Not everyone has a large living room – and not everyone wants the speakers to be more noticeable than the sofa. Still, music should be fun. We picked out two compact speakers costing around €700 per pair for exactly this situation. At first glance, they may sound similar, but their concepts take quite different approaches: the DALI Sonik 3 from a series that has not been on the market for very long, and the brand-new Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G. We powered both with the Denon Home Amp, which combines a streamer and amplifier in a small, charming enclosure. The result is a setup that fits even into a room measuring 8 to 12 square meters – and the exciting question: How much sound do you get for a fair price, and where do the differences lie when both speakers have to compete without a subwoofer?
In short:
DALI Sonik 3: For anyone looking for a compact speaker that delivers a full, mature soundstage even without a subwoofer – provided there is some space on a stand or sideboard.
Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G: For small rooms, desks, and anyone who values a discreet look – ideally paired with a compact subwoofer in the living room.
The Candidates at a Glance
DALI Sonik 3 – the Compact Speaker with Character
The DALI Sonik 3 is a classic 2-way compact speaker with a bass reflex enclosure – and quite a substantial one for its class. A 7-inch mid-bass driver with a Clarity Cone made of paper and wood fiber works together with a 29 mm fabric dome. DALI specifies a frequency range of 47 to 26,000 Hz (±3 dB), along with a sensitivity of 87 dB and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Measuring 350 x 200 x 306 mm (H x W x D) and weighing 6.5 kg, it is significantly larger than its rival. While it can still be placed on a desk if there is enough room – it is truly at home on a stand or sideboard. The Sonik 3 is available in four finishes, and the pair costs €698.
Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G – the Delicate One
The Radius series from Monitor Audio is brand new and remains true to its principle: maximally compact, yet genuine Hi-Fi. The Radius 3 4G is a 2-way mini monitor with a bass reflex design, equipped with a 4.5-inch RST-III mid-bass driver and a 25 mm C-CAM Gold dome tweeter. Measuring 255 x 150 x 201 mm (H x W x D) and weighing 3.7 kg, it is a true lightweight – we estimate its enclosure volume to be less than half that of the Sonik 3. That is exactly what makes it so flexible: desk, wall mounting, or the matching Radius Floor Stand, whose wooden tripod gives the series a Scandinavian touch. The pair costs €678.
In addition to the Radius 3, the series includes the smaller Radius 1 and the Radius On-Wall – ideal if the stereo setup is later to become a discreet home theater.
Music Recommendation
Before we got down to listening, there are two music tips from our team for you, as always. Hajo recommends Angela Brown with “St. James Infirmary Blues” – a piece where it is perhaps better not to translate the lyrics, because it is blues through and through and quite sad. But what a voice! A track that immediately grabs you, even if you have never heard it before. Jannis's tip is the album “The Man from God Knows Where” by Tom Russell – a discovery worth listening to in peace.
The Test Chain
Streamer and amplifier in one: The Denon Home Amp for €839 streams via HEOS, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or Roon Ready and delivers 2 x 125 watts at 4 ohms or 2 x 100 watts at 8 ohms. This is a good fit for both candidates – DALI recommends an amplifier power of 25 to 150 watts for the Sonik 3. The little Denon comes with all the connections you need for everyday use: HDMI eARC for the TV, an optical digital input, an analog RCA input, USB, and a subwoofer output. The HEOS app has now become really good – a few minutes of exploring, and you have understood the system. Both speakers were placed on stands during the test, and we deliberately omitted a subwoofer: just under €700 versus just under €700 – that should keep the comparison fair.
Listening Comparison by Criteria
Bass & Foundation
This is where the paths diverge most clearly. The DALI Sonik 3 already sounds astonishingly full on “Moonlight” – a bass that makes you wonder what you would actually need beyond that. Particularly beautiful: the tuba on the right side, which sounded really charming and, one cannot say it otherwise, “tubalike” with the Sonik. The Radius 3 4G, on the other hand, reaches noticeably less deep in the bass. This is not a weakness, but physics and intentional: with an enclosure of this size, a subwoofer is intended as a partner. During the second track, “Luvsick,” the difference was, by the way, less pronounced than with the first – depending on the music, the little Monitor Audio therefore comes closer.
Soundstage & Spaciality
The Sonik 3 builds a beautiful, open soundstage on which the singer and instruments find their place clearly. With the Radius 3 4G, the spatiality let down a little in direct comparison – the soundstage seemed slightly smaller and less expansive. Given the size difference, this is no wonder, but clearly audible in comparison.
Clarity & Emotion
“Moonlight” is a feel-good track, and that is exactly how it came across over the Sonik 3: airy, crispy, and with great clarity – every instrument remained clearly discernible. Above all, however, the DALI played more emotionally. You are more immersed in the music with it. The Radius 3 4G also reproduces voices and details cleanly and remains a real Hi-Fi speaker, not a satellite that does not work without a subwoofer. With the melancholic “Luvsick,” a Korean song where you simply make up the lyrics yourself without knowing the language, it did its job well – the mood came across. But the emotional pull of the larger DALI was missing in direct comparison.
Which compact speaker suits your room? Both models are in our showroom. Write us a short email or call us – then we will set up the setup for you, and you can listen for yourself in peace.
Build Quality & Appearance
DALI Sonik 3
The Sonik 3 takes the lead in color selection: in addition to Black Ash and White, it is available in Walnut and Natural Oak – two wood tones that fit wonderfully into living spaces. The delivery includes front covers, with which the Sonik 3 looks even more discreet. It can be placed on a stand or shelf, and DALI recommends a distance of 5 to 50 cm from the back wall.
Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G
The Radius 3 4G relies on two clear finishes: high-gloss black and satin white. Classic, light, timeless. The appearance is rounded off with the Radius Floor Stand: The speaker is attached with a single screw, the speaker cable disappears into the stand and only comes out again at the bottom of the foot – no cable mess, just a slim silhouette on three wooden legs. Alternatively, the Radius 3 can be mounted on the wall with the matching bracket or placed on a desk.
Listen with:
- Crosstown Traffic – “Moonlight”
- Collin Lim – “Luvsick”
Technical Specifications Compared
The Speakers
| Criterion | DALI Sonik 3 | Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 2-way compact speaker, passive | 2-way compact speaker, passive |
| Principle | Bass reflex (tuned to 46 Hz) | Bass reflex (tuned to 53 Hz) |
| Components | 1 x 7-inch mid-bass driver (Clarity Cone, paper/wood fiber), 1 x 29 mm fabric dome | 1 x 4.5-inch RST-III mid-bass driver, 1 x 25 mm C-CAM Gold dome tweeter |
| Frequency range | 47 – 26,000 Hz (±3 dB) | 44 Hz – 35 kHz (−6 dB, in room) |
| Sensitivity | 87 dB (2.83 V / 1 m) | 84 dB (2.83 V / 1 m, free field) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms (minimum 4 ohms at 250 Hz) |
| Power handling | recommended amplifier power 25 – 150 W | 75 W (CTA-426-B); recommended 40 – 75 W at 8 ohms, 75 – 150 W at 4 ohms |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 350 x 200 x 306 mm | 255 x 150 x 201 mm |
| Weight (per piece) | 6.5 kg (incl. cover) | 3.7 kg |
| Colors | Black Ash, White, Walnut, Natural Oak | High-gloss black, Satin White |
| Price/pair | €698 | €678 |
Note: The manufacturers measure the frequency range differently (±3 dB or −6 dB in room). The values therefore cannot be compared one to one.
The Amplifier in the Test Chain
| Criterion | Denon Home Amp |
|---|---|
| Power per channel | 100 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) / 125 W (4 ohms, 1 kHz) |
| Supported formats/resolutions | WAV, ALAC, FLAC up to 24 bit/192 kHz, DSD 2.8/5.6 MHz, MP3, AAC, WMA; Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, LPCM |
| Streaming services/protocols | HEOS Built-in, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, Bluetooth 4.2; Spotify, TuneIn, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, SoundCloud, etc. |
| Inputs/outputs | HDMI (eARC), optical (Toslink), analog RCA, USB, Ethernet, 3.5 mm IR input, subwoofer output, speaker terminals |
| DAC | k. A. |
| Display | no display, multicolor LED status indicator |
| App | HEOS App (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire) |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 86.2 x 217 x 234 mm |
| Weight | 2 kg |
| Price | €839 |
Conclusion / Which Is for Whom
Anyone who listens to both speakers directly next to each other quickly notices: Two concepts are competing here, not simply two price tags. The DALI Sonik 3 makes full use of its larger enclosure and 7-inch mid-bass driver. It plays full, airy, and with an emotion that draws you into the music – and that entirely without a subwoofer. Anyone who has room in the living room for a stand or sideboard and is looking for a pair of speakers that delivers a complete soundstage on its own is excellently served with it.
The Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G doesn't have to hide in comparison; it simply competes in a different category. Its strength lies where other speakers fall short: in very small rooms, on a desk, on a wall, or anywhere else where the speakers should be as visually unobtrusive as possible. For background music during the workday, it is more than sufficient without a subwoofer—perhaps even better, because it doesn't distract from work. If it is to deliver serious music in the living room, we believe a compact subwoofer is essential; only then is the lower register fully realized. And this is exactly where the series plays to its strengths: With the Radius 1 and Radius On-Wall, you can create a home cinema that lets you enjoy Netflix nights without the technology dominating the room. One point deserves attention: With a sensitivity of 84 dB and a minimum impedance of 4 ohms, the Radius 3 4G is not quite as easy to drive. If you are powering it with an AV receiver, you should make sure that it operates stably at 4 ohms—if in doubt, we are happy to advise you.
There is therefore no forced winner. In terms of sound, the Sonik 3 clearly comes out on top in a direct comparison without a subwoofer. Whether it is also the right choice for you will ultimately depend on room size, placement, and how prominent the speakers are allowed to be in the room.
We have also filmed a video about this
We have also filmed a video for this comparison—feel free to take a look; there you can hear the differences between the DALI Sonik 3 and the Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G for yourself in peace.
FAQ
Which compact speaker has more bass, the DALI Sonik 3 or the Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G?
The DALI Sonik 3. With its larger cabinet and 7-inch mid-woofer, it sounds significantly fuller and deeper. The Radius 3 4G is deliberately designed to be combined with a subwoofer in the living room.
Do I need a subwoofer for the Radius 3 4G?
Not for background music or at a desk. If it is to play in the living room or home cinema, a compact subwoofer is, in our view, a real added value.
Are both speakers compatible with the Denon Home Amp?
Yes. The Denon Home Amp delivers 2 x 125 watts at 4 ohms or 2 x 100 watts at 8 ohms and has a subwoofer output. This makes it a suitable partner for both speakers.
Can I also use the speakers for home cinema?
Both can be incorporated into a home cinema. With the Radius 3 4G, you should make sure that your AV receiver operates stably at 4 ohms.
How much do the speakers cost?
The DALI Sonik 3 costs €698 per pair, the Monitor Audio Radius 3 4G €678 per pair.
Listen to a demo now
Do you want to hear for yourself which compact speaker suits your room and your taste? Both models are on display at our showroom. Send us an email or call us to arrange an appointment—this way we can make sure everything is set up for you. And while you are here: In our three home cinemas and with the soundbars, we will be happy to show you what else is possible.
Fidelity
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