DALI Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 5.0 Set, Black (Set)

The DALI Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 5.0 Set is a complete home cinema speaker package from the Danish Opticon MK2 series, bundling two floorstanding speakers, a center and two bookshelf speakers in Black Ash into one consistently tuned 5.0 system.

Two Opticon 8 MK2 stand at the front – 1.14-metre-tall 3½-way towers with two 20 cm woofers each and their own 16.5 cm midrange driver. The Opticon Vokal MK2 sits between them as the center, and two compact Opticon 1 MK2 take the surround channels at the back. The black ash veneer with black grilles lets the towers recede visually – quite handy at 34 kilos per side.

Why the Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 5.0 Set?

Because this isn't five random speakers plugged together, but a family. All five work with DALI wood fibre cones and the patented SMC magnet motor, which noticeably lowers distortion in the drive. The front and center also share the hybrid tweeter made of a 29 mm fabric dome and a 17 × 45 mm planar driver; the Opticon 1 MK2 at the back use the same dome without the planar unit. Tonally, the same signature runs through every channel – and that's exactly what marks out a set conceived as a system.

What you hear

Bass first. Four 20 cm drivers at the front move enough air that orchestras and film scores really carry at the bottom instead of merely hinting at it; it stops at 38 Hz, which you rarely hear. Because the midrange driver sits in its own sealed chamber with its own job to do, voices stay free of the bass action. The Vokal MK2 sets dialogue clearly in the middle, even when things get loud all around. And the Opticon 1 MK2 at the back deliver precise effects without pushing themselves forward – surround should build space, not demand attention.

Who is the 5.0 Set suited to?

Plain talk: for large rooms. Under around 25 square metres, the Opticon 8 MK2 don't get to show their strengths – they overwhelm the room instead. You also need amplification that drives cleanly at 4 ohms – DALI states 40 to 300 watts for the front. If you live smaller or work with a modest entry-level AV receiver, the smaller 6/1/Vokal set suits you better. And if you want to feel the last rumble under 38 Hz at blockbusters, plan for a subwoofer: the set ships as 5.0, not 5.1.

Our verdict

A set for people who don't want to separate cinema and music. The Opticon 8 MK2 are fully grown floorstanding speakers, not a cinema afterthought – stereo works here just as convincingly as five-channel sound. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil plan the placement and matching electronics with you, so that five very good speakers also become a very good system.

Technical data

• Configuration: 5.0 home cinema set, expandable to 5.1 with a subwoofer
• 2 × Opticon 8 MK2 (front): 3½-way bass reflex floorstanding speaker, 38–30,000 Hz (±3 dB), 88.5 dB (2.83 V/1 m), 4 Ω, max. 112 dB, recommended amplifier power 40–300 W
• Opticon 8 MK2 drivers: 2 × 200 mm woofer + 1 × 165 mm midrange (wood fibre), hybrid tweeter 29 mm fabric dome + 17 × 45 mm planar driver
• Opticon 8 MK2 further: crossovers at 380 / 2,200 / 14,000 Hz, bass reflex with rear port, tuned to 29.5 Hz, midrange in its own sealed chamber, bi-wiring and bi-amping possible
• Dimensions Opticon 8 MK2 (W × H × D): 241 × 1,141 × 450 mm, 34.0 kg each
• 1 × Opticon Vokal MK2 (center): 2½-way bass reflex with front ports, 47–30,000 Hz (±3 dB), 88 dB, 4 Ω, max. 109 dB, recommended amplifier power 30–150 W
• Opticon Vokal MK2 drivers: 1 × 165 mm woofer/midrange, hybrid tweeter 29 mm fabric dome + 17 × 45 mm planar driver, crossovers at 2,400 / 14,000 Hz, tuned to 44 Hz, single-wire
• Dimensions Opticon Vokal MK2 (W × H × D): 435 × 201 × 312 mm, 9.2 kg
• 2 × Opticon 1 MK2 (surround): 2-way bass reflex bookshelf speaker, 62–25,000 Hz (±3 dB), 85 dB, 4 Ω, max. 105 dB, recommended amplifier power 25–100 W
• Opticon 1 MK2 drivers: 1 × 120 mm woofer/midrange, 29 mm fabric dome without planar driver, crossover at 3,000 Hz, tuned to 60 Hz, single-wire
• Dimensions Opticon 1 MK2 (W × H × D): 152 × 261 × 231 mm, 4.6 kg each
• Total set weight: approx. 86 kg
• Finish: Black Ash with black front grilles; DALI builds the Opticon 8 MK2 exclusively in Black Ash and Tobacco Oak
• Front grilles: sit on pins that engage with the surrounds of the tweeter and woofers/midrange – no magnetic mounting
• What's included: 2 × Opticon 8 MK2 with cast-aluminium plinths, spikes and damping pads to choose from, mounting tools and jumper links; 1 × Opticon Vokal MK2 and 2 × Opticon 1 MK2 with rubber feet; front grilles for all five speakers; manuals

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a subwoofer with the DALI Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 Set?

Not for music and most films. The four 20 cm woofers of the two Opticon 8 MK2 reach down to 38 Hz and carry effortlessly. If you want to physically feel LFE effects below that mark, upgrade the 5.0 set later to a 5.1 system with a matching subwoofer.

Do all five speakers have the same tweeter?

Not quite. The two Opticon 8 MK2 and the Vokal MK2 center use the hybrid tweeter made of a 29 mm fabric dome and a 17 × 45 mm planar driver. The Opticon 1 MK2 at the back work with the same 29 mm dome, but without the planar unit. That's no drawback for surround channels – the tonal colour stays consistent across all five channels.

Which amplifier suits the Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 Set?

A load-stable AV receiver or a multi-channel power amp that drives cleanly at 4 ohms. DALI recommends 40 to 300 watts for the Opticon 8 MK2, 30 to 150 watts for the center. Current delivery capability matters more than raw wattage; we're happy to go through your electronics with you.

How much space do the Opticon 8 MK2 need?

Each tower measures 1,141 mm in height, 241 mm in width and 450 mm in depth and weighs 34 kilograms. Reckon on at least 25 to 30 square metres of floor space and some distance from the rear wall, so the bass reflex system, tuned to 29.5 hertz, can breathe freely.

Why does this set only come in two finishes?

Because DALI builds the Opticon 8 MK2 exclusively in Black Ash and Tobacco Oak. The center and surrounds would also be available in Silk White, but the large towers wouldn't – and a white center in front of black towers wouldn't be a set, it would be a compromise. That's why it stays at two colours.

Why buy the DALI Opticon 8/1/Vokal MK2 Set from HD Zürisee?

Because a 5.0 system of this size lives on placement, room and electronics – and that's exactly where experience helps. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil advise you on the right amplification, and our technician Mauri delivers and sets it up on site. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, message us on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

More ready-made packages are in HiFi sets, further combinations for the cinema under Home cinema and Home cinema speakers. The matching deep bass for a 5.1 upgrade is with the Subwoofers, the whole Danish range in the DALI overview.