In this review, we will be comparing Q550 and Oberon 5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q550 and DALI Oberon 5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Q550 and DALI Oberon 5 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 KEF Q550 and DALI Oberon 5 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 Q550 and Oberon 5 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q550 |
DALI Oberon 5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Q550 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 5 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas Oberon 5 has a frequency range of 39-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Oberon 5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q550's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
Q550 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 5 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q550 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Oberon 5's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 5 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q550, 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.
Q550 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q550 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Oberon 5.
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
Q550 features Post type posts and Oberon 5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q550 has a front firing port whereas Oberon 5 has a rear firing ports. KEF Q550's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon 5 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 KEF Q550's and DALI Oberon 5's external dimensions. KEF Q550 has external dimensions of 894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm ( 35-3/16 x 11-5/8 x 12-5/16inch) whereas DALI Oberon 5 has external dimensions of 832.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm ( 32-3/4 x 7-15/16 x 10-7/8inch) .
KEF Q550 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 94mm wider, 62mm taller and 36mm deeper than DALI Oberon 5.
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 Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 5 is approximately 559.5cm2 / 86.7inch2. The Q550 requires 66% more surface area than the Oberon 5 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 Q550 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the DALI Oberon 5 weighs 10.80kg / 23.8lbs. This makes the Q550 35% heavier than the Oberon 5.
Here is a comparison of how Q550 and Oberon 5'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 KEF Q550?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q550:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 5?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 5:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet8 Spike-feet8 Hex-nutsManual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 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 |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 5.25-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
832mm
vs
894mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
559cm2 (202x277mm)
vs
926cm2 (296x313mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q550 |
DALI Oberon 5 |
| Brand |
KEF |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-130 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
58-28k Hz |
39-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
894.0mm (35.2") |
832.0mm (32.8") |
| Width |
296.0mm (11.7") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
10.80kg (23.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
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 |