In this review, we will be comparing Oberon 1 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Oberon 1 | Q Acoustics 3020i |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 0.9" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Wood Fiber | 5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-26k Hz | 64-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.18kg / 9.2lbs | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 10.9" x 6.6" x 11.1"
278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Oberon 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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 3020i are 2-way speakers.
DALI Oberon 1Q Acoustics 3020i
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 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-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 3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Oberon 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020i's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 3020i 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 3020i's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i 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 1 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Oberon 1.
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 Binding post type posts and 3020i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Oberon 1 and 3020i 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 Q Acoustics 3020i'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 Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm (10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch).
Q Acoustics 3020i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 3mm taller and 54mm deeper than DALI Oberon 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The Oberon 1 requires 22% less surface area than the 3020i 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 Q Acoustics 3020i 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 Q Acoustics 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes the 3020i 15% heavier than the Oberon 1.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon 1 and 3020i'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 Q Acoustics 3020i?
Here are the items that come with the 3020i:
- 2 x 3020i bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 1 x User Manual
- 1 x Handling Gloves
- 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
275mm
vs
278mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
373cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon 1 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
| Brand |
DALI |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-26k Hz |
64-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
0.9" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
275.0mm (10.8") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
164.0mm (6.5") |
170.0mm (6.7") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
282.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
4.18kg (9.2lbs) |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
4 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | DALI Oberon 1 digs deeper - 51Hz against 64Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Q Acoustics 3020i is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | DALI Oberon 1 takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Oberon 1 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3020i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. DALI Oberon 1 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3020i is cheaper - $399 against $599, about 33% less. |
A DALI Oberon 1 B Q Acoustics 3020i
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?
DALI Oberon 1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 50% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Q Acoustics 3020i looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the DALI Oberon 1 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 64Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics 3020i much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3020i the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.