DALI Opticon 8 MK2 Floorstanding Speakers, Tobacco Oak (Pair)

The DALI Opticon 8 MK2 is a 3½-way floorstanding speaker from Denmark with two 20 cm woofers, a separate 16.5 cm midrange driver and a hybrid tweeter made of a fabric dome and planar ribbon.

Tobacco Oak is the warmer of the two finishes: a brownish oak look that visually takes a few kilos off the large cabinet. Technically, both versions are identical – the 8 is the flagship of the Opticon series, with non-parallel internal panels against standing waves, a 25 mm thick baffle and SMC in the magnet system. It's developed and built in DALI's own factory in Denmark.

Why the Opticon 8 MK2?

Because here, size leads to calm rather than noise. Two 20 cm bass drivers never need to hit their limit for a full deep bass, the dedicated midrange takes on the range where vocals and instruments live, and the planar ribbon adds fine air up top without hissing. Crossovers sit at 380, 2,200 and 14,000 Hz – each driver does exactly what it's best at.

What you'll hear

Calm at level. A big band stays intelligible right into the brass section, a double bass keeps string and body instead of just thump. Because the midrange gets none of the deep bass, vocalists stay cleanly positioned even when things get busy underneath. The rear dual-flare reflex port wants air for that: don't put the speakers in a corner, and the bass will be right too.

Who is the Opticon 8 MK2 suited to?

Plain and simple: this is a speaker for large rooms from about 25 to 30 m² upward. In an 18 m² room, it won't make you happy, no matter how nicely the Tobacco Oak matches the parquet. It needs 30 to 150 cm of clearance from the rear wall and an amplifier with substance: below 40 watts it stays tame, from around 150 watts at 4 ohms it becomes assured.

Our verdict

If you have the space, you get a lot of speaker for the footprint here – dynamic, deep and still organised, with treble you can stand for hours. Tobacco Oak makes the whole thing more homely without looking rustic. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we plan placement and electronics with you before 34 kilos per side end up in your living room.

Technical specifications

• Design: 3½-way, bass reflex (dual flare, rear)
• Frequency range: 38 – 30,000 Hz (±3 dB)
• Bass reflex tuning: 29.5 Hz
• Sensitivity: 88.5 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω
• Maximum SPL: 112 dB
• Woofers: 2 × 20 cm (8 in), wood fibre cone
• Midrange: 1 × 16.5 cm (6½ in), wood fibre cone
• Tweeter: Hybrid – 29 mm fabric dome + 17 × 45 mm planar ribbon
• Crossover frequencies: 380 / 2,200 / 14,000 Hz
• Recommended amplifier power: 40 – 300 W
• Connection: double terminal (gold-plated screw terminals), bi-wiring / bi-amping
• Baffle thickness: 25 mm
• Recommended wall clearance: 30 – 150 cm
• Dimensions (H×W×D): 1141 × 241 × 450 mm
• Weight: 34.0 kg each
• Finishes: Tobacco Oak, Black Ash
• Included: pair of speakers, front covers, die-cast aluminium plinth braces, spikes with lock nuts, damping pads, cable jumpers, assembly tools, user manual

Frequently asked questions

How much wall clearance does the Opticon 8 MK2 need?

DALI recommends 30 to 150 centimetres to the rear wall. The bass reflex port radiates backwards; if the speaker sits too close to the wall, the low end gets thick and lacks definition. More distance brings soundstage, less brings level – we'll help you find the right balance together.

What does 3½-way mean on the Opticon 8 MK2?

It means the two 20 cm drivers don't do the same job. One runs all the way up to the crossover at 380 Hz, the other is already rolled off below that – that's the "half" way. Above that, the 16.5 cm midrange takes over, and from 2,200 Hz the hybrid tweeter. The result is bass extension without crowding in the midrange.

Why does the tweeter sit between the woofers?

Because this layout puts the midrange and treble at ear height and distributes bass energy more evenly in the room. The result is fewer boom frequencies at the listening position and a soundstage that doesn't tilt as soon as you move on the sofa. At 1,141 millimetres of cabinet height, that works for normal seating positions.

Why order the DALI Opticon 8 MK2 in Tobacco Oak from HD Zürisee?

Because since 1997, getting music running properly in the living room is all we do. We deliver the pair, set it up, check the room placement and stay reachable afterwards – service and installation are handled by our own technician. Get in touch on 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

More floorstanders are shown in the Floorstanding Speakers collection, matching electronics under Integrated Amplifiers. If this is going to become a multi-channel system, Home Cinema will help. Everything from the brand is under DALI.