 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).
Triangle Solstice 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 67mm taller and 63mm deeper than DALI SONIK 3.
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.
Triangle Solstice 3 needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Solstice 3 is 63mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Triangle Solstice 3 is 67mm 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 Triangle Solstice 3 is approximately 817.7cm2 / 126.7inch2 and base area of the DALI SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2. The Solstice 3 requires 33% more surface area than the SONIK 3 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Triangle Solstice 3 weighs 12.90kg / 28.4lbs and the DALI SONIK 3 weighs 6.42kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the Solstice 3 101% heavier than the SONIK 3.
Here is a comparison of how Solstice 3 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
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
351mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
617cm2
vs
817cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
1349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
DALI SONIK 3 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-130 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
5.3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Natural cellulose pulp |
Wood fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
221.0mm (8.7") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Weight |
12.90kg (28.4lbs) |
6.42kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain laminate |
| Available Colors |
Teak, Birch, Black Ash, White |
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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 (48Hz vs 47Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Triangle Solstice 3 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Triangle Solstice 3 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 | DALI SONIK 3 is easier to place; Triangle Solstice 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. DALI SONIK 3 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | DALI SONIK 3 is cheaper - $1,200 against $1,349, about 11% less. |
A Triangle Solstice 3 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?
The usual trade-off: Triangle Solstice 3 measures better, DALI SONIK 3 costs about about 12% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Triangle Solstice 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI SONIK 3 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Triangle Solstice 3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.