ive owned and used to love the s40. in this comparison you can hear the refinement and balance of the s40 is in a different level (though at the cost of sounding a bit dry and clinical). that said, in this video, opticons sound much more engaging and musical for me. with a bit more decay and roundness in the bass and presence/attack without sounding jarring. the s40 is warmer in the midrange yet somehow gives an impression of an analytical leaning nature. its personal preference. both are great speakers. dynaudio for refined precision, dali enjoyment.
Dali has a good blend of transparency and neutrality while still sounding musical and not too analytical. There are more exciting speakers, smoother speakers, etc., and you can prefer one over it for different music, movies, mood, etc., but overall, its a very satisfying and engaging listen without noticing anything really annoying and for extended listening. I guess some call that balance?
I would prefer a speaker that combines the qualities of both tonalities, but if I had to choose one I would pick the dali opticon. The mid-range is much better. The dali sounds more natural. But I'm using reference speakers. Definitely would want to hear these in person before purchasing either. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing, it's very insightful. Obviously I'll take it all with a pinch of salt as I realize I have to take into account your room, mic and TH-cam compression along with the DAC and headphones I'm listening on. Both sound great but after this video my preference is towards the Opticon 2 as I find them tonally slightly richer with a slightly more open top end. It seems fantastic value for a £1,000 pair of speakers.
Firstly, thank you for sharing these videos! Great stuff. I had a lot of speakers at home last years. Im currently owning Dynaudio x18, Buchardt s300mk2 and Dali Zensor 3. I have also compared these to Focal 906 in my own setting. All of then driven by Hegel H90. I dont know if you will agree on this but my experience is that Dali (and speakers like Focal) with paper/light weight material cones usually have more presence (like the vocalist are closer to the microphone) and mids forward more than Dynaudio/Buchardt s300 with ”MSP” rubbery cones. (New Buchardt speakers changed to paper though) My experience is that paper is snappier, faster but sometimes more lightweighted in the bass region while ”MSP” have more dynamics (hard hitting) to it in general. Im not speaking of bass quantity here, more dynamically. With that being said, I find for example Dali/Focal much more enjoyable listening to dialogue on television/movies. Also faster for percussion. At the same time not as ”wow” with dynamic expression. Every speaker is different tuned but this is my general finding.. Dynaudio x18 and Focal 906 was the totally opposite speakers in my setting and would make a good pair for different purposes.
Not across the board but agree as my Focal 807W and Dali Opticon 1 good on dialogue, as are my ML 15i. Dali Oberon 1 was decent but lacked dynamic range and some resolution. Opticon better for me over Oberons with both movies and music. Guess it depends on crossover, parts as well. I thought the little Spektor held up really well against the Oberon too but needed more power. Dynaudio and Focal are very different presentations and neither are really neutral, IMO. Good to have alot of choices.
아주 좋은 비교입니다 둘다 매우 좋은 스피커입니다. 15년전 다인오디오의 북셀프라고 믿기어려운 15인치같은 우퍼의 벼락같은 저음이 매우 인상적이었습니다. 사이즈를 뛰어넘는 풍성함과 깊이 두께를 모두 갖고 있습니다 스피커를 만드는 기술적인 면에서는 다인스피커가 더 우수하다고 생각합니다. 다만 저는 달리를 더욱 칭찬하겠습니다. 저렴한 유닛과 상위스펙과도 미미한차이를 가진 유닛구성에 합리적인 가격. 유닛에 대한 이해도가 매우 높은 네트워크 튜닝으로 기존 브랜드의 마케팅 가격포지션을 완전히 무너트리고 대중적입니다. 저음의 양과 폭 넓이는 다인이 완승이지만 앰프 매칭 공간 가격을 생각했을지 달리스피커가 더 만능에 가까운 효율을 가진다고 생각합니다. 중음이 매우 탄력적이고 선명하면서 마치 스피커가 살아있는 ai를 탑재한듯 스스로 능동적인 볼륨조절을 보여줌으로 매우 역동적이면서 생명력있는 음악성을 표현하기에 달리에 많은 가산점과 애정을 주고 싶습니다.입문 밑 초급기에서 미친스피커가 아닌가 생각합니다. 와피데일을 뛰어넘는 최고의 입문기 이자 동급브랜드의 타사 오버스펙중급까지도 넘보는 스피커임에 틀림없고, 하이파이부터 av . 데스크파이까지 장르불문 올라운더. 근래들어서 elipson과 dali는 정말 착하고 가격거품없이 좋은 오디오를 만드는 회사같습니다. 딱 하나 아쉬운점은 못생긴 외관과 럭셔리함이 부족합니다만 😂소리와는 무관하네요.😅
I have the Opticon 2 Mk2 for a few years now. They are driven by a Musical Fidelity M6si. They are a great all round speaker and come alive with the watts my amp delivers. I still find that for some genres I need a sub to get bass impact so use a REL T5X sub which for my small listening space works well. I love the Dynaudio sp40’s detail and clarity. They are just in another class how they deliver Vocals and detail so beautifully and naturally. My next purchase will be the Dynaudio Heritage Specials then I’m done…..honest. They will be perfect for the music I listen too. I may introduce 2 x REL T5X subs and that will be my perfect setup.
Any thoughts/experience how the MK2 differs from the older models they replaced? I have the Opticon 1 and really like them. Have others as well but the Dali are the most neutral sounding I have but I can easily swap i and out depending on mood, needs.
I've listened very carefully and both sound very close except the bass from the MK2. People think Special 40 has more detail and clarity because the overwhelming bass of the MK2 makes midrange sound more recessed. That can be fix easily with a bit of room correction or tone control. The Special 40 is going for around $3500 at my place when the MK2 is about $950-1000. The choice is very clear.
I believe you may be mistaken on the cost of the Dali, average cost for the Opticon 2 MK2s is more like $1,500 US for the pair. I suspect the $950-1000/pair(presumptively) you speak of may be for the Opticon 1 MK2 series.
HELLO , VERY NICE COMPARISON Demo . I like the sounds of DYNAUDIO as I am used to it. But here it is surprisingly Dali sounds very good. S40 is in a very high-level but according to the price Dali get the win here. I have a Dynaudio Xcite - 12 very similar to Dali and very good sound for the money ( One third of the Price of Heritage 40 special. Thank you for the video.
The Opticons have a higher end sound, but the Oberons kill it for the price. It depends on your ultimate goal - if you want a higher end system, Opticon. If you just want great sound on a budget, look no further than the Oberon. Although, in all honesty, I liked the Zensor 3's and my first pair of hifi speakers ever were the Concept 2's which I absolutely loved.
There is more information in the midrange / more forward of a midrange in the Dyns, whereas the Dalis' midrange is scooped out by comparison/ not as present. Also, Dyns are more uniform top to bottom; Dalis have boom and tizzle, by comparison. The Dalis sound more spacious, though, whereas the Dyns are more homogenized. Both good, and I can see why some people would prefer the Dalis, but the nod goes to the Dyns for me here in this video comparo.
not half the performances for sure, but the Dynaudio performs more clear even if the Dali seems to have more in the bass area. Thanks for the comparison, it would be fine to have the same test with another amp.
On some tracks Dali's are thinner sounding than Dynaudio, but on just about every track Dali's sound more 3D, more lively, more engaging... without ever sounding agressive, or bright. Great demo !!!
I would agree, more low end weight on the Dyns but I like the transparency and speed, resolution of the Dali. I liked the Menuet SE, very 3D if you use nearfield but less transparent than Opticon 1 which was more versatile from further away without giving up too much of what the SE did best. That SE was a pig for power too.
The Dyn's are a little more subtle with percussion (snares sound farther back), but the midrange quality is quite similar. I'm thinking of getting a pair of the Dali's to compare to Triangle BR03's.
Hi George, These comparisons are fantastic. I'm sure it's hard to believe but on an iPad Air2 I can hear differences. The S40s are exceptionally nice, but in the comparison with the LS50 Meta's, I couldn't perceive enough of a difference to justify the S40s 3X cost difference. I've been around high-end audio for 40 years and I'm a big fan of the concept of diminishing return. I'm quite sure this takes a ton of time for you to setup and produce. Much appreciated.
Thanks a lot Larry! Yes it does, and how should I put it... it doesn't pay :) So these kind of comparisons will most probably stop for a time now, as I have turned towards other hobbies of mine. Enjoy the content!
I tried the Emit 10 and didn't like them. I now have the Opticon 1 MK1 and much prefer it although the Emit 10 does sound larger, bolder, the Opticon seems more transparent to me. I think Dali upped the bass region on the new models though.
Interesting. I have Opticon 1 mk1, and bought Emit 10 on sale. Prefer the Emit 10. Did you let the Emit 10 get run in, before coming to a conclusion? Used to own a pair of Evoke 20. I actually prefer the way the Emits play, compared to the Evoke. Do have Emit 20 as well. To me Emit sound more colored compared to Evoke, which seem more dry and neutral.
@Bobbe1994 I thought they were run in. Definitely sounded bigger than opticon 1. Something about the new emits that sounded off to me at times. Perhaps the older emit m10 was different. Prefer opticon especially near field and now using martin logan 15i as mains with a sub. Also, I felt stage depth lacking g a bit on new emit 10. But alot of people lIike them. Just my preferences, room and what I perceive.
