In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.2 and Opticon 2 MK2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and DALI Opticon 2 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale EVO5.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 44-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:15.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 497.0" x 10.2" x 15.4"( 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm )
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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 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* |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO5.2 is a 3-way design whereas the Opticon 2 MK2 is a 2-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 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
DALI Opticon 2 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO5.2 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz and 4.3 kHz. 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
EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas Opticon 2 MK2 has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 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
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
EVO5.2 and Opticon 2 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO5.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Opticon 2 MK2's is at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 2 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 EVO5.2 and the EVO5.2 can provide this impedance level.
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.
EVO5.2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO5.2 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
EVO5.2 features Post type posts and Opticon 2 MK2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.2's Binding post terminals
DALI Opticon 2 II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.2 has a bottom firing port whereas Opticon 2 MK2 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 2 II with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale EVO5.2's and DALI Opticon 2 II's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm ( 19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4") 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) .
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64mm wider, 146mm taller and 53mm deeper than DALI Opticon 2 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and DALI Opticon 2 II in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.2 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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 2 II is approximately 582.1cm2 / 90.2inch2. The EVO5.2 requires 56% more surface area than the Opticon 2 MK2 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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 weighs 15.00kg / 33lbs and the DALI Opticon 2 II weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the EVO5.2 94% heavier than the Opticon 2 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.2 and Opticon 2 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
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
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
351mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
582cm2
vs
910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
DALI Opticon 2 MK2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
44-24k Hz |
59-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
497.0mm (19.6") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
260.0mm (10.2") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Weight |
15.00kg (33lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |