Dali Opticon 1 MK2 – Stand Mount Bookshelf Speaker

DALI OPTICON 1 MK2 – Stand Mount Bookshelf Speaker

The OPTICON 1 MK2 is a compact stand-mount speaker that delivers remarkable bass performance for its size that integrates perfectly with the inherent midrange and high-frequency quality of its drivers. Designed for small to medium-sized rooms, this high-performance bookshelf speaker includes our signature wood fibre cone and patented low-loss SMC magnet system, delivering low distortion, minimal colouration and high power handling.

• 29mm soft dome tweeter
• 4.75" wood fibre woofer with SMC
• Dual Flare rear ported cabinet design
• Wall mountable
• Hand-assembled and pair-matched in Denmark
• 5 Year Warranty

Highlights & Key Technologies

High-Performance Audio
The OPTICON 1 MK2 builds on the impressive MK1 series to create a true 2-way compact performer. Designed for small to medium-sized rooms, this high-performance bookshelf speaker includes our signature wood fibre cone and patented low-loss SMC magnet system, delivering low distortion, minimal colouration and high power handling. The OPTICON 1 MK2 is fully assembled at our production facilities in Denmark using components produced in-house or sourced from the best local specialist manufacturers and further afield.

Dual Flare Reflex Ports
As a reflex-loaded speaker, the OPTICON 1 MK2 channels unused acoustic output generated by the woofer to extend low-frequency bandwidth and increase power handling. The newly introduced OPTICON MK2 Dual Flare technique brings port design into the realm of aerodynamics with exit and entry flares carefully designed to minimise turbulence at the airflow rate expected from the port diameter and tuning frequency. Using a dual flare shape that minimises turbulence at the entry and exit flares, Dual Flare enables OPTICON MK2 reflex ports to remain laminar and work effectively to reinforce low-frequency performance to a significantly higher volume level than would otherwise be possible with single or non-flared ports, reducing compression and distortion.

Patented SMC
The OPTICON 1 MK2 driver magnet system consists of a large ferrite ring magnet surrounding a pole piece manufactured entirely of the unique DALI SMC (Soft Magnetic Composite) material. SMC's unusual combination of very high magnetic permeability and very low electrical conductivity is exactly what is required for driver magnet systems. The use of SMC works primarily by minimising eddy currents in the magnet system pole piece, which arise through the movement of the voice-coil around the pole-piece and create a secondary magnetic field that modulates the input signal. SMC greatly reduces mechanical distortion caused by hysteresis and eddy currents, and also improves flux linearity within the magnet system, reduces magnetic hysteresis, and minimises the variation of voice-coil inductance with position. All of these SMC benefits together result in a drastic reduction in third-order distortion for extended listening pleasure, a relaxed midrange and a surprising amount of detailing.

Lightweight Soft Dome Tweeter
The lightweight 29 mm soft dome tweeter is derived from our CALLISTO C series and offers significant advances over the tweeters used in the OPTICON MK1 series. The relatively small increase in diameter over the previous 28 mm tweeter results in a significant increase in dome radiating area which means lower distortion, higher power handling and extended low-frequency response. The 29 mm tweeter is also used throughout the OPTICON MK2 series for consistent tonal character and dispersion characteristics, for example in a multichannel surround setup. The tweeter is equipped with high flux saturation and very low-viscosity ferro-fluid in its magnet gap which provides increased power handling and resonance damping without slowing the impulse response speed of its ultra-light coated diaphragm.

Wood Fibre Woofer
The 4¾" OPTICON 1 MK2 bass/midrange driver has been designed according to our sound design principles of low loss, low distortion and low colouration. The ideal driver plays only what the amplifier supplies... nothing is added, nothing is taken away. Every OPTICON 1 MK2 component is carefully designed to contribute towards this goal, including the paper pulp and wood fibre cone, which ensures minimal break-up resonance for a high resolution midrange and precise, coherent bass. The DALI EPICON-derived diaphragms are made from a mix of paper and wood fibre that ensures minimal break-up resonance and gives the diaphragms their distinctive colour. They are terminated by rubber surrounds chosen for their soft and very flexible mechanical properties that enable free movement with minimal low frequency damping.

Manufactured in Denmark
With a 25 mm thick front baffle and extra internal bracing, the OPTICON 1 MK2 cabinet is extremely rigid and practically eliminates panel resonance. To ensure the best possible quality product, we manufacture and test OPTICON MK2 series speakers at our production facilities in central Denmark, carrying out everything from cutting and routing of the wood laminate panels to installing the drivers and crossover. Each OPTICON MK2 enclosure is designed to optimise rigidity and minimise panel resonance. The OPTICON 1 MK2 front grilles are attached via inserts integrated elegantly into the tweeter and bass/mid driver faceplates and chassis, securing the grilles in a manner that eliminates the possibility of resonance and also leaves the baffle surface aesthetically clean without unnecessary and distracting visual features.

Manufacturing in Pairs
There's many respects in which DALI stands out among the crowd of HiFi speaker manufacturers, but one in particular is our approach to pair matching – in terms of both acoustics and finish quality. DALI manufacturing processes are designed around the idea that speakers used and enjoyed in pairs should also be built as pairs! So our process ensures that stereo pairs of speakers are built and tested sequentially by a single manufacturing technician, using components taken in the same order from the same batch. It's a process that not only helps ensure ultimate acoustic pair matching, but it means also that the small details that make such a difference to quality and pride of ownership are properly attended to. Examine a pair of DALI speakers and you'll see that they carry the same serial number, with just a simple extension to denote Left or Right.

Re-Engineered Crossover
For all the OPTICON MK2 models we returned to first principles and started afresh with crossover design to ensure that the theoretical benefits of the new drivers would be fully realised in the subjective performance of the systems - working with the natural response characteristics of the drivers rather than against them. We also worked hard to make the filter topology as simple as possible with the minimum of components between the amplifier and drivers. Furthermore, as part of the crossover design exercise, we made sure to upgrade the quality of some individual crossover components – lower loss capacitors in particular. The result is a noticeable increase in overall coherence, detail and precision. The crossover assembly is located internally adjacent to the terminal panel in order to shorten signal paths, and the connection terminals are gold plated to ensure long term reliable connections.

Details & Specifications

MODEL INFORMATION
Model: OPTICON 1 MK2
Series: OPTICON MK2
Warranty: 5 Years
Available Finishes: Satin Black, Satin White, Tobacco Oak
Country of Origin: Denmark

ACOUSTIC DESIGN
Crossover Principle: 2-way
Crossover Frequencies: 3,000 Hz
Enclosure Type: Bass reflex (rear-ported with Dual Flare ports)
Bass Reflex Tuning Frequency: 60 Hz

DRIVERS
High Frequency Driver: 1x 29mm soft dome tweeter (CALLISTO-derived)
Low/Mid Frequency Driver: 1x 4.75" wood fibre cone woofer
Woofer Material: Paper pulp and wood fibre blend
Woofer Surround: Rubber (soft and flexible for minimal low-frequency damping)
Driver Chassis: Die-cast aluminium
Magnet System: Large ferrite ring magnet with SMC pole piece

SMC TECHNOLOGY
Material: Soft Magnetic Composite (SMC)
Magnetic Permeability: Very high
Electrical Conductivity: Very low
Application: Full pole piece construction

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Range (+/- 3 dB): 62 Hz - 25,000 Hz
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 85 dB
Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms
Maximum SPL (@ 1m): 105 dB
Recommended Amplifier Power: 25 - 100 watts

CONNECTIONS
Terminals: Gold-plated binding posts
Terminal Type: Single-wire
Connection Configuration: Single input per speaker

CABINET CONSTRUCTION
Front Baffle Thickness: 25mm
Internal Bracing: Extra bracing for rigidity and resonance elimination
Cabinet Material: MDF with laminate finish
Grille Attachment: Integrated into tweeter and woofer faceplates/chassis (no visible attachment points)
Grille Fabric: Furniture grade cloth (Black for Satin Black and Tobacco Oak, Light Grey for Satin White)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions (H x W x D): 261 x 152 x 231 mm / 10.3 x 6.0 x 9.1 inches
Weight: 4.6 kg / 10.1 lb per speaker
Recommended Placement: Stand/Shelf/Wall
Recommended Distance from Rear Wall: 2 - 80 cm / 1 - 32 inches

MOUNTING
Wall Mounting: Keyhole slot wall mounting bracket included
Floor Placement: Rubber feet included

MANUFACTURING & QUALITY
Assembly: Hand-assembled in Denmark
Pair Matching: Built and tested sequentially by single technician using components from same batch
Component Sourcing: In-house production or local specialist manufacturers
Serial Numbers: Same serial number with L/R designation for matched pairs
Quality Control: Full testing and QA at Danish production facilities

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
OPTICON 1 MK2 speakers (matched pair)
Rubber feet
Keyhole wall mounting bracket
Manual