Dali’s Opticon MK2 range, side by side. Here is the Opticon 2 MK2 between the compact Opticon 1 MK2 and the Opticon 6 MK2 floorstander, showing what your money buys at each step.

The Opticon 2 MK2 is the larger of Dali’s two Opticon standmounts, and for many rooms it is the one to have. It shares the Callisto-derived tweeter and SMC magnet technology of the smaller Opticon 1, but pairs them with a full 6.5-inch driver in a larger cabinet, which buys real bass extension and scale. Like the rest of the range it is made and pair-matched by a single technician in Denmark, and it is notably transparent to the electronics in front of it, which makes it a speaker that rewards careful partnering and improves as the system around it does.

Brief product overview

A two-way dual-flare reflex standmount with a 29mm lightweight soft-dome tweeter derived from the Callisto C, and a 6.5-inch paper and wood-fibre cone bass-midrange driver using Dali’s patented SMC magnet motor, which reduces third-order distortion by minimising hysteresis and eddy currents. The 29mm tweeter is shared across the whole Opticon MK2 range for consistent tonal character in a multichannel setup. The cabinet has a 25mm front baffle and extra internal bracing for rigidity, and the dual-flare reflex ports reduce turbulence for cleaner, more extended bass, tuned to 46Hz. Frequency response runs from 59Hz to 25kHz, sensitivity is 86.5dB with a 4-ohm nominal impedance, and Dali recommends amplification from 30 to 150 watts, with the crossover at 2,000Hz. It measures 351 x 195 x 297mm and weighs 7.8kg each, working from as little as 10cm from a rear wall out to 80cm. It is made in Denmark.

How it sounds

The Opticon 2 MK2 has the clean, low-coloration, detailed character the range is known for, with the larger 6.5-inch driver giving it noticeably more body, scale and bass weight than the Opticon 1, enough to fill a medium room without a subwoofer. The Callisto-derived tweeter keeps the treble refined rather than sharp, and the SMC motor keeps distortion low, so it stays composed and revealing. It is transparent to what feeds it, which is a strength if the electronics are good and a caution if they are not. The two things to plan around are its 4-ohm impedance and 86.5dB sensitivity: this is a demanding load that wants a capable integrated amplifier rather than a budget receiver, and it rewards solid current delivery.

What we’d partner it with

The Onkyo Muse Y-40 is a well-judged match: a compact streaming integrated delivering 150 watts into 4 ohms from an Axign Class D amplifier with MOSFET output, comfortably within the Opticon’s range and with the current its 4-ohm load wants. Streaming covers Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, there is an HDMI ARC input for a television, and a colour display shows playback information, so the pair make a complete system on their own. Good alternatives from brands we carry are integrateds and streaming amplifiers from Bluesound, Rega and NAD.

For vinyl, the Muse Y-40 has a built-in moving-magnet phono stage, so a turntable connects directly. The Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 is a fine partner, a mass-loaded deck with a moving-magnet cartridge fitted, which runs straight into the amplifier’s phono input with nothing else required.

For stands, the Solidsteel NS-6 is a well-made partner, a welded steel design that can be filled for added mass and sets the tweeters near ear level. On cabling, use a well-made speaker cable of appropriate gauge for the run; AudioQuest and Chord are the cable brands we stock.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If your room is small or you sit close, the Opticon 1 MK2 covers similar ground in a smaller cabinet. If you want a floorstander, the Opticon 6 MK2 removes the need for stands and reaches lower. And if your amplifier is a budget receiver not rated for 4 ohms, this is the wrong speaker for it; the Opticon 2 MK2’s load wants a capable integrated that can drive it properly.

The Opticon 2 MK2’s dual-flare ports fire from the rear; it works from as little as 10cm from a wall, though a little more space tightens the bass, and Dali suggests up to 80cm. Set them on the Solidsteel NS-6 stands, which can be filled with sand or shot for added mass, placing the tweeters near ear level. Set the Muse Y-40 up through the Onkyo Controller app, using Ethernet where you can, and connect a television to the HDMI ARC input if you want one. For vinyl, connect the Debut EVO 2 to the moving-magnet phono input and its earth to the ground terminal.