DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal vs BW HTM6 S2 Comparison

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DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal

Passive Center Channel | 45-26k Hz

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BW HTM6 S2

Passive Center Channel | 72-28k Hz

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DALI Oberon GRAND Vo...

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BW HTM6 S2

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DALI Oberon GRAND Vo...

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BW HTM6 S2

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DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal vs BW HTM6 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Oberon GRAND Vokal and HTM6 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features of DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and BW HTM6 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal Key Specs

2-way Design

1-1/8" Soft-Dome Tweeter

2 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer

45-26k Hz Frequency Response

91 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 4ohms

Power Range:25-200watts

Weight:12.85kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 201.0" x 27.5" x 12.2"( 201 x 700 x 310mm )

BW HTM6 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter

2 x 5" Continuum Woofer

72-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:7.82kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.0" x 18-15/16" x 11-1/16"( 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm )

What size room are the DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and BW HTM6 S2 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 GRAND Vokal	BW HTM6 S2
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and BW HTM6 S2 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 GRAND Vokal and HTM6 S2 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal	BW HTM6 S2
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-1/8-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	2 x 7-inch	2 x 5-inch

Oberon GRAND Vokal features a 1-1/8" ultra-light soft textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the HTM6 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Oberon GRAND Vokal has a frequency range of 45-26k Hz whereas HTM6 S2 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Oberon GRAND Vokal can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM6 S2's min frequency of 72Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Oberon GRAND Vokal

HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal

BW HTM6 S2

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 GRAND Vokal is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the HTM6 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Oberon GRAND Vokal can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Oberon GRAND Vokal sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the HTM6 S2's is rated at 87 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S2 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Oberon GRAND Vokal

HTM6 S2

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 GRAND Vokal can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM6 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Oberon GRAND Vokal.

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

HTM6 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon GRAND Vokal has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal's Binding post terminals

BW HTM6 S2 's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Oberon GRAND Vokal and HTM6 S2 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 GRAND Vokal's and BW HTM6 S2 's external dimensions. DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal has external dimensions of 201 x 700 x 310mm ( 7.9 x 27.5 x 12.2inch) whereas BW HTM6 S2 has external dimensions of 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm ( 6-3/8 x 18-15/16 x 11-1/16inch) .

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 218mm wider, 39mm taller and 29mm deeper than BW HTM6 S2 .

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 GRAND Vokal is approximately 2170.0cm² / 336.4inch² and base area of the BW HTM6 S2 is approximately 1354.4cm² / 209.9inch². The Oberon GRAND Vokal requires 60% more surface area than the HTM6 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

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 GRAND Vokal weighs 12.85kg / 28.3lbs and the BW HTM6 S2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Oberon GRAND Vokal 64% heavier than the HTM6 S2.

Here is a comparison of how Oberon GRAND Vokal and HTM6 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal

BW HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Oberon GRAND Vokal:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

8 Rubber feet

Manual

What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S2 ?

Here are the items that come with the HTM6 S2:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille (pre-installed)

Two-piece foam plug

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)

Manual

Warranty Information

Bowers Wilkins brochure

Reasons to choose DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal over Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition

Max Input Power	200 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	91 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	7 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	45 Hz vs 72 Hz	Generates deeper bass

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition over DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal

Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 26k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring	Yes vs No	Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
Height	162mm vs 201mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	1354cm² (482x281mm) vs 2170cm² (700x310mm)	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	899USD vs 999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal vs BW HTM6 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal	Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition
Brand	DALI	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	25-200 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	91 dB	87 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	4.3 ohms
Frequency Response	45-26k Hz	72-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	7"	5"
Woofer Composition	Wood Fiber	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1-1/8"	1"
Tweeter Type	Soft-Dome	Decoupled Double Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2500Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	201.0mm (7.9")	162.0mm (6.4")
Width	700.0mm (27.6")	482.0mm (19")
Depth	310.0mm (12.2")	281.0mm (11.1")
Weight	12.85kg (28.3lbs)	7.82kg (17.2lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Wood-grain vinyl	n/a
Available Colors	Black Ash,Dark Walnut	Black, White, Oak
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