In this review, we will be comparing Oberon Vokal and DCR52, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon Vokal and ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Oberon Vokal | ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1-1/8" Soft-Dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber | 2 x 5.25" aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-26k Hz | 55-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.45kg / 16.4lbs | 10.14kg / 22.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-3/8" x 17-7/16" x 11-9/16"
162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm | 7-3/8" x 20-13/16" x 9-9/16"
188.0 x 529.0 x 243.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Oberon Vokal and ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 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 Vokal |
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Oberon Vokal and DCR52 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Oberon VokalELAC Debut Ref DCR52
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 Vokal |
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-1/8-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the DCR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" aramid fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz whereas DCR52 has a frequency range of 55-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon Vokal can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DCR52's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 Vokal is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the DCR52 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 Vokal can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Oberon Vokal sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the DCR52's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref DCR52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 Vokal can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas DCR52 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Oberon Vokal.
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 Vokal features 5-Way post type posts and DCR52 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Oberon Vokal and DCR52 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Vokal's and ELAC Debut Ref DCR52's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 has external dimensions of 188.0 x 529.0 x 243.0mm (7-3/8 x 20-13/16 x 9-9/16inch).
DALI Oberon Vokal is 86mm narrower and 26mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 but it is also 51mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Oberon Vokal and ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Oberon Vokal and ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 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 Vokal is approximately 1302.4cm2 / 201.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 is approximately 1285.5cm2 / 199.3inch2. The Oberon Vokal requires 1% more surface area than the DCR52 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 Vokal weighs 7.45kg / 16.4lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 weighs 10.14kg / 22.3lbs. This makes the DCR52 36% heavier than the Oberon Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon Vokal and DCR52'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 Vokal?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Oberon Vokal:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DCR52?
Here are the items that come with the DCR52:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
162mm
vs
188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1285cm2
vs
1302cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
460USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
ELAC Debut Reference DCR52 |
| Brand |
DALI |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-26k Hz |
55-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1-1/8" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
162.0mm (6.4") |
188.0mm (7.4") |
| Width |
443.0mm (17.4") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Depth |
294.0mm (11.6") |
243.0mm (9.6") |
| Weight |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
10.14kg (22.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet or Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 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 Vokal digs deeper - 47Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | DALI Oberon Vokal is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | DALI Oberon Vokal takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. DALI Oberon Vokal sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 is cheaper - $460 against $599, about 23% less. |
A DALI Oberon Vokal B ELAC Debut Ref DCR52
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?
The usual trade-off: DALI Oberon Vokal measures better, ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 costs about about 30% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, DALI Oberon Vokal 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.