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.
KEF Q1 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 51-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:6.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.1" x 10.9"( 302 x 180 x 277 mm )
DALI Oberon 1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 51-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:4.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 275.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q1 Meta and DALI Oberon 1 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 Q1 Meta and Oberon 1 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
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. 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.
Q1 Meta can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Oberon 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q1 Meta.
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
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
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 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.
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.
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 loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber bumpersManual