In this review, we will be comparing DBR63 and Oberon 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 and DALI Oberon 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 | DALI Oberon 3 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aramid fiber | 7" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-34k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-140 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 6.32kg / 13.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 8-3/4" x 10-13/16"
359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm | 13-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"
350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 and DALI Oberon 3 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* |
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both DBR63 and Oberon 3 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63DALI Oberon 3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
DBR63 features a 1" Aluminium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
DBR63 has a frequency range of 49-34k Hz whereas Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon 3 can go slightly deeper then the DBR63's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
DBR63 and Oberon 3 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. DBR63 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the Oberon 3's is at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas DBR63 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Oberon 3.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DBR63 has a front firing port whereas Oberon 3 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon 3 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 ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's and DALI Oberon 3's external dimensions. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-3/4 x 10-13/16inch) whereas DALI Oberon 3 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm (13-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/16inch).
DALI Oberon 3 is 21mm narrower and 9mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 but it is also 35mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. DALI Oberon 3 is 35mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is approximately 610.5cm2 / 94.6inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 3 is approximately 623.1cm2 / 96.6inch2. The DBR63 requires 2% less surface area than the Oberon 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 3?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual