In this review, we will be comparing ZX-1 and Oberon 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission ZX-1 and DALI Oberon 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission ZX-1 | DALI Oberon 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminium | 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-24k Hz | 51-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs | 4.18kg / 9.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-13/16" x 9-7/16" x 14-1/4"
300.0 x 240.0 x 362.0mm | 10-13/16" x 6-7/16" x 8-15/16"
275.0 x 164.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission ZX-1 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* |
Mission ZX-1 |
DALI Oberon 1 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 ZX-1 and Oberon 1 are 2-way speakers.
Mission ZX-1DALI 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 |
Mission ZX-1 |
DALI Oberon 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
ZX-1 features a 1.5" Silk Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6