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DALI Oberon 3 vs DALI Oberon 1 Comparison

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DALI Oberon 3

Passive Bookshelf | 47-26k Hz

DALI Oberon 3
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DALI Oberon 1

Passive Bookshelf | 51-26k Hz

DALI Oberon 1
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DALI Oberon 3 DALI Oberon 3
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DALI Oberon 1 DALI Oberon 1
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DALI Oberon 3
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DALI Oberon 1
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DALI Oberon 3 vs DALI Oberon 1 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Oberon 3 and Oberon 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by DALI

Let's have a brief look at the main features of DALI Oberon 3 and DALI Oberon 1 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

DALI Oberon 3 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 7" Wood Fiber Woofer
  • 47-26k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-150watts
  • Weight:6.32kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.0" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"( 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm )

DALI Oberon 1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer
  • 51-26k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:4.18kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 275.0" x 6-7/16" x 8-15/16"( 275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm )

Oberon 3 and Oberon 1 are members of DALI's Oberon series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

DALI Oberon Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
DALI Oberon 3
Bookshelf 47-26k Hz 87 dB6Ω 1 x 7"
DALI Oberon 5
  
Floor-standing 39-26k Hz 88 dB6Ω 2 x 5.25"
DALI Oberon 1
Bookshelf 51-26k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
DALI Oberon 9
  
Floor-standing 35-26k Hz 90.5 dB4Ω 2 x 9"
DALI Oberon 7
  
Floor-standing 36-26k Hz 88.5 dB6Ω 2 x 7"
DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal
  
Center Channel 45-26k Hz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 7"
DALI Oberon Vokal
  
Center Channel 47-26k Hz 89.5 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"

What size room are the DALI Oberon 3 and DALI Oberon 1 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 3 DALI Oberon 1
Near-field Poor Average
Small Room Average Good
Mid-size Room Good Average
Large Room Average Poor
Very Large Room Poor Bad

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Oberon 3 and DALI Oberon 1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Oberon 3 and Oberon 1 are 2-way speakers.

Driver DALI Oberon 3 DALI Oberon 1
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1.125-inch 1.125-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 7-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

Oberon 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.

Frequency Response

Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz whereas Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon 3 can go slightly deeper then 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

Oberon 3
Oberon 1
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

DALI Oberon 3
DALI Oberon 1
Min
Average
Max

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 3 and Oberon 1 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Oberon 3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Oberon 1's is at 86 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

Oberon 3
Oberon 1
Min
Average
Max

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 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Oberon 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Oberon 3.

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

Oberon 3 features Post type posts and Oberon 1 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

DALI Oberon 3 Terminals
DALI Oberon 3's Post terminals

DALI Oberon 1Post Terminals
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Oberon 3 and Oberon 1 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 3's and DALI Oberon 1's external dimensions. 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) whereas 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) .

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 3 and DALI Oberon 1 in scale.

DALI Oberon 3 vs DALI Oberon 1 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of DALI Oberon 3 and DALI Oberon 1 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 3 is approximately 623.1cm2 / 96.6inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 1 is approximately 373.9cm2 / 58.0inch2. The Oberon 3 requires 67% more surface area than the Oberon 1 which gives it a small disadvantage 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:

DALI Oberon 3 vs DALI Oberon 1 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of DALI Oberon 3 and DALI Oberon 1 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 3 weighs 6.32kg / 13.9lbs and the DALI Oberon 1 weighs 4.18kg / 9.2lbs. This makes the Oberon 3 51% heavier than the Oberon 1.

Here is a comparison of how Oberon 3 and Oberon 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
DALI Oberon 3
DALI Oberon 1
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Oberon 3:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 8 Rubber feet
  • Manual
  • What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 1?

    Here are the items that come with the Oberon 1:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 8 Rubber bumpers
  • Manual

  • Reasons to choose DALI Oberon 3 over DALI Oberon 1
    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

    Reasons to choose DALI Oberon 1 over DALI Oberon 3

    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)
    DALI Oberon 3 vs DALI Oberon 1 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General DALI Oberon 3 DALI Oberon 1
    Brand DALI DALI
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-150 watts 25-100 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 86 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 47-26k Hz 51-26k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 7" 5.25"
    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 2400Hz 2800Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 350.0mm (13.8") 275.0mm (10.8")
    Width 201.0mm (7.9") 164.0mm (6.5")
    Depth 310.0mm (12.2") 228.0mm (9")
    Weight 6.32kg (13.9lbs) 4.18kg (9.2lbs)
    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 No Keyhole
    Recommended Stand Height 24-26" 26-28"
    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

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