In this review, we will be comparing Chora 826 and Oberon 9, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 826 and DALI Oberon 9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Chora 826 and DALI Oberon 9 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 Focal Chora 826 and DALI Oberon 9 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 Chora 826 and Oberon 9 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Chora 826 |
DALI Oberon 9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 7-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 9-inch
|
Chora 826 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 9 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 7" Midrange and 2 x 9" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 780Hz and 3400Hz.
Frequency Response
Chora 826 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas Oberon 9 has a frequency range of 35-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Oberon 9 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Chora 826's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Chora 826 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 9 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 9 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Chora 826 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Oberon 9's is rated at 90.5 dB.
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.
Chora 826 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Chora 826 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Oberon 9.
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
Chora 826 features Post type posts and Oberon 9 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Chora 826's Binding post terminals
DALI Oberon 9's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chora 826 has a front firing port whereas Oberon 9 has a rear firing ports. Focal Chora 826's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon 9 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 Focal Chora 826's and DALI Oberon 9's external dimensions. Focal Chora 826 has external dimensions of 1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm ( 41-1/2 x 12 x 15-7/8inch) whereas DALI Oberon 9 has external dimensions of 1172.0 x 260.0 x 407.0mm ( 46-1/8 x 10-1/4 x 16inch) .
Focal Chora 826 is 119mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than DALI Oberon 9 but it is also 45mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chora 826 and DALI Oberon 9 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Chora 826 and DALI Oberon 9 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 Focal Chora 826 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 9 is approximately 1058.2cm2 / 164.0inch2. The Chora 826 requires 16% more surface area than the Oberon 9 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 Focal Chora 826 weighs 21.15kg / 46.5lbs and the DALI Oberon 9 weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Oberon 9 75% heavier than the Chora 826.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 826 and Oberon 9'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 Focal Chora 826?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chora 826:
Floorstanding loudspeakerBase4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Screws4 WashersHex-keyGrilleUser manual
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 9?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 9:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Rubber feet4 Spike-feet4 Hex-nutsManua
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1053mm
vs
1172mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2398USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
9 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1058cm2 (260x407mm)
vs
1232cm2 (305x404mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal Chora 826 |
DALI Oberon 9 |
| Brand |
Focal |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-250 watts |
50-400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
35-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
9" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
7" |
| Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
780Hz and 3400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1053.0mm (41.5") |
1172.0mm (46.1") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
404.0mm (15.9") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Weight |
21.15kg (46.5lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
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 |