DALI OPTICON MK2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Owner’s Manual
- June 4, 2024
- DALI
Table of Contents
OPTICON MK2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Owner’s Manual
OPTICON MK2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
TABLE 1
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your new DALI OPTICON loudspeaker. It is important to us
that you’re new DALI loudspeakers are set up and connected optimally. For this
reason, we recommend that you read this manual and follow its instructions.
The manual contains instructions for setup and connection, as well as tips and
advice on how to get the most out of your new loudspeakers. DALI is acclaimed
around the world for unique loudspeakers built to our uncompromising standards
for design and performance. The goal for every single DALI loudspeaker is
always our foremost commitment: To create a listening experience in your home
that will make you forget time and place. Remember to sign up for the DALI
newsletter at www.dali-speakers.com.
Enjoy!
UNPACKING
Be careful not to damage the contents when you unpack the parts. Depending on which DALI OPTICON model you have bought, different accessories come with the loudspeaker. Check that all parts are contained in the cardboard box (see Table 1). Keep the packaging materials should your speaker need to be relocated or serviced.
2.1 GRILLES
The speakers are delivered with the grille fronts already mounted when you
unpack them. If you wish to remove the grille front, loosen it by gradually
tugging at the plungers that hold it in place. It is important that all
plunges are equally loosened before removing the front. Otherwise, the grille
may be damaged.
POSITIONING
To achieve the best results, the loudspeaker setup should be symmetrical
around your favorite listening position, (see Figure 1A – 1C). We recommend
that you experiment with the position of your loudspeakers – the sound quality
will change depending on the loudspeaker’s position.
For DALI OPTICON 1, OPTICON 2, and DALI OPTICON LCR the speakers should
ideally be positioned so that the tweeter is approximately at ear height when
seated in your favorite listening position. DALI OPTICON 5, 6, and 8 are
designed as floor-standing speakers. They should be positioned a minimum 20 cm
(8”) from the rear wall. DALI OPTICON 2 should likewise be positioned a
minimum of 20 cm (8”) from the rear wall. DALI OPTICON LCR is optimized for
wall mounting, but will also work well on a shelf. If wall mounted there
should be at least 10 cm (4”) to any surface underneath the speaker and if
placed on a shelf there should be at least 10 cm (4”) distance to the wall.
Objects positioned between the speaker and the listening position might
negatively affect sound quality. All DALI OPTICON speakers are designed to
meet our wide dispersion principle, so they should not be angled towards the
listening position, but be positioned parallel with the rear wall (see Figure
2). By parallel positioning, the distortion in the main listening area will be
lowered and the room integration will be better. The wide dispersion principle
also ensures that sound is spread evenly within a large area in the listening
room.
3.1 DALI OPTICON 5, 6 and 8
The speakers are designed to stand on the floor, using spikes or rubber
bumpers under the speakers, (see Figure 3+4). Be careful not to over-tighten
the contra nuts. Spikes or rubber bumpers can improve sound quality. You can
try both to hear what gives the best sound quality in your setup. Please be
aware that spikes may damage the floor if it is not protected.
NOTE: On some floor surfaces and in some rooms, the use of spikes is a
crucial aspect in obtaining the best result. The spikes (included) should be
fastened loosely in the four aluminum feet, leaving the spike’s nut only
slightly tightened. Using the screws, mount the feet in the threaded holes on
the bottom of the speaker. Push the feet against the cabinet before tightening
the screws. Place the loudspeaker upright on its spikes on the floor, so that
it stands steadily without rocking. Tighten the nuts, so that the four spikes
sit tightly in the aluminum feet.
These assembly and setup steps ensure stable mechanical coupling to the
surface beneath (see Figure 3).
3.2 DALI OPTICON 2
DALI OPTICON 2 is optimized for stand mounting, but will also work well on a
shelf. If positioned on a stand or shelf, the enclosed bumpers can be placed
under the speaker for stable and vibration-free positioning (see Figure 4).
3.3 DALI OPTICON 1
There are several placement options for DALI OPTICON 1; on a stand, on a
shelf, on a table-top or wall-mounting. For wall-mounting DALI OPTICON, you
must use the included wall bracket. Before mounting the speaker on the wall,
position the special bumpers – enclosed in the wall bracket packaging – on the
bottom rear edge of the speaker (See figure 5). These bumpers ensure the
correct distance from the wall and ensure secure mounting. If positioned on a
stand or shelf, the enclosed bumpers can be placed under the speaker for
stable and vibration-free positioning (see figure 4).
3.4 DALI OPTICON VOKAL
DALI OPTICON VOKAL is the dedicated center channel and has been specially
designed to be positioned close to the large surface of the TV screen. You can
place it above or below the screen, on a stand or on a shelf. We recommend
fitting the enclosed bumpers to ensure a stable, vibration-free setup (see
figure 6).
3.5 DALI OPTICON LCR
DALI OPTICON LCR is optimized for wall-mounting (see Figure 7), but can be
used on a shelf or TV furniture.
DALI OPTICON LCR can be used as a left, right or center speaker. If used in
the horizontal position the hybrid tweeter module should be rotated so it
stays vertical, which is important to preserve the wide dispersion and fine
detail of the high frequencies. If used in the horizontal position, you can
rotate the DALI logo on the front grille by lifting it up slightly and
rotating it into the desired position (see Figure 8).
The ribbon tweeters are pre-configured for vertical positioning in the factory
and if the speaker is used in the horizontal position, your authorized dealer
or service facility can rotate the ribbon tweeter for you. To remove the
ribbon tweeter from the cabinet, use a 3 mm Allen key (not included) to remove
the four screws. When disassembled, rotate the ribbon tweeter 90 degrees.
