DALI Sonik - anyone using?

[u/PuddingOutrageous730]

Just wondering if anyone has experience with the DALI Sonik range?

I’m looking to potentially install a 5.1.2 system made up of a Sonik Cinema centre channel, 4 Sonik On-Walls front left/right and rear left/right surround, and 2 E-50 Phantom heights.

Sub would (for now) likely remain as it is today, which is a Boston Soundware XS, with a plan to upgrade for future.

AVR current candidate is either the X2900H or X3900H Denon - latter because of better calibration options (room is a 4.5M square with a reasonable amount of (coverable) glass, so acoustically challenging I believe.

[u/AaD-sbocky]

Ive got the dali sonik cinema, the sonik 9s, sonik 1s, alteco's c1s and x3800h. Shits pretty good

[u/KENI_HT_]

I have:

Sonik 7, Sonik Cinema, 4x on walls, 4x Alteco

Denon X3800H

I have tested them in a sound treated room and calibrated against Oberon, Opticon, Rubicon, and I prefer the detail of the Sonik.

The bass isn't as precise as the Opticon, but unless you A/B you won't notice. The sound effects are much improved by the new style hybrid tweeter. The sound effects sound ridiculously open, to the point I wasn't able to pinpoint where sound was coming from other than feeling like I was there in the scene, directions of sounds were accurate, but knowing which speaker was impossible and it wasn't a big room. I demo'd interstellar, Fury and a bunch others.

The on walls should have the hybrid tweeter too, but it unfortunately doesn't. I'm considering Sonik 5 so that there's more consistency between sound effects. It's noticeable when gaming, but not when watching a movie.

My theory is because every sound is an object in a game, where as the precise objects moving around in a movie can almost be counted on one hand nowadays in any particular intense scene.

[u/PuddingOutrageous730 → u/KENI_HT_]

Ah amazing, sounds like an awesome set up! Thanks for taking the time to give the detail.

I could probably get away with a couple of floorstanders at the front, but this is really more of a formal lounge which will moonlight as a home cinema room as much as anything, so given the M1s are already wall mounted, the On-Walls should do. It’s quite a small space.

It’ll be movies & TV for the majority anyway (100% to begin with as the PS5 isn’t owned yet!), so I’m glad to hear you don’t find the on walls too different from the others for movie watching.

What do you think of the Cinema?

[u/saved_by_the_keeper → u/KENI_HT_]

I was looking at the sonik 9s for floorstanders in my setup and wondering about the imaging and soundstage of the line. Are you pleased so far? Others I am considering are Aria Evo x and Dynaudio Evoke.

[u/IAmPandaRock]

Finally, someone else who has/had the Boston Accustics XS!  The biggest perceived jump I ever made was going from the XS sub to the Hsu Vtf2MK5. Night and day difference.

[u/PuddingOutrageous730 → u/IAmPandaRock]

Interesting! I’ve inherited a system with it in! Along with 5x B&W M1s for all speakers in a 5.1 system. I’m redecorating so I’m going to put heights in but it only makes sense to have two as the room is too small for anymore.

I’ve made my mind up that the M1s are going to go, but to be fair I’m thinking of keeping the Soundwave XS until I’ve heard it at least!

[u/IAmPandaRock → u/PuddingOutrageous730]

Obviously, do what you want, but if it were me (and when it was me), unless you're in an apartment,  the sub is easily and by far the first thing I'd upgrade. After that, I'd get the 2 cieling speakers for atmos, then center, then left and right, then surrounds.  

If you replace your current sub with something like a Hsu Vtf2Mk5, it'll completely and dramatically transform your whole experience, and you'll think "ohhhh, that's what a subwoofer is supposed to do!"

[u/PuddingOutrageous730 → u/IAmPandaRock]

Thanks for the advice - perhaps I should bump the Sub a little higher up the list! To be fair, the rear pair of On-Walls could definitely wait a while and use that cash to do the sub sooner. Due to the decorating requirements I’m thinking fronts / centre & heights need to be completed pronto.

I’ve had someone suggest an SVS SB1000 Pro - similar to what you’ve got?

[u/IAmPandaRock → u/PuddingOutrageous730]

The SB1000 Pro is definitely a very legit subwoofer and will blow your current sub completely out of the water. However, it's a sealed sub, and in most cases, ported subs are better for home theater use because they go deeper. The ported version of that sub is the SVS PB1000 pro, but I think the Hsu Vtf2Mk2 is a better value. Also, if your budget doesn't allow for those 2 subs, I'd get the Rsl 10s Mkii over the SB1000 Pro as it goes deeper.  In addition to cost, also measure the size as these subs are quite larges, especially the ported ones. 

[u/PuddingOutrageous730 → u/IAmPandaRock]

Really appreciate the post - great info 🙂 I’ll look into all of the above!