In this review, we will be comparing Oberon 1 and Oberon 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon 1 and DALI Oberon 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Oberon 1 | DALI Oberon 3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Wood Fiber | 7" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-26k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.18kg / 9.2lbs | 6.32kg / 13.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-13/16" x 6-7/16" x 8-15/16"
275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm | 13-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"
350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm |
|---|
Oberon 1 and Oberon 3 are members of DALI's Oberon series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Oberon Series
History
What size room are the DALI Oberon 1 and DALI Oberon 3 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
DALI Oberon 1 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Oberon 1 and Oberon 3 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Oberon 1DALI Oberon 3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
DALI Oberon 1 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Oberon 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz whereas Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon 3 can go slightly deeper then the Oberon 1's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Oberon 1 and Oberon 3 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Oberon 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Oberon 3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Oberon 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Oberon 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Oberon 3.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Oberon 1 features Post type posts and Oberon 3 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals
DALI Oberon 3's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Oberon 1 and Oberon 3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare DALI Oberon 1's and DALI Oberon 3's external dimensions. DALI Oberon 1 has external dimensions of 275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm (10-13/16 x 6-7/16 x 8-15/16inch) whereas DALI Oberon 3 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm (13-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/16inch).
DALI Oberon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 75mm taller and 82mm deeper than DALI Oberon 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon 1 and DALI Oberon 3 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon 1 and DALI Oberon 3 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the DALI Oberon 1 is approximately 373.9cm2 / 58.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 3 is approximately 623.1cm2 / 96.6inch2. The Oberon 1 requires 40% less surface area than the Oberon 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of DALI Oberon 1 and DALI Oberon 3 on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The DALI Oberon 1 weighs 4.18kg / 9.2lbs and the DALI Oberon 3 weighs 6.32kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the Oberon 3 51% heavier than the Oberon 1.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon 1 and Oberon 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Oberon 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber bumpers
- Manual
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 3?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
275mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
373cm2
vs
623cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
DALI Oberon 1 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-26k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
275.0mm (10.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
164.0mm (6.5") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
4.18kg (9.2lbs) |
6.32kg (13.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in DALI's Oberon series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI Oberon 3 digs deeper - 47Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon 3 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Oberon 1 is easier to place; DALI Oberon 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | DALI Oberon 1 is cheaper - $599 against $899, about 33% less. |
A DALI Oberon 1 B DALI Oberon 3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: DALI Oberon 3 measures better, DALI Oberon 1 costs about about 50% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate DALI Oberon 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and DALI Oberon 3 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, DALI Oberon 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Oberon 1 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.