In this review, we will be comparing Oberon 1 and Bronze 50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Monitor Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon 1 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the DALI Oberon 1 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Oberon 1 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Oberon 1 and Bronze 50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI Oberon 1 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Bronze 50 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz whereas Bronze 50 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Bronze 50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Oberon 1's min frequency of 51Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Oberon 1 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Bronze 50 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Oberon 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Bronze 50's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 50, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Oberon 1 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 50 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Oberon 1.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Bronze 50 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon 1 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Oberon 1 and Bronze 50 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 50'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 Monitor Audio Bronze 50 has external dimensions of 281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm ( 11.0 x 6.5 x 10.4inch) .
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2mm wider, 6mm taller and 37mm deeper than DALI Oberon 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon 1 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon 1 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is approximately 439.9cm2 / 68.2inch2. The Oberon 1 requires 15% less surface area than the Bronze 50 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 50 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the Bronze 50 20% heavier than the Oberon 1.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon 1 and Bronze 50'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 loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber bumpersManual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 50?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 50:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed) 2 Foam port plugs 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
275mm
vs
281mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
373cm2 (164x228mm)
vs
439cm2 (166x265mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
550USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon 1 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-26k Hz |
40-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
275.0mm (10.8") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Width |
164.0mm (6.5") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
265.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
4.18kg (9.2lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
Walnut, Black, White, Urban Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
28-32" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |