Description

DALI OPTICON 8 MK2

The large floorstanding speaker OPTICON 8 MK2 is the conspicuous flagship of the new series and its only three-way system. The equipment here includes two woofers with an SMC magnet system and 200 mm (8”) wood fiber cones and a 165 mm (6 ½”) midrange driver, again with an SMC magnet system and a wood fiber cone. If required, the OPTICON 8 MK2 can be connected via bi-wiring using two separate loudspeaker cables for the woofers and mid-range speakers as well as the tweeter module. The midrange and hybrid tweeter are positioned in the baffle between the two widely spaced woofers to deliver higher and mid-range frequencies at ear level for the seated listener. In addition, the bass reproduction improves with a greater distance between the woofers. The DALI hybrid tweeter with the new 8 mm fabric dome taken from the CALLISTO series and the 2 x 29 mm ribbon is located above the midrange driver of the OPTICON 17 MK45.

The interior of the OPTICON 8 MK2 is divided into separate housing chambers by non-parallel partitions, so that the individual drivers can work independently of each other and disruptive resonances are minimized. At the same time, the rigidity of the housing is significantly improved. Each woofer is also assigned its own dual-flare bass reflex tube. Thanks to its size and the three-way system, the OPTICON 8 MK2 offers a playback quality that is unmatched by any other OPTICON model. It combines a powerful bass foundation, ample reserves even for high playback levels and dynamic precision with the extraordinary richness of detail that results from the use of a dedicated midrange driver. The hybrid tweeter, on the other hand, pleases with a detailed and three-dimensional, but at the same time soft and pleasing sound.

The scope of delivery of the OPTICON 8 MK2 includes base traverses made of cast aluminium. They are supplemented with either black chrome spikes or (if installation on sensitive floors is planned) vibration-reducing damping pads. Tools for mounting the trusses and spikes are included in the scope of delivery.

The OPTICON 8 MK2 is available in tobacco oak and ash black housing versions.

BASS REFLEX SYSTEM

The OPTICON 8 MK2 has a bass reflex system with special dual flare reflex tubes that are shaped like a funnel at both ends. This avoids turbulence – comparable to a water jet, which should not be disturbed by bubbling or splashing – and the sound reaches the outside with an optimal air flow speed and minimal distortion and flow noise, taking into account the pipe diameter and tuning frequency. The result is a significantly more powerful and extremely clean bass reproduction.

Bass reflex systems use the rear-radiated acoustic energy of the woofers to increase the efficiency and level in the bass range. For this purpose, the housing has additional openings with inward-facing reflex tubes that are precisely matched to its resonant frequency. With this arrangement, the phase of the rear-firing woofer signals is reversed so that they add to the front-firing sound. In order for this system to work, the reflex openings and tubes must be precisely matched to the respective chassis and housing, otherwise individual frequency ranges can be unnaturally emphasized or the impulse fidelity can deteriorate.

SMC MAGNETIC SYSTEM

DALI SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) is a coated magnetic granulate that can be molded into almost any desired shape and offers numerous advantages when used in loudspeaker magnet systems. SMC is characterized by a very unusual combination of very high magnetic permeability and very low electrical conductivity. These are exactly the desired properties for the magnets in our loudspeakers. They reduce electroacoustic distortions to a considerable degree.

The use of SMC reduces eddy currents in the pole piece of the magnet system caused by the movement of the voice coil around the pole piece. They create a secondary magnetic field that modulates the input signal and leads to increased harmonic distortion. In addition, SMC also improves flux linearity within the magnet system, reduces magnetic hysteresis, and minimizes voice coil inductance variations as a function of its position. All in all, the advantages of SMC mentioned lead to a significant reduction in discolouration and superimposition, especially at low listening levels

HYBRID TWEETER

FABRIC CAP
The 29 mm fabric dome is a new development based on the CALLISTO series tweeter. The slightly larger diameter leads to a significant increase in the sound-emitting membrane area, which is associated with lower distortion, higher power handling and a frequency range that is extended downwards. The use of an identical tweeter dome in all six OPTICON MK2 models not only leads to a consistent sound character - it also enables a crossover topology that is similar in all models, which results in a uniform radiation behavior.

The new OPTICON MK2 fabric dome allows the crossover frequency to be reduced to 2 kHz without fear of distortion or limitations in the power handling. An extremely low-viscosity magnetic fluid ensures high resonance damping and higher power handling without impairing the impulse response speed of the particularly light, coated membrane.

HYBRID TWEETER
The newly designed hybrid tweeter of the OPTICON MK2 series combines a 29 mm fabric dome adapted from the CALLISTO loudspeaker series with a newly developed 17 × 45 mm ribbon. Both tweeters are mounted on a cast aluminum plate, which also ensures optimal horizontal radiation.

The hybrid tweeter is tuned in such a way that the ribbon emits all frequencies above 14 kHz - below that, the fabric dome intervenes in the musical events. The ribbon extends the frequency response of the overall system up to 30 kHz and at the same time improves the horizontal dispersion at the highest frequencies in a way that would otherwise not be possible. The new hybrid tweeter combines the best of both worlds: the clarity, speed and dynamics of a dome and the attention to detail and finesse of a ribbon tweeter.

MIDDLE AND WOOFER

The OPTICON 8 MK2 works with two 200 mm (8″) woofers with a 165 mm (6 ½”) midrange driver. Both have DALI's patented SMC magnet system and the reddish shimmering wood fiber membranes. They are made from a mixture of paper and wood fibers that ensures minimal fracturing resonances and gives the membranes their distinctive DALI trademark colour. Particularly flexible rubber surrounds allow free cone movement with minimal low-frequency damping.

The extremely rigid and low-resonance driver baskets are made of die-cast aluminum. They are designed in such a way that on the one hand they do not impede the air flow within the housing in any way and at the same time an extremely strong mechanical connection with the loudspeaker housings is ensured.

The OPTICON 8 MK2 driver magnet system consists of a large ferrite ring magnet surrounding a pole piece made entirely of the unique DALI SMC material. The pole piece and ferrite magnet are mounted between the soft iron front and back plates to create the appropriate magnetic field for the voice coil.

CASING

Each OPTICON MK2 cabinet has been optimized for maximum rigidity and minimum surface resonance. The 25 mm thick baffle of the OPTICON 8 MK2 offers the drivers installed in it optimal, unshakable working conditions. The floorstanding speaker also features additional internal bracing to increase rigidity and virtually eliminate cabinet resonance.

The OPTICON 8 MK2 is supplied with two base traverses made of cast aluminum, which are screwed under the housing and give the loudspeakers a secure footing. The trusses are either fitted with spikes or - when installed on sensitive floors - with vibration-damping rubber pads. Tools for attaching the trusses and spikes are included.

The loudspeakers of the OPTICON MK2 series are manufactured by DALI in Denmark. Our in-house wood processing facility covers all aspects of manufacturing; from cutting and milling the MDF case parts to surface finishing and assembling the case. The installation of the drivers and crossovers as well as the final quality check and approval for each individual loudspeaker are also carried out on our own production lines.

Additional information