Particularmente a mí me gusta más el sonido Dynaudio porque cuando poseés uno de estos oradores te das cuenta como la competencia colorea el sonido , con esa forma de hacer audio perdemos definición. La prueba está que cuando escuchamos la comparativa apreciamos en algunos temas como que a Dynaudio le falta cuerpo y extensión en graves sin embargo cuando la grabación tiene ese cuerpo , pegada y extensión en graves Dynaudio te lo entrega .
Hmmm i own a couple of Dali Zenzor 7's and I am happy with them...but in this case, I think the Dynaudio Special 40 sounds better, the Dali seems to sound more muffled and dark. Maybe too much bass for such a small cabinet..the Dynaudio sound more accurate and bright, and more detailed.. anyway thanks for sharing your videos, keep them coming...
Better decays on the Dali, its a funny thing with LF it can suit some rooms and not others, then there is bass slam and a bass musicality, dali have that just over the Dynaudio . All a matter of choice ive listened to all and the speakers that suited my set up was the AE500 .
all right... my thoughts.. Dynaudio is better for all genres that need loads of detail, the piano is natural, separation on instruments is phenomenal. In pop music and movies the Dali's seem to have a fuller sound but those genres are usually not depending on detail so after all its the CLARITY of the Dynaudio vs the "Loudness" of the Dalis which can reasonably be preffered . For me the dynaudio is the most balanced speaker and probably by adding a subwoofer it can surpass the dalis in movies-pop&electronic music. I own DALI speakers & i am a big fan because they are good all-rounders in a competitive price (in europe at least). The special 40 are great speakers IMO and if you have the budget or find a good deal on the used market they are a bargain! you can't go wrong with those and you will be hard pressed to do better for the money they ask...
Interesting. I have the Dali Opticon 2 mk2 with a Musical Fidelity M6si. They are very musical speakers and handle the 220w per channel that my amp produces. I used them with a Rel T5x sub which is a good match if you like the lower frequencies. I think the 40’s have it in this demo for me as I like the dynamic presentation given to mid and higher frequencies. The Dali’s sound more rolled off and less dynamic on the higher frequencies to my ears which some may prefer and is perhaps better for brighter recordings and longer listening. The Dali’s are an accomplished set of speakers at the price point and perhaps should have been tested against the Rubicons which are more aligned to that price point. My next purchase will be the Dynaudio Heritage speakers as they are insanely good 👍
Dali sounds more collected. Dyns has more resolution and correctness. but considering the price, I will definitely say that Dalis win. And can you plese tell what amplifier is used?
Is the Opticon 2 MK2 much different from the MK1 version in sound? If anyone has heard both. I know the frequency curve is different, but how different do they sound?
Opticon or Oberon i get the same sound signature, v shaped sound. The Opticons seems too warm in my opinion, the base bleeds a bit in the low midrange. Nonetheless the Opticons seem more dynamic than the s40. For bass heads these would be great. Sound wise they are clearly different and one can like any of them two. I like the s40s but again, there is more to a speaker than just sound, how's the build quality? How do they sound at louder levels? Is composure there for both? thanks again for posting these videos. i have a question for you : if you had only €2000 to spend on speakers what would you buy, now that you've had experience with quite a few speakers? (just so you know i tend to favor s40-like sound signature speakers).
This is not the reply you hope for, but I can't give you advice on that. In my opinion in hifi over the last years is tha the room will make up for at least 30% of your sound - I fact, my speakers sounded way different when I brought them to others for audition. So my experience, will not help you. As you can see I voted for the Dynaudio Special 40 as my main speaker (used you can have them for under 2000), but I have seen some people describe them as 'too bright', or 'flat', whereas for me they are the least bright sounding speakers I ever har and in my room they have a beautiful 3D soundstage. TL; DR: you need to go out and listen for yourself.
@@georgedomse i completely agree with you. Perhaps then the question shoyld be from what you have seen and heard, which ones have made a very good impression from the point of build quality, value for money or even somehow struck you as punching above their level. Ofc again within the 2000eur budget. Thanks
@@apmihai82You have to make the final buying decision. Some highly recommended speakers may completely disappoint you. So auditioning speakers is paramount.
Someone wondered the same thing but how does the Opticon MK1 stack up against the new version MK2? Anyone have experience of them both? There is a demo pair (opticon 2 MK1) in my local retailer that’s for sale around $900, bargain or shit.
