Compare Edifier M90 vs Dali Sonik 1

HDMI eARC, optical, USB-C, AUX, and sub-out cover nearly every desktop, TV, and legacy source. Multiple devices can remain connected and be switched without moving cables.

The single-wire binding posts are simple and well made, and most reviewers did not see the lack of bi-wiring as a serious loss. Cable enthusiasts may still prefer a more flexible terminal arrangement.

The overall tuning is warm-neutral or broadly balanced, with strong bass and clear vocals. Depending on preset and placement, the mid-high range can sound cool, dry, recessed, or slightly rough, making the nine-band EQ especially useful.

The overall balance is rich, natural and full without obvious excess. A mild upper-frequency emphasis keeps it from sounding perfectly neutral in every setup.

Highs are generally smooth, detailed, and comfortable for long sessions. Some listeners heard recessed, cool, or slightly rough upper frequencies, which the EQ can usually tame.

Treble is crisp, detailed and spatially revealing, but several reviewers hear a mild forwardness. Amplifier character, toe-in and room placement can make the upper range sound smoother or more prominent.

The box includes a generous cable selection, but a few customers received defective USB-C or power cables that required replacement.

Dali includes useful rubber feet for shelf and wall placement, but the package is otherwise sparse and does not include speaker cables.

Most listeners found the sound clean and controlled even when pushed hard, with little hiss or obvious distortion. At extreme levels, bass can become boomier and a few tracks lose some composure.

The Sonik 1 handles loud signals with very little audible distortion, maintaining clarity and control when pushed.

Vocals, instruments, and small textures are generally clear and well separated. The smooth upper treble can occasionally blend fine details on dense recordings.

Fine details come through clearly, from individual string plucks to dense layers in complex mixes. Reviewers repeatedly hear more articulation than they expect from compact entry-level speakers.

Drivers blend smoothly into a unified, clean presentation, with vocals and instruments remaining organized across music, games, and video.

Even busy recordings remain organized, clear and musically connected. Bass, mids and treble keep pace with one another without the presentation falling apart.

Music sounds lively, clean, and enjoyable across genres, with rich vocals, punchy bass, and useful detail. The tuning favors accessible long-session listening over strict studio-monitor neutrality.

Across vinyl, CDs and streaming, the Sonik 1 sounds engaging, versatile and musically expressive. It handles delicate vocals, dense rock and rhythmic material with equal confidence.

The M90 gets far louder than most desktop setups require and comfortably fills small to medium rooms. Output remains impressive in larger spaces, though the compact drivers cannot match full-size speakers.

Despite their compact cabinets, the Sonik 1 can play with convincing scale and fill small to medium rooms. They stay composed as volume rises rather than sounding strained.

Voices sound clear, forward, and full-bodied across music, podcasts, and TV. They remain intelligible without becoming shouty or thin.

Vocals are consistently singled out for accuracy, presence and emotional immediacy. Voices sound natural, clearly focused and unusually tangible for speakers this size.

The dense MDF-style cabinets feel solid, rigid, and more premium than typical computer speakers. One unit showed average panel fit, but most found the enclosure impressively substantial.

Construction is generally praised for careful detailing, rigid materials and a premium feel. One first-look reviewer was less impressed by the flat MDF front, squared edges and vinyl treatment.

The bi-amplified design gives the compact speakers strong punch and reserve, keeping music and movie effects lively as volume rises.

Fast attacks, crescendos and demanding passages are handled with confidence. The Sonik 1 keeps bass and transients controlled instead of becoming slow or congested.

The speakers create a wide, stable stereo image with convincing center vocals and precise placement. A few demanding recordings reveal less pinpoint separation than dedicated hi-fi monitors.

Imaging is a major strength, with sharply located center vocals and convincing three-dimensional placement. The stage can extend beyond the cabinets and remain easy to follow.

The active, bi-amplified design needs no separate receiver, DAC, or power amplifier, simplifying both desktop and TV systems.

The Sonik 1 is less demanding than its sensitivity figures might suggest. Reviewers had excellent results with common 50-60 watt integrated amplifiers and did not find exotic amplification necessary.

The M90 produces unusually wide, deep, and tall staging for its size, especially over HDMI or optical and with careful placement.

The central image can appear slightly above the cabinets, adding believable vertical scale to vocals and instruments.

Bass is punchy, fast, and unusually authoritative for four-inch drivers, with little muddiness or bloat. Deep sub-bass and large-room impact remain limited, so bass-heavy listeners may want a subwoofer.

Bass is fast, punchy and far fuller than the cabinet size suggests. Deep-bass listeners should note that ultimate weight is limited and the rear port does much of the low-end work.

The restrained, boxy design looks modern and purposeful without flashy styling. It blends easily into desks and living rooms, although the busy rear panel is less elegant.

The clean, modern styling blends easily into living rooms and looks premium with the grilles installed. The squared front and exposed design details are more divisive for buyers who prefer a softer, less conspicuous look.

The regular price is a noticeable jump from the M60 and can feel high for a single-purpose desktop setup. Discounts make the proposition much easier to justify.

The price feels justified by the sound and build in the UK market, but $900 is a substantial ask in the US. The premium over Dali’s cheaper Kupid can make budget-conscious buyers hesitate.

