In this review, we will be comparing Q1 Meta and Oberon 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q1 Meta | DALI Oberon 1 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-20k Hz | 51-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.09kg / 13.4lbs | 4.18kg / 9.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.9" x 7.1" x 10.9"
302 x 180 x 277 mm | 10-13/16" x 6-7/16" x 8-15/16"
275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 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* |
KEF Q1 Meta |
DALI Oberon 1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Q1 Meta and Oberon 1 are 2-way speakers.
KEF Q1 MetaDALI Oberon 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF Q1 Meta |
DALI Oberon 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Q1 Meta features a 1" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.1 kHz. On the other hand, the Oberon 1 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Q1 Meta has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz whereas Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz.
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
Q1 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 1 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 Q1 Meta can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
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.
Q1 Meta can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Oberon 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q1 Meta.
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
Q1 Meta features Post type posts and Oberon 1 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q1 Meta's Binding Post terminals
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q1 Meta and Oberon 1 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 KEF Q1 Meta's and DALI Oberon 1's external dimensions. KEF Q1 Meta has external dimensions of 302 x 180 x 277 mm (11.9 x 7.1 x 10.9 in.) whereas DALI Oberon 1 has external dimensions of 275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm (10-13/16 x 6-7/16 x 8-15/16inch).
KEF Q1 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 27mm taller and 49mm deeper than DALI Oberon 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 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 KEF Q1 Meta is approximately 498.6cm2 / 77.3inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 1 is approximately 373.9cm2 / 58.0inch2. The Q1 Meta requires 33% more surface area than the Oberon 1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 on a Media Console
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 KEF Q1 Meta weighs 6.09kg / 13.4lbs and the DALI Oberon 1 weighs 4.18kg / 9.2lbs. This makes the Q1 Meta 46% heavier than the Oberon 1.
Here is a comparison of how Q1 Meta and Oberon 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q1 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q1 Meta:
- Q1 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 1?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber bumpers
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
275mm
vs
302mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
373cm2
vs
498cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q1 Meta |
DALI Oberon 1 |
| Brand |
KEF |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
51-20k Hz |
51-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.1 kHz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
302.0mm (11.9") |
275.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
164.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
6.09kg (13.4lbs) |
4.18kg (9.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: KEF Q1 Meta is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (51Hz vs 51Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | DALI Oberon 1 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | KEF Q1 Meta takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | DALI Oberon 1 is easier to place; KEF Q1 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($600 vs $599 a pair). |
A KEF Q1 Meta B DALI Oberon 1
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Q1 Meta the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and DALI Oberon 1 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q1 Meta has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Oberon 1 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.