With the Dali Opticon 2 it is essential that you use the speakers with the grilles on (do not take them off) and without any toe-in (speakers should be placed straight, i.e. with the back side of the speaker parallel to the wall behind them). If you take the grilles off and/or toe-in, you risk the listening fatigue. The listening fatigue is very often (or always?) caused by excessive sound pressure level around the frequency of 3 kHz, i.e. in the range of the transition from mids to treble. I have done some measurements of the Opticons 2 and found that the grille reduces the volume (sound pressure level) in that very region of around 3 kHz by a few dB. This effectively prevents the fatigue but without any excessive safety margin, which in the final effect lets the speakers play crisply and produce a very detailed sound while not being fatiguing. As to the toe-in, the volume of the woofer in the Opticons 2 rises slightly between 3-4 kHz (a natural behavior in almost any woofer, related to cone break-up or resonances at high frequencies (3-4kHz is high for a woofer)). This can be identified by measuring the woofer with a microphone very close to the woofer (e.g. 10 cm). At the same time at these higher frequencies the dispersion of a woofer decreases significantly, i.e. when listened from an angle, say 30 degrees, these elevated 3-4kHz produced by the woofer disappear. And around 30 degrees is the angle at which you listen to the speakers when they are not toed-in. If you toe them in, then you listen to the woofer more on-axis (the speaker firing straight at you and your ears catch some of that slight 3-4kHz elevation of the woofer and this may cause / intensify the listening fatigue). I experienced this fatigue myself with this speakers and after some investigations came to the above conclusions. In general I think these speakers are great. All you need to do is set them up according to the user manual, which says the same as the above hints (grille on and no-toe-in). This is my experience with these speakers. Hope this helps. Note that I am very sensitive to listening fatigue and I would disqualify any speaker for causing it. The Opticons 2 - I greatly like!
The Opticon 2 is a better speaker overall. The Oberons have more bass output but at the same time its less controlled and slower. Midrange will be about the same with the Oberons being a touch cleaner maybe. Highs are way better on the Opticon 2's - less sharp and pokey. With all that they reamin a fun speaker to listen to.
I really like the bass of the Dali's. It's quicker and more precise in my room than the Dynaudio, which is softer and simply more. I always use the Dyno's with the bass reflex port plugged, but I can get away with the ports open on the Dali. (in all other areas the SP40's win, but at bass, the Dalis are better)
@@georgedomse i Listen so much comparison between the opticon and rubicon series. Vocals and Bass are much better in the rubicon series. But for the money the opticons are a good choice.
@@DonPrimitivo263 at the same time the highs of the Rubicons are waaaaay overboard for me. To much, too intursive, too shrill. But I agree, many like that as many like BnW speakers, which are just horrible for me.
I connect the optical output of the TV the a DAC (either inside the amp, if it has one, or I use an external DAC), which then goes via quality RCA cables to the amp.
ive owned and used to love the s40. in this comparison you can hear the refinement and balance of the s40 is in a different level (though at the cost of sounding a bit dry and clinical). that said, in this video, opticons sound much more engaging and musical for me. with a bit more decay and roundness in the bass and presence/attack without sounding jarring. the s40 is warmer in the midrange yet somehow gives an impression of an analytical leaning nature. its personal preference. both are great speakers. dynaudio for refined precision, dali enjoyment.
Very precise assessment.
Agreed.....Dali's are more enjoyable overall......!!!
Dali has a good blend of transparency and neutrality while still sounding musical and not too analytical. There are more exciting speakers, smoother speakers, etc., and you can prefer one over it for different music, movies, mood, etc., but overall, its a very satisfying and engaging listen without noticing anything really annoying and for extended listening.
I guess some call that balance?
Prob why main is sometimes paired with dyn. Give em some zip
I would prefer a speaker that combines the qualities of both tonalities, but if I had to choose one I would pick the dali opticon. The mid-range is much better. The dali sounds more natural. But I'm using reference speakers. Definitely would want to hear these in person before purchasing either. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing, it's very insightful. Obviously I'll take it all with a pinch of salt as I realize I have to take into account your room, mic and TH-cam compression along with the DAC and headphones I'm listening on. Both sound great but after this video my preference is towards the Opticon 2 as I find them tonally slightly richer with a slightly more open top end. It seems fantastic value for a £1,000 pair of speakers.
Excellent side by side !! Both are great !!
Firstly, thank you for sharing these videos! Great stuff.
I had a lot of speakers at home last years. Im currently owning Dynaudio x18, Buchardt s300mk2 and Dali Zensor 3.
I have also compared these to Focal 906 in my own setting.
All of then driven by Hegel H90.
I dont know if you will agree on this but my experience is that Dali (and speakers like Focal) with paper/light weight material cones usually have more presence (like the vocalist are closer to the microphone) and mids forward more than Dynaudio/Buchardt s300 with ”MSP” rubbery cones.
(New Buchardt speakers changed to paper though)
My experience is that paper is snappier, faster but sometimes more lightweighted in the bass region while ”MSP” have more dynamics (hard hitting) to it in general. Im not speaking of bass quantity here, more dynamically.
With that being said, I find for example Dali/Focal much more enjoyable listening to dialogue on television/movies. Also faster for percussion. At the same time not as ”wow” with dynamic expression.
Every speaker is different tuned but this is my general finding..
Dynaudio x18 and Focal 906 was the totally opposite speakers in my setting and would make a good pair for different purposes.
Not across the board but agree as my Focal 807W and Dali Opticon 1 good on dialogue, as are my ML 15i. Dali Oberon 1 was decent but lacked dynamic range and some resolution. Opticon better for me over Oberons with both movies and music. Guess it depends on crossover, parts as well. I thought the little Spektor held up really well against the Oberon too but needed more power. Dynaudio and Focal are very different presentations and neither are really neutral, IMO. Good to have alot of choices.
아주 좋은 비교입니다 둘다 매우 좋은 스피커입니다. 15년전 다인오디오의 북셀프라고 믿기어려운 15인치같은 우퍼의 벼락같은 저음이 매우 인상적이었습니다. 사이즈를 뛰어넘는 풍성함과 깊이 두께를 모두 갖고 있습니다 스피커를 만드는 기술적인 면에서는 다인스피커가 더 우수하다고 생각합니다. 다만 저는 달리를 더욱 칭찬하겠습니다. 저렴한 유닛과 상위스펙과도 미미한차이를 가진 유닛구성에 합리적인 가격. 유닛에 대한 이해도가 매우 높은 네트워크 튜닝으로 기존 브랜드의 마케팅 가격포지션을 완전히 무너트리고 대중적입니다. 저음의 양과 폭 넓이는 다인이 완승이지만 앰프 매칭 공간 가격을 생각했을지 달리스피커가 더 만능에 가까운 효율을 가진다고 생각합니다. 중음이 매우 탄력적이고 선명하면서 마치 스피커가 살아있는 ai를 탑재한듯 스스로 능동적인 볼륨조절을 보여줌으로 매우 역동적이면서 생명력있는 음악성을 표현하기에 달리에 많은 가산점과 애정을 주고 싶습니다.입문 밑 초급기에서 미친스피커가 아닌가 생각합니다. 와피데일을 뛰어넘는 최고의 입문기 이자 동급브랜드의 타사 오버스펙중급까지도 넘보는 스피커임에 틀림없고, 하이파이부터 av . 데스크파이까지 장르불문 올라운더. 근래들어서 elipson과 dali는 정말 착하고 가격거품없이 좋은 오디오를 만드는 회사같습니다. 딱 하나 아쉬운점은 못생긴 외관과 럭셔리함이 부족합니다만 😂소리와는 무관하네요.😅
I think all four together would sound awesome !
Dali's with Metal and Movies for sure. 👍👍
I prefer the "liveliness" of the Dalis, as a matter of fact I just ordered a pair
I have the Opticon 2 Mk2 for a few years now. They are driven by a Musical Fidelity M6si. They are a great all round speaker and come alive with the watts my amp delivers. I still find that for some genres I need a sub to get bass impact so use a REL T5X sub which for my small listening space works well. I love the Dynaudio sp40’s detail and clarity. They are just in another class how they deliver Vocals and detail so beautifully and naturally. My next purchase will be the Dynaudio Heritage Specials then I’m done…..honest. They will be perfect for the music I listen too. I may introduce 2 x REL T5X subs and that will be my perfect setup.
Any thoughts/experience how the MK2 differs from the older models they replaced? I have the Opticon 1 and really like them. Have others as well but the Dali are the most neutral sounding I have but I can easily swap i and out depending on mood, needs.
I've listened very carefully and both sound very close except the bass from the MK2. People think Special 40 has more detail and clarity because the overwhelming bass of the MK2 makes midrange sound more recessed. That can be fix easily with a bit of room correction or tone control. The Special 40 is going for around $3500 at my place when the MK2 is about $950-1000. The choice is very clear.
I believe you may be mistaken on the cost of the Dali, average cost for the Opticon 2 MK2s is more like $1,500 US for the pair. I suspect the $950-1000/pair(presumptively) you speak of may be for the Opticon 1 MK2 series.
HELLO , VERY NICE COMPARISON Demo . I like the sounds of DYNAUDIO as I am used to it. But here it is surprisingly Dali sounds very good. S40 is in a very high-level but according to the price Dali get the win here. I have a Dynaudio Xcite - 12 very similar to Dali and very good sound for the money ( One third of the Price of Heritage 40 special. Thank you for the video.
Prefer the "body" of the Opticon if I'm honest. Was exactly what I came here for, to get some kind of initial impression of it, very positive.
Nice demo. Dynaudio midrange coherence still wins IMO.
How do you like the Opticon 2's? How do they compare to the Oberon 3's? Are they worth double the price? Thanks! Great videos.
The Opticons have a higher end sound, but the Oberons kill it for the price. It depends on your ultimate goal - if you want a higher end system, Opticon. If you just want great sound on a budget, look no further than the Oberon. Although, in all honesty, I liked the Zensor 3's and my first pair of hifi speakers ever were the Concept 2's which I absolutely loved.
@@georgedomse Thanks! I got the Opticons and they're great. Might need a sub though.
There is more information in the midrange / more forward of a midrange in the Dyns, whereas the Dalis' midrange is scooped out by comparison/ not as present. Also, Dyns are more uniform top to bottom; Dalis have boom and tizzle, by comparison. The Dalis sound more spacious, though, whereas the Dyns are more homogenized. Both good, and I can see why some people would prefer the Dalis, but the nod goes to the Dyns for me here in this video comparo.
not half the performances for sure, but the Dynaudio performs more clear even if the Dali seems to have more in the bass area. Thanks for the comparison, it would be fine to have the same test with another amp.
On some tracks Dali's are thinner sounding than Dynaudio, but on just about every track Dali's sound more 3D, more lively, more engaging... without ever sounding agressive, or bright. Great demo !!!
but in price dali is much thinner also
I would agree, more low end weight on the Dyns but I like the transparency and speed, resolution of the Dali. I liked the Menuet SE, very 3D if you use nearfield but less transparent than Opticon 1 which was more versatile from further away without giving up too much of what the SE did best. That SE was a pig for power too.
The Dyn's are a little more subtle with percussion (snares sound farther back), but the midrange quality is quite similar. I'm thinking of getting a pair of the Dali's to compare to Triangle BR03's.
I want to emphasize that Optikon is half the price of its rival.
However, for me they are equally attractive in music.
Hi George, These comparisons are fantastic. I'm sure it's hard to believe but on an iPad Air2 I can hear differences. The S40s are exceptionally nice, but in the comparison with the LS50 Meta's, I couldn't perceive enough of a difference to justify the S40s 3X cost difference. I've been around high-end audio for 40 years and I'm a big fan of the concept of diminishing return. I'm quite sure this takes a ton of time for you to setup and produce. Much appreciated.
Thanks a lot Larry! Yes it does, and how should I put it... it doesn't pay :) So these kind of comparisons will most probably stop for a time now, as I have turned towards other hobbies of mine.
Enjoy the content!
I tried the Emit 10 and didn't like them. I now have the Opticon 1 MK1 and much prefer it although the Emit 10 does sound larger, bolder, the Opticon seems more transparent to me. I think Dali upped the bass region on the new models though.
What about the Emit20 ?
@@RanTausi Can't say as I never tried those.
Interesting. I have Opticon 1 mk1, and bought Emit 10 on sale. Prefer the Emit 10. Did you let the Emit 10 get run in, before coming to a conclusion?
Used to own a pair of Evoke 20. I actually prefer the way the Emits play, compared to the Evoke. Do have Emit 20 as well.
To me Emit sound more colored compared to Evoke, which seem more dry and neutral.
@@Bobbe1994 The evoce is in higher legh and much more expensive from the emit.
@Bobbe1994 I thought they were run in. Definitely sounded bigger than opticon 1. Something about the new emits that sounded off to me at times. Perhaps the older emit m10 was different. Prefer opticon especially near field and now using martin logan 15i as mains with a sub. Also, I felt stage depth lacking g a bit on new emit 10. But alot of people lIike them. Just my preferences, room and what I perceive.
Particularmente a mí me gusta más el sonido Dynaudio porque cuando poseés uno de estos oradores te das cuenta como la competencia colorea el sonido , con esa forma de hacer audio perdemos definición.
La prueba está que cuando escuchamos la comparativa apreciamos en algunos temas como que a Dynaudio le falta cuerpo y extensión en graves sin embargo cuando la grabación tiene ese cuerpo , pegada y extensión en graves Dynaudio te lo entrega .
Excelente punto
The second song riff reminds of, say its your birthday-Beatles
Dynaudio alta qualidade e resolução micro detalhes , vocal hi end som 3d refinamento do agudo e dinâmico. Top top
The distances are more tinted, which makes them seem more impressive
Hmmm i own a couple of Dali Zenzor 7's and I am happy with them...but in this case, I think the Dynaudio Special 40 sounds better, the Dali seems to sound more muffled and dark. Maybe too much bass for such a small cabinet..the Dynaudio sound more accurate and bright, and more detailed.. anyway thanks for sharing your videos, keep them coming...
Better decays on the Dali, its a funny thing with LF it can suit some rooms and not others, then there is bass slam and a bass musicality, dali have that just over the Dynaudio . All a matter of choice ive listened to all and the speakers that suited my set up was the AE500 .
all right... my thoughts.. Dynaudio is better for all genres that need loads of detail, the piano is natural, separation on instruments is phenomenal. In pop music and movies the Dali's seem to have a fuller sound but those genres are usually not depending on detail so after all its the CLARITY of the Dynaudio vs the "Loudness" of the Dalis which can reasonably be preffered . For me the dynaudio is the most balanced speaker and probably by adding a subwoofer it can surpass the dalis in movies-pop&electronic music. I own DALI speakers & i am a big fan because they are good all-rounders in a competitive price (in europe at least). The special 40 are great speakers IMO and if you have the budget or find a good deal on the used market they are a bargain! you can't go wrong with those and you will be hard pressed to do better for the money they ask...
Dynaudio Special 40 sounds better, but the looks are not comparable, the S40’s are from another era
btw - I'm glad this comparison introduced me to Puscifer's Momma Sed. Good tune.
Interesting. I have the Dali Opticon 2 mk2 with a Musical Fidelity M6si. They are very musical speakers and handle the 220w per channel that my amp produces. I used them with a Rel T5x sub which is a good match if you like the lower frequencies. I think the 40’s have it in this demo for me as I like the dynamic presentation given to mid and higher frequencies. The Dali’s sound more rolled off and less dynamic on the higher frequencies to my ears which some may prefer and is perhaps better for brighter recordings and longer listening. The Dali’s are an accomplished set of speakers at the price point and perhaps should have been tested against the Rubicons which are more aligned to that price point. My next purchase will be the Dynaudio Heritage speakers as they are insanely good 👍
Love the Puscifer song i can't wait to see them,april13th DALI
Dali sounds more collected. Dyns has more resolution and correctness. but considering the price, I will definitely say that Dalis win. And can you plese tell what amplifier is used?
Is the Opticon 2 MK2 much different from the MK1 version in sound? If anyone has heard both. I know the frequency curve is different, but how different do they sound?
Can't compare the DALI are so much fuller and thick the other ones sound very thin.
Opticon or Oberon i get the same sound signature, v shaped sound. The Opticons seems too warm in my opinion, the base bleeds a bit in the low midrange. Nonetheless the Opticons seem more dynamic than the s40. For bass heads these would be great. Sound wise they are clearly different and one can like any of them two. I like the s40s but again, there is more to a speaker than just sound, how's the build quality? How do they sound at louder levels? Is composure there for both? thanks again for posting these videos. i have a question for you : if you had only €2000 to spend on speakers what would you buy, now that you've had experience with quite a few speakers? (just so you know i tend to favor s40-like sound signature speakers).
This is not the reply you hope for, but I can't give you advice on that. In my opinion in hifi over the last years is tha the room will make up for at least 30% of your sound - I fact, my speakers sounded way different when I brought them to others for audition. So my experience, will not help you.
As you can see I voted for the Dynaudio Special 40 as my main speaker (used you can have them for under 2000), but I have seen some people describe them as 'too bright', or 'flat', whereas for me they are the least bright sounding speakers I ever har and in my room they have a beautiful 3D soundstage.
TL; DR: you need to go out and listen for yourself.
@@georgedomse i completely agree with you. Perhaps then the question shoyld be from what you have seen and heard, which ones have made a very good impression from the point of build quality, value for money or even somehow struck you as punching above their level. Ofc again within the 2000eur budget. Thanks
@@apmihai82You have to make the final buying decision. Some highly recommended speakers may completely disappoint you. So auditioning speakers is paramount.
Sp 40’s 👍
Both are great!! But Dali is my choice!!!
Well know s40s, if you like headphone sound s40 is for you, if you like lively 3d sound dalis are better. I listened s40s a lot
Dali😍😍🤔
The Dali sounds ten times better than the Dynaudio.
Dali is good, but it's obvious why Dynaudio is more expensive.
There is a real difference!! Dynaudios are superior
Hello, nice demo. I just wanna ask which hegel amp model you used for this video?
Watch carefully, all equipment is at the start of the video.
Someone wondered the same thing but how does the Opticon MK1 stack up against the new version MK2? Anyone have experience of them both? There is a demo pair (opticon 2 MK1) in my local retailer that’s for sale around $900, bargain or shit.
What did you get
I bought the Wharfedale Evo 4.1, not convinced though@@roybrolsbeak
Thank you for the video. What amplifier do you use?
You're welcome. All the equipment is listed at the start of the video.
@@georgedomse I'm so sorry..thank you :)
I have hegel h190 and opticon2 mk2,but my next speker is dynaudio,0 hearing fatigue.
With the Dali Opticon 2 it is essential that you use the speakers with the grilles on (do not take them off) and without any toe-in (speakers should be placed straight, i.e. with the back side of the speaker parallel to the wall behind them). If you take the grilles off and/or toe-in, you risk the listening fatigue. The listening fatigue is very often (or always?) caused by excessive sound pressure level around the frequency of 3 kHz, i.e. in the range of the transition from mids to treble. I have done some measurements of the Opticons 2 and found that the grille reduces the volume (sound pressure level) in that very region of around 3 kHz by a few dB. This effectively prevents the fatigue but without any excessive safety margin, which in the final effect lets the speakers play crisply and produce a very detailed sound while not being fatiguing. As to the toe-in, the volume of the woofer in the Opticons 2 rises slightly between 3-4 kHz (a natural behavior in almost any woofer, related to cone break-up or resonances at high frequencies (3-4kHz is high for a woofer)). This can be identified by measuring the woofer with a microphone very close to the woofer (e.g. 10 cm). At the same time at these higher frequencies the dispersion of a woofer decreases significantly, i.e. when listened from an angle, say 30 degrees, these elevated 3-4kHz produced by the woofer disappear. And around 30 degrees is the angle at which you listen to the speakers when they are not toed-in. If you toe them in, then you listen to the woofer more on-axis (the speaker firing straight at you and your ears catch some of that slight 3-4kHz elevation of the woofer and this may cause / intensify the listening fatigue). I experienced this fatigue myself with this speakers and after some investigations came to the above conclusions. In general I think these speakers are great. All you need to do is set them up according to the user manual, which says the same as the above hints (grille on and no-toe-in). This is my experience with these speakers. Hope this helps. Note that I am very sensitive to listening fatigue and I would disqualify any speaker for causing it. The Opticons 2 - I greatly like!
Any idea of how the opticon 2 mkii sounds vs AE1 actives?
not easy, very close to each other...very different price
DALI
02:40 good night moon 🌖 👍
Any idea how the Opticon 1 MK2 differs from the Opticon 1 1st series? Slight or more noticeable and in what areas?
I'm in doubt about buying the dali opticon 2 mk2 or dali oberon 3, I would like your opinion please.
The Opticon 2 is a better speaker overall. The Oberons have more bass output but at the same time its less controlled and slower. Midrange will be about the same with the Oberons being a touch cleaner maybe. Highs are way better on the Opticon 2's - less sharp and pokey. With all that they reamin a fun speaker to listen to.
thank you very much for your information, it helps in my choice,thanks for the videos.
5 :15 тут конечно цена зарешала, вот тут прям слышно отличие, в звучании скрипки)
Hi, guys! Can you help me? The question: is it possible to listen to "metal, hard rock music" by using dali opticon 2?
No it isn't.
Dali🥇
To me Dali opticon 2 MK2 sounded better.
The room is made instead of a subwoofer ??? ))
I hear in movie scene the opticon get some trouble with your room in deep bass scene, it is right?
I really like the bass of the Dali's. It's quicker and more precise in my room than the Dynaudio, which is softer and simply more. I always use the Dyno's with the bass reflex port plugged, but I can get away with the ports open on the Dali.
(in all other areas the SP40's win, but at bass, the Dalis are better)
@@georgedomse i Listen so much comparison between the opticon and rubicon series. Vocals and Bass are much better in the rubicon series. But for the money the opticons are a good choice.
@@DonPrimitivo263 at the same time the highs of the Rubicons are waaaaay overboard for me. To much, too intursive, too shrill. But I agree, many like that as many like BnW speakers, which are just horrible for me.
@@georgedomse b&w its to Brighton for me
Dali it’s a bit boomy
dali is ok
How do you connect the tv to the amp?
I connect the optical output of the TV the a DAC (either inside the amp, if it has one, or I use an external DAC), which then goes via quality RCA cables to the amp.
AVR?
No AVR. All the equipment used is listed in the video.
Additionally, if only at that price point if the speaker were wrapped in real wood veneer. Like a black ash or walnut, nothing exotic.
Big difference….Dynaudio SF is much better more detailed and clearer
This is bait clic
Динаудио интересней и больше копают. По всему
There is a real difference!! Dynaudios are superior