Most setups are plug-and-play, with USB-C and HDMI working in minutes. Docking-station arrangements and the app's Bluetooth connection can require extra troubleshooting or clearer instructions.

The Sonik 1 is approachable to connect and works with ordinary passive-speaker systems, but rear-port placement and toe-in can take some experimentation. Once positioned, the sweet spot is easy to enjoy.

The compact footprint and substantial output are an excellent match for desks, bedrooms, offices, apartments, and small to medium living rooms.

Small rooms, bedrooms, offices and compact living spaces are ideal matches. The speakers can also fill medium rooms, though desktop near-field use may feel larger than necessary.

The black and white matte finishes look clean, modern, and easy to match with a desk or TV stand. The surfaces resist fingerprints and everyday marks well.

Most reviewers praise the refined finishes, magnetic grilles and understated Scandinavian appearance. One reviewer disliked the square edges, visible hardware and brown driver, preferring the cleaner Kupid design.

The combination of sound quality, HDMI eARC, broad inputs, app EQ, and compact size makes the M90 strong value as an all-in-one system. One customer preferred a much cheaper alternative, but the wider consensus is highly favorable.

Performance is widely considered excellent for the money, with detail, bass and refinement that resemble pricier speakers. The main value concern comes from the high US price and strong cheaper alternatives within Dali’s lineup.

AirPlay 2 is absent, so the M90 cannot join an Apple multi-room setup and must rely on Bluetooth or wired connections.

ConneX is usually fast, clear, and stable, with useful input, firmware, and EQ controls. It can feel basic, sometimes requires Bluetooth for changes, and a few users found reconnection or setup unnecessarily fiddly.

Hi-res wired processing and LDAC playback preserve more detail than basic Bluetooth, with a clearly audible benefit on compatible high-resolution material.

Bluetooth and HDMI wake quickly, but USB-C, optical, and AUX may require the remote or app. The aggressive default sleep behavior can interrupt quiet content, though firmware and app settings can largely fix it.

AUX and optical inputs make it easy to use turntables with preamps, older media players, and legacy televisions.

LDAC provides unusually strong wireless quality for this class, while AAC keeps iPhone playback respectable. LDAC is unavailable on Apple devices and cannot be used simultaneously with multipoint.

Pairing is usually fast and stable at normal room distances. An isolated customer report found repeated disconnections when using Bluetooth with a TV.

Bluetooth pairing is quick and straightforward, making casual phone and tablet playback easy.

The crowded rear panel can turn into a visible tangle when several sources are connected at once.

The remote buttons respond quickly, have practical sizing, and remain easy to use in a dark room.

TV and movie dialogue comes through crystal clear, nuanced, and naturally centered, even during busy scenes.

The exposed drivers have no grilles, leaving the soft tweeters vulnerable to curious fingers or accidental contact.

The nine-band EQ and saveable presets make meaningful tonal and room corrections easy, with presets accessible from the remote. Power users may miss full parametric EQ, and some changes require a Bluetooth app connection.

Directional effects are easy to track, with strong impact and spacious rendering for desktop or couch gaming. HDMI eARC also keeps TV gaming responsive.

HDMI eARC is a standout strength, delivering simple TV setup, reliable CEC volume control, and strong audio quality. It makes the M90 a convincing alternative to a compact soundbar.

HDMI eARC, CEC, clear dialogue, and wide stereo imaging make the M90 an excellent bedroom or office TV upgrade. Larger rooms and effects-heavy movies may still need a subwoofer or bigger speakers.

The generously long speaker-to-speaker cable allows proper stereo spacing across desks, shelves, and TV stands.

HDMI eARC provides responsive, well-synced TV and gaming audio. One customer encountered noticeable Bluetooth video delay, so wired TV use is the safer choice.

Detail and clarity remain intact at apartment-friendly listening levels, making the M90 especially effective for quiet desktop use.

Multipoint makes switching between two devices convenient and generally seamless. Enabling it disables LDAC, so shoppers must choose convenience or the highest Bluetooth quality.

Wide dispersion spreads sound evenly enough that listeners do not need to remain locked into a narrow central seat.

The only physical knob and power control sit on the rear of the active speaker, making direct adjustments awkward. Most users will rely on the remote, app, or TV remote instead.

The optical input is handy for televisions, media players, and older digital sources. It sounds good, though it does not support the same automatic wake behavior as HDMI.

The compact radio remote is highly useful for volume, inputs, playback, and EQ presets, and it works without line of sight. Because the physical controls are on the rear, the remote becomes nearly essential.

The dedicated sub output makes it easy to add deeper extension. Many desktop listeners will be satisfied without one, while action movies and bass-heavy music benefit clearly from a subwoofer.

The wide front stage gives flyovers and directional effects convincing space, but it remains a stereo system rather than true surround sound.

Recycled cardboard-style protective forms reduce packaging waste while still keeping the speakers well protected.

HDMI eARC and CEC connect reliably, wake quickly, and let the TV remote control volume and power without fuss.

Warranty support may vary by market, and one reviewer cautions that genuine repair parts could be harder to obtain locally.

The speakers have reassuring heft but retain a compact, desk-friendly footprint. They are easy to position on shelves or media consoles without feeling flimsy.

There is no Wi-Fi streaming, direct music-service support, or multi-room playback, which is a notable limitation for shoppers wanting a networked speaker.