In this review, we will be comparing Oberon Vokal and RP-450C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon Vokal and Klipsch RP-450C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 )
Klipsch RP-450C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix horn Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer
- 58-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 97 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:16.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 174.0" x 31-1/8" x 14-9/16"( 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm )
What size room are the DALI Oberon Vokal and Klipsch RP-450C 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 |
Klipsch RP-450C |
| 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 Vokal and Klipsch RP-450C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Oberon Vokal and RP-450C are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
Klipsch RP-450C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-1/8-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
4 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 RP-450C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz whereas RP-450C has a frequency range of 58-25k 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 RP-450C's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 Vokal is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-450C 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 RP-450C's is rated at 97 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-450C a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon Vokal, 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. 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.
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 Vokal features Binding post type posts and RP-450C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-450C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Oberon Vokal has a front firing port whereas RP-450C has a rear firing ports. DALI Oberon Vokal's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-450C 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 Vokal's and Klipsch RP-450C'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 Klipsch RP-450C has external dimensions of 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm ( 6-13/16 x 31-1/8 x 14-9/16inch) .
Klipsch RP-450C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 348mm wider, 12mm taller and 76mm deeper than DALI Oberon Vokal.
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 Klipsch RP-450C is approximately 2926.7cm2 / 453.6inch2. The Oberon Vokal requires 55% less surface area than the RP-450C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.