Dayton Audio OPAL1 speaker launches

[Rick Sykora]

Not a kit but a finished speaker for $800/pair. See what you think…

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-OPAL1-Black-Pair-300-4600?quantity=1

No real measurements posted as yet. Is a passive radiator design using Dayton drivers.

 

[staticV3]

I like how the product pictures show the speaker placed with the rear radiators' surrounds basically touching the wall:

 

[Colonel7]

8 ohm and 78.5 dB sensitivity…need a serious amplifier for that

 

[Ciobi69]

8 ohm and 78.5 dB sensitivity…need a serious amplifier for that

just for the sensitivity alone they are to trash, no offense, but what the hell

 

[Ze Frog]

just for the sensitivity alone they are to trash, no offense, but what the hell

Yeah, I'm quite the fan of their driver's for D.I.Y, but this seems like something they could have picked a way better combination having access to all of their own drivers.

I'm guessing it's been a tradeoff to get lower F3 maybe by knocking down the entire output on the woofer.

 

[Rick Sykora]

8 ohm and 78.5 dB sensitivity…need a serious amplifier for that

Agree, the driver sensitivity spec is about 83 dB. Assuming that is legit, looks like they traded for more low end. Would be interested to see the crossover. Likely it could take readily some bass boost with Xmax of almost 15mm, so trading off sensitivity for lower bass would not have been my first choice.

 

[Ze Frog]

Agree, the driver sensitivity spec is about 83 dB. Assuming that is legit, looks like they traded for more low end. Would be interested to see the crossover. Likely it could take readily some bass boost with Xmax of almost 15mm, so trading off sensitivity for lower bass would not have been my first choice.

Interesting, this is one of their Epique line by the looks of it, should imagine if they are fed the power needed these will be rather impressive low down.

 

[Ze Frog]

Just looked at the specs, 32Hz F3, that's actually pretty awesome for the size and sealed. Personally I'd D.I.Y a variant of this utilizing their dome mid that matches the tweeter, I'd be a bit concerned regarding fidelity of midrange with that woofer playing so low.

 

[Ze Frog]

This has spurred me to contemplate a 3 way using the 7" and passives, but how do you arrive at a box size for passive radiators? In my mind, never worked with PR's before, but I'm thinking the box should be designed by getting the volume required for target F3 via port that correlates to the tuning frequency of the PR's at a given mass.

Is this the correct method please?

 

[dtaylo1066]

These lool like they could have potential. Seems like Parts Express' most elaborate effort to date in affordable speakers.

https://www.parts-express.com/OPAL1?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=240412_Dayton%20Audio%20OPAL1%20Launch&KID=01FY4M12S64KPNBSMN4X8Z96QZ&_kx=XlWpAt-aAOA4ZcjRNQzg7xm9FJoebO_jeZv_rGTNyjc.V6FJTs

 

[dr.diesel]

"Sensitivity: 78.5 dB SPL"

Ouch.

 

[dtaylo1066]

"Sensitivity: 78.5 dB SPL"

Ouch.

Yikes, I didn't see that. Good thing I have an at home nuclear power amplifier to drive them.

 

[ta240]

I guess power is cheap now but that is the low sensitivity.
They are tiny though 7 x 9-1/2 x 14 in.
It is the old thing of: Size, Efficiency, Bass Extension, pick any two.

 

[kemmler3D]

They're rated for 200w and 102dB at that power... checks out, but you'll want an amp that can really do 200w.

So, like, a couple Fosi monoblocks. Not actually that bad in today's market. Just don't hope for massive peaks from this thing. That's also at 1m so either listen quiet or in a small room.

Still, looks intriguing.

 

[ta240]

It does annoy me when marketing uses picture in a placement that they recommend against.

It looks like it is about an inch out from the wall. The manual states 1-2 feet.
Which makes their placement on top of a shelf, that they show as being okay in the manual, pretty difficult too

 

[racingpht]

It's a pretty unique product. "passive full-range subwoofer" comes into my mind.

There's no need to bash the sensitivity.. It's a natural trade off in a passive speaker between bass extension and size. And probably the only way to use that particular driver correctly (above average power handling but monstrous x-max).

Power is cheap these days. Take something like BRU5 with a 48v power supply, you should be able to get ~30v RMS relatively clean power of about 140w each. That's already 100db SPL for each speaker down to 30s for your neighbor to take a note. And you have DSP to correct any room mode excited.

 

[aschen]

$800 passive 2way micro monitors from dayton audio is not what I would ever anticipated. Interesting.

 

[TonyJZX]

yeah this seems to be a real hard ask to me

like what were they thinking with this given this will be a very very hard drive

in a day where most companies are trying to make 'legacy' passive speakers more easy to integrate

here's a spec sheet which they hid a bit

Specifications:​

• Configuration: Passive 2-Way with dual passive radiators
• Woofer: 5-1/4" DVC Extended Range Bass Driver with MMAG Technology and carbon fiber cone
• Tweeter 1-1/8" Reference fabric dome tweeter
• Nominal Impedance: 8Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 4.3Ω @ 4,400Hz
• Frequency Response: 32Hz - 20kHz, -3dB, Half-Space
• Sensitivity: 78.5 dB SPL
• Crossover Point: 2,200Hz
• Power Handling: 200 Watts RMS
• Maximum Output: 102dB @ rated power
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 7" x 9-1/2" x 14"
• Weight: 20.8 lbs.

to me these are compoenent heavy with the dual radiators

that bass ext. is really amazing (32hz) given the size... which admitted is not that small???

 

[ta240]

....

that bass ext. is really amazing (32hz) given the size... which admitted is not that small???

True, they are really only small in relation to the bass output.

 

[nvidia_7]

$800 passive 2way micro monitors from dayton audio is not what I would ever anticipated. Interesting.

Dayton usually impresses for their price point though, highly interesting for sure. Who is buying a pair to send to Erin or Amir?