In this review, we will be comparing Oberon 3 and Borea BR03, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Triangle.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon 3 and Triangle Borea BR03 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Oberon 3 | Triangle Borea BR03 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Triangle
France · founded 1980 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.125" Soft-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Wood Fiber | 6" Paper Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-26k Hz | 46 - 22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.32kg / 13.9lbs | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"
350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm | 14.9" x 8.1" x 12.3"
380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Oberon 3 and Triangle Borea BR03 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 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Oberon 3 and Borea BR03 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Oberon 3Triangle Borea BR03
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 3 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6-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 Borea BR03 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 6" Paper Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3600Hz.
Frequency Response
Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz whereas Borea BR03 has a frequency range of 46 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Borea BR03 can go slightly deeper then the Oberon 3's min frequency of 47Hz.
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 3 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Borea BR03 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Oberon 3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Borea BR03's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR03 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon 3, 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 Borea BR03 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 3 features Binding post type posts and Borea BR03 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 3's Post terminals
Triangle Borea BR03's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Oberon 3 has a rear firing port whereas Borea BR03 has a front firing ports. Triangle Borea BR03's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon 3 with its rear-firing port.
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 3's and Triangle Borea BR03'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 Triangle Borea BR03 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm (14.9 x 8.1 x 12.3inch).
Triangle Borea BR03 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 30mm taller and 4mm deeper than DALI Oberon 3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon 3 and Triangle Borea BR03 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon 3 and Triangle Borea BR03 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 Triangle Borea BR03 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The Oberon 3 requires 4% less surface area than the Borea BR03 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 3 and Triangle Borea BR03 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 Triangle Borea BR03 weighs 7.40kg / 16.3lbs. This makes the Borea BR03 17% heavier than the Oberon 3.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon 3 and Borea BR03'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 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 Triangle Borea BR03?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR03:
- 2 x Borea speakers
- 2 x protections grids
- 8 x adhesive rubber plots
- 1 x user manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
350mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
623cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon 3 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-26k Hz |
46 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Paper Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
3600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
350.0mm (13.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
6.32kg (13.9lbs) |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black Ash, White, Blue, Green |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
| 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 |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (47Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Triangle Borea BR03 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Triangle Borea BR03 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | DALI Oberon 3 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Triangle Borea BR03 is cheaper - $599 against $899, about 33% less. |
A DALI Oberon 3 B Triangle Borea BR03
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?
Triangle Borea BR03 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate DALI Oberon 3 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Triangle Borea BR03 for near-field listening and a small room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Triangle Borea BR03 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.