New ranges are always exciting. We’re not going to lie. When a new range of anything hits our showroom, it’s like all of our Christmasses have come at once. So you can only imagine our joy when a brand new speakers range from one of our favourite brands of all time lands.
This is the range to replace the somewhat iconic Ikon (obvious pun, but true nonetheless!) and therefore has some pretty big shoes to fill, but the range slots in beautifully between the multi-award winning Zensor range which is considered more affordable, and the much higher end Rubicon, which any and every hi-fi person will be more than familiar with.
And yes… they’re available in white too! Also: walnut!
Here’s what Dali have to say about their new mid-range series…
“Striking sound that can both soar and soothe is at the heart of the range alongside purity of image at any volume, rich detail and a sweeping soundstage – as always; designed in admiration of music. All models feature [our] own unerringly accurate woofer and tweeter modules, plus our proprietary SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) pole piece.“
Curious about what’s inside? Well frankly, so are we. So let’s take a quick peak inside the cabinet and see what the individual units within the range have in common…
The pole-piece mentioned above? That’s worth a mention because of the material used. In the woofer magnet motor system the pole piece is constructed out of pure SMC (soft magnetic compound). This is due to its unique ability to deliver a high magnetic conductivity and a very low electrical conductivity. This basically means it delivers all the wanted qualities of a really good speaker magnet without the traditional downsides. Win! Also, a little insider info: the SMC was originally designed for the Epicon range, so you know this is going to be good.
Always good to know your beloved speaker wasn’t a labour of love of some machines, right? The mounting of the drivers and the final tests and approvals on each and every speaker is handled directly in the assembly lines at the Danish Dali factory.
Arguably one of the two things that makes the most difference in sound on a speaker, so with that in mind it’s worth noting that all of the elements of these drivers are designed, produced and manufactured in-house. A real grass-roots operation.
… and here’s the second thing! Keeping the manufacturing of the series firmly in the very capable hands of Dali (and their large woodworking facility in Denmark) everything is handled, from the cutting of the Medium Density Fibre board (MDF) to applying the vinyl.
… basically, it’s all inhouse, and made to Dali’s very exact (and remarkably Danish) specifications, with every tiny part of the procedure carefully monitored. The result? Well, let’s take a look at the speakers themselves…
Opticon 1
And we’re off to a flying start! A small but perfectly formed standmounter (or bookshelf, to you and I) which boasts a cabinet that can hold 5 litres despite being amazingly compact and easily ‘slotted in’ to its surroundings, thanks to its design being perfect for being close to a wall. It has a rear-mounted bass port, a 4″ low-loss Wood Fibre Woofer, a 26mm ultra-light Soft Dome Tweeter and gold-plated terminals for the perfect balance of clear, detailed midrange and an impressive tight bass far beyond its size (mostly owed to some serious wizardry with that Tardis of a cabinet!)
If you need something a little bigger…
Opticon 2
Much like the 1s, but with everything scaled up a notch. These beauties feature a sizeable 6.5″ low-loss Wood Fibre Woofer and a 28mm ultra-light soft dome tweeter to bring out every detail. Engineered to extract every last nuance, the SMC magnet motor system is incorporated to ensure the sound is (almost) completely free from distortion owed to the low-level electrical conductivity. Dynamic, well-defined and powerful audio reproduction in a compact container.
Let’s take a quick detour to the components which can make this series a little more surround-able.
Opticon LCR
One of the most versatile little units we’ve come across in a long while! wall mountable, rotatable and suitable for use in both a 2.0 setting (just make sure you buy two of them, they come in singles) and as the centre channel in a larger set up. Built for ultimate flexibility and performance, It delivers its audacious audio via a 6½” low-loss wood fibre woofer it produces airy highs, a detailed mid-range and a surprising bass. Lovely!
There is something a little more specialist available too…
Opticon Vokal
That’s the walnut finish I mentioned before, and that’s the rather splendid Vokal showing it off. This is strictly an item for the larger, cinematic set up, and powerful enough to match every speaker in the range. Even the biggie (coming up shortly!). It exhibits perfect power and control and will bring your cinematic experience together with clear, crisp and defined dialogue. If you haven’t got a centre speaker, this is one that needs consideration.
And now back to the full speakers…
Opticon 5
The smallest floorstander in the range, yet it still packs one heck of a punch! It’s a sleek performance in a tiny package which includes a 6.5″ low-loss wood fibre woofer which works in seamless conjunction with a hybrid soft dome/ribbon tweeter to render sharp, precise and detailed low frequencies. it may be small, but it’s most certainly mighty.
Opticon 6
Sadly these beauties come in twos, not threes. And you can’t have all of the three finishes at once. But don’t worry, a pair in one finish is really all you need! These metre high floorstanders are relatively compact, yet are capable of some seriously thunderous bass, alongside perfectly pitched mids and highs. This perfect balance is achieved through high sensitivity and even impedance, making for a beautiful clean and dynamic all-rounder. Some gold-plated bi-wiring is thrown in for good measure too.
Feeling nicely warmed up? Good, because we’re about to move onto…
Opticon 8
The series flagship – and quite the beast! The 8 is the pinnacle of the Opticon series in every way, taking the form of a towering floorstander endowed with Dali’s most cutting-edge technology, lovingly designed, crafted and put together. It features the same gold-plated bi-wiring terminals as the rest of the range and boasts a mix of deep bass coupled with mid and high-range perfection.
… and that’s the new Opticon range! Lovely, isn’t it? And yes, it really does sound as good as I am saying it does. Want to hear (and of course, see!) it do it’s thing in the flesh? then give us a shout. We’ll set you up with a demo, and will even through in a few cups of tea.
To take a closer look at the range (including full specs) click here.