In this review, we will be comparing BP-9040 and Oberon 7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive BP-9040 and DALI Oberon 7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Definitive BP-9040 and DALI Oberon 7 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 Definitive BP-9040 and DALI Oberon 7 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that BP-9040 is a 3-way design whereas the Oberon 7 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Definitive BP-9040 |
DALI Oberon 7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
3 x 4.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer . On the other hand, the Oberon 7 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz whereas Oberon 7 has a frequency range of 36-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Oberon 7's min frequency of 36Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
BP-9040 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 7 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. BP-9040 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Oberon 7's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9040 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon 7, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
BP-9040 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Oberon 7 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the BP-9040.
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
BP-9040 features Post type posts and Oberon 7 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive BP-9040's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
DALI Oberon 7's Post terminals
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 Definitive BP-9040's and DALI Oberon 7's external dimensions. Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas DALI Oberon 7 has external dimensions of 1016.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm ( 40 x 7-7/8 x 12-15/16inch) .
DALI Oberon 7 is 81mm narrower and 22mm less deeper than Definitive BP-9040 but it is also 23mm taller.
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 Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 7 is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2. The BP-9040 requires 50% more surface area than the Oberon 7 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 Definitive BP-9040 weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs and the DALI Oberon 7 weighs 14.80kg / 32.6lbs. This makes the BP-9040 11% heavier than the Oberon 7.
Here is a comparison of how BP-9040 and Oberon 7's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9040?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BP-9040:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 7?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 7:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Rubber feet4 Spike-feet4 Hex-nutsManual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
993mm
vs
1016mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2 (200x329mm)
vs
986cm2 (281x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1700USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology BP-9040 |
DALI Oberon 7 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
30-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
22-40k Hz |
36-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
993.0mm (39.1") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
329.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
14.80kg (32.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |