In this review, we will be comparing Oberon Vokal and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Oberon Vokal and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the DALI Oberon Vokal and Polk ES35 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI Oberon Vokal and Polk ES35 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 ES35 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-1/8-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
6 x 3-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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k 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 ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 ES35 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 ES35's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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 5-Way post type posts and ES35 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Oberon Vokal has a front firing port whereas ES35 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 Polk ES35 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES35 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 Polk ES35'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 Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm ( 4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) .
Polk ES35 is 55mm shorter and 140mm less deeper than DALI Oberon Vokal but it is also 178mm wider.
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 Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The Oberon Vokal requires 36% more surface area than the ES35 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 Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Oberon Vokal 17% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how Oberon Vokal and ES35'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 Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
LCR loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
162mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2 (621x154mm)
vs
1302cm2 (443x294mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-26k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1-1/8" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
162.0mm (6.4") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
443.0mm (17.4") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
294.0mm (11.6") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |