In this review, we will be comparing Oberon GRAND Vokal and Oberon Vokal, two Passive Center Channel speakers by DALI
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal 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 )
DALI Oberon Vokal Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1-1/8" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 47-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:7.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.0" x 17-7/16" x 11-9/16"( 162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm )
Oberon GRAND Vokal and Oberon Vokal are members of DALI's Oberon series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Oberon Series
History
What size room are the DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal 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 |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| 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 DALI Oberon Vokal 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 Oberon Vokal are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-1/8-inch
|
1-1/8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 Oberon Vokal features a 1-1/8" ultra-light soft textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Oberon GRAND Vokal has a frequency range of 45-26k Hz whereas Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Oberon GRAND Vokal can go slightly deeper then the Oberon Vokal's min frequency of 47Hz.
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
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 GRAND Vokal and Oberon Vokal have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Oberon GRAND Vokal sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Oberon Vokal's is at 89.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon Vokal, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Oberon GRAND Vokal and the Oberon GRAND Vokal can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 GRAND Vokal can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Oberon Vokal has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 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
Oberon GRAND Vokal features Binding post type posts and Oberon Vokal has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal's Binding post terminals
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Oberon GRAND Vokal has a rear firing port whereas Oberon Vokal has a front firing ports. DALI Oberon Vokal's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal with its rear-firing port.
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 DALI Oberon Vokal'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 DALI Oberon Vokal has external dimensions of 162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm ( 6-3/8 x 17-7/16 x 11-9/16inch) .
DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 257mm wider, 39mm taller and 16mm deeper than DALI Oberon Vokal.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal 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 GRAND Vokal is approximately 2170.0cm2 / 336.4inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon Vokal is approximately 1302.4cm2 / 201.9inch2. The Oberon GRAND Vokal requires 67% more surface area than the Oberon Vokal 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 DALI Oberon Vokal weighs 7.45kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the Oberon GRAND Vokal 72% heavier than the Oberon Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon GRAND Vokal and Oberon Vokal's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
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 DALI Oberon Vokal?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon Vokal:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille 8 Rubber feet Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
162mm
vs
201mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1302cm2
vs
2170cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon GRAND Vokal |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-26k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1-1/8" |
1-1/8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
201.0mm (7.9") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Width |
700.0mm (27.6") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
12.85kg (28.3lbs) |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash,Dark Walnut |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| 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 |