DALI Opticon Vokal MK2 Center Speaker, Tobacco Oak (Each)

The DALI Opticon Vokal MK2 is a center speaker that anchors a film's dialogue track exactly where the picture is – here in the warm Tobacco Oak finish.

As the center of the Danish Opticon MK2 series, it shares drivers and tuning with the rest of the range, from the Opticon 1 MK2 to the Opticon 8 MK2. Tobacco Oak is the choice for anyone who doesn't want a black box under the TV: warm wood tone, matte surface, matching oak furniture and bright living rooms. The front grille included from the factory is black on this finish.

Why the Opticon Vokal MK2?

Because two front speakers only simulate the center. Sit off the middle axis and voices drift towards the nearer box – a dedicated center keeps them anchored to the screen. The hybrid tweeter made of a 29 mm fabric dome and a 17 × 45 mm ribbon radiates so broadly that even the corner seat on the sofa still understands everything. The SMC magnet system in the 165 mm wood fibre driver keeps distortion low in the midrange – exactly where speech lives.

What you hear

Speech without the typical harshness that budget centers show in loud scenes. The Vokal MK2 plays down to 47 Hz and lets even deep male voices stand fully on their own, rather than handing them off to the subwoofer. Up top it runs to 30,000 Hz, which renders consonants cleanly rather than sharply. In practice, that means: you turn it down and understand more. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil use exactly this effect when planning a home cinema with customers that stays family-friendly even late in the evening.

Who is the Opticon Vokal MK2 suited to?

Plain talk: if you own an Opticon MK2 front, there's hardly a way around it. If you have a TV cabinet with only 40 cm of internal width, though, measure first – 43.5 cm doesn't forgive wishful thinking. And for a pure stereo setup without a screen, a center is simply the wrong speaker; put your budget into the front speakers instead.

Our verdict

The Vokal MK2 is the center for people who watch films for the story, not the explosions. Tobacco Oak also makes it living-room-friendly – it looks like furniture, not technology. Forward-firing bass reflex ports, a moderate 30 to 150 watts of power requirement and the series' familiar tuning make integration easy. Tell us which front you're running, and we'll tell you honestly whether the switch is worth it.

Technical data

• Principle: 2½-way, bass reflex with two forward-firing ports
• Frequency range: 47 – 30,000 Hz (±3 dB)
• Sensitivity: 88 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω
• Maximum SPL: 109 dB
• Recommended amplifier power: 30 – 150 W
• Midrange/woofer: 1 × 165 mm (6½ inch), wood fibre cone with SMC magnet system
• Tweeter: hybrid – 29 mm fabric dome + 17 × 45 mm ribbon
• Crossover frequencies: 2,400 / 14,000 Hz
• Bass reflex tuning: 44 Hz
• Connection: one pair of binding posts, single-wiring (no bi-wiring)
• Dimensions (H × W × D): 201 × 435 × 312 mm (incl. feet and front grille)
• Weight: 9.2 kg
• Finishes: Black Ash, White Satin Matte, Tobacco Oak
• What's included: center speaker, black front grille, rubber feet, user manual

Frequently asked questions

Does Tobacco Oak match the other Opticon MK2 models?

Yes, the finish is available across the whole series. Opticon 1, 2, 6 and 8 MK2 are also available in Tobacco Oak, so front, center and surrounds can all carry the same wood tone. The surface has no effect on the sound; it's purely a matter of decor.

What colour is the included front grille?

Black. DALI supplies the Tobacco Oak and Black Ash finishes with a black covering from the factory, and the white model with a light grey one. If you want a different colour on the oak center, you can get grey or white as a separate front grille – purely visual, with no effect on sound.

Does the Vokal MK2 need a subwoofer?

For films, yes; for normal TV viewing, not necessarily. The center reproduces speech down to 47 Hz and covers the vocal range completely. Everything below that – earthquakes, deep synthesisers, action scenes – is handled far more confidently by a subwoofer than by a center of this size.

How do I connect the center?

Via a pair of binding posts on the back, with speaker cable to your AV receiver's center output. Bi-wiring isn't provided and isn't necessary either. Watch the polarity: red to red, black to black, or the center audibly loses substance and presence.

How big does the surface it stands on need to be?

Reckon on 43.5 cm width, 31.2 cm depth and 20.1 cm height including feet and front grille. At 9.2 kg, the surface should be stable. Because both bass reflex ports fire forward, it needs little clearance to the rear wall – which saves space in shallow furniture.

Why buy the Opticon Vokal MK2 in Tobacco Oak from HD Zürisee?

Because we plan the home cinema as a whole, not sell it as separate parts. As an authorised DALI dealer, we work out the front, surrounds, cabling and placement with you, deliver to your home and install on site if you like. Message us on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

Front speakers in a matching finish are under Floorstanding speakers, compact surrounds under Bookshelf speakers. For deep bass, take a look at the Subwoofers, and for the right receiver, the Amplifiers. Everything around a film setup is under Home cinema, the whole brand under DALI.