Insert the rotated ribbon tweeter and install it, using the four screws
(Figure 9). Be careful not to over-tighten the screws when assembling the
speaker again.
If positioned on a shelf or TV furniture, the enclosed bumpers can be placed
under the speaker (in both the vertical or horizontal position) for stable and
vibration-free positioning (see Figure 4).
CONNECTION
Correct, tight connections to your amplifier are extremely important for your
listening experience.
Always use cables of the same type and length for the left and right channels.
We recommend using the DALI CONNECT speaker cable, available from your dealer.
Connection in the correct phase is a detail that is often ignored. The red (+)
terminal of the amplifier must be connected to the red (+) terminal of the
loudspeaker. The black (-) terminal of the amplifier must be connected to the
black (-) terminal of the loudspeaker (see Figure 11A). Even a single
loudspeaker connected out-of-phase in a stereo or surround installation will
make the bass weaker and the stereo image unfocused.
For the optimal listening experience, the right loudspeaker (as seen from the
listening position) must be connected to the amplifier output terminals marked
“R” or “Right”. The left loudspeaker must be connected to the amplifier output
terminals marked “L” or “Left”.
NOTE: Before connecting cables or changing any connections, ALWAYS turn
off your amplifier.
NOTE: Make sure that bare conductors are tightly gripped by the terminals
with no loose wires which, could cause a short circuit and damage the
amplifier (see Figure 10).
NOTE: If you are using DALI OPTICON in a surround system, follow the
instructions included with your surround amplifier.
RUNNING-IN
Like any mechanical system, a loudspeaker requires a “running-in” period to
perform at its best.
You will experience a gradual increase in sound quality during the first
period of use. The break-in period will vary depending on use and playback
volume. You should expect up to 100 hours of playback until maximum
performance is reached. Unlike other mechanical systems, the life-span of a
loudspeaker is increased by normal, regular playback of music.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Clean the cabinets with a soft, dry cloth. If the cabinets are dirty, wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in an all-purpose cleaner and then well wrung them out. Be very careful when wiping the speaker cones, as they are very fragile. Grille fronts can be cleaned with a clothes brush and wiped with a well-wrung, lint-free cloth and mild all-purpose cleaner.
6.1 AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT:
The surfaces of the speakers may fade or become discolored over time when
exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore avoid positioning the speakers in direct
sunlight.
DISPOSAL
If you want to dispose of this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that requires proper treatment, recovery, and recycling. Private households in the EU member states, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway may return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar new one). If you reside in countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for the correct method of disposal. By following this process, you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery, and recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health.
POWER AND ACOUSTIC PRESSURE
How loud a speaker is able to play and still sound good is completely
dependent on the signal it has to reproduce. So, in practice, it is not
possible to define an unequivocal level for use in comparing different
speakers.
Lots of pure, undistorted output from a large amplifier is better than a
distorted signal from a small amplifier stretched beyond its capacity. The
signal from a distorting (clipping) amplifier contains much more high-
frequency information than an undistorted signal and therefore puts a heavy
strain on the tweeter. Consequently, speakers are often damaged by small
amplifiers, having to work too hard – and very rarely by large amplifiers,
which are practically running idle.
It is worth noting that turning tone controls above the neutral setting
significantly burdens both speakers and amplifiers. On a good sound system
tone, controls should only be used to compensate for poor recordings and not
to permanently compensate for weaknesses elsewhere in the system.
Therefore DALI recommends that the tone controls generally be set to the
neutral position and that you achieve your desired sound image through the
correct positioning of the speakers. Ensuring that you keep the volume low
enough for the sound to remain clear and undistorted will minimize the strain
on both speakers and the amplifier.
All DALI loudspeakers are designed with linear impedance for an optimal
amplifier load. The result is a significantly more open and detailed sonic
image.
THE LISTENING ROOM
Every room has its own distinctive acoustics, which influences the way we
experience sound from a speaker. The sound you hear consists of direct sound
from the speakers and reflected sound from the floor, ceiling, and walls. The
latter will affect how you experience the sound.
As a basic rule, try to avoid large, hard and reflective areas in the
immediate vicinity of your loudspeakers as it will typically cause strong
reflections, which might disturb the precision and spatial effect of the sound
reproduction. Reflection might be suppressed by positioning e.g. a plant
between the speaker and the reflecting surface. Soft items such as carpets,
curtains, etc. might help if the sound is too bright. Both the amount and
quality of the deep bass depend on the size and shape of the room, and the
position of the speakers. Positioning the speakers near a side or back wall
will accentuate the bass. A corner location will accentuate it even more, but
will also increase the reflections.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
In Table 2 you will find the most common specifications for our speakers.
Please have in mind that there are countless methods for measuring speakers.
However, none of them tell you anything useful about how a speaker really
sounds. Only your ears can decide whether one speaker sounds better than
another. Like all our speakers, DALI OPTICON series is designed to reproduce
music as honestly as possible.
Enjoy your new DALI OPTICON!
DALI Denmark +45 9672 1155
www.dali-speakers.com
DALI
OPTICON MK2
QUICK START GUIDE
Pack Contents
Position
Mounting
Wiring
OPTICON MK2
www.dali-
speakers.com/quickstartguides
CONGRATULATION
Join the MyDALI community – register your new DALI OPTICON MK2 on-line
www.dali-speakers.com/mydali
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
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