In this review, we will be comparing Spektor Vokal and Oberon Vokal, two Passive Center Channel speakers by DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Spektor Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Spektor Vokal | DALI Oberon Vokal |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1-1/8" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.5" Wood Fiber | 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-26k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs | 7.45kg / 16.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6" x 17.1" x 8"
152.0 x 435.0 x 204.0mm | 6-3/8" x 17-7/16" x 11-9/16"
162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the DALI Spektor 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 Spektor 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.)
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 Spektor Vokal and Oberon Vokal are 2-way speakers.
DALI Spektor VokalDALI Oberon Vokal
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 Spektor Vokal |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-1/8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Spektor Vokal features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. 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
Spektor Vokal has a frequency range of 66-26k Hz whereas Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k 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 Spektor Vokal's min frequency of 66Hz.
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
Spektor Vokal is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon Vokal which has a nominal impedance of 4 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. Spektor Vokal sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Oberon Vokal's is rated at 89.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Spektor 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. 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 Spektor Vokal 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
Spektor 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 Vokal's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Spektor 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 Spektor Vokal with its rear-firing port.
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 Spektor Vokal's and DALI Oberon Vokal's external dimensions. DALI Spektor Vokal has external dimensions of 152.0 x 435.0 x 204.0mm (6 x 17.1 x 8inch) 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 Vokal is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 10mm taller and 90mm deeper than DALI Spektor Vokal.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Spektor Vokal and DALI Oberon Vokal in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Spektor 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 Spektor Vokal is approximately 887.4cm2 / 137.5inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon Vokal is approximately 1302.4cm2 / 201.9inch2. The Spektor Vokal requires 32% less surface area than the Oberon Vokal which gives it a small advantage 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 Spektor Vokal weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs and the DALI Oberon Vokal weighs 7.45kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the Oberon Vokal 41% heavier than the Spektor Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how Spektor 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 Spektor Vokal?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Spektor Vokal:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 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
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
152mm
vs
162mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
887cm2
vs
1302cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
350USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 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 |
| General |
DALI Spektor Vokal |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| Brand |
DALI |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-26k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1-1/8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
152.0mm (6") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17.1") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
204.0mm (8") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, Walnut, White |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - DALI Oberon Vokal costs roughly 1.7x what DALI Spektor Vokal does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI Oberon Vokal digs deeper - 47Hz against 66Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI Oberon Vokal is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | DALI Spektor Vokal is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon Vokal takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Spektor Vokal is easier to place; DALI Oberon Vokal is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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 | A | DALI Spektor Vokal is cheaper - $350 against $599, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A DALI Spektor Vokal B DALI Oberon Vokal
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, DALI Spektor Vokal costs about about 71% 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 66Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI Spektor Vokal much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, DALI Oberon Vokal has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Spektor Vokal is the easier speaker to get right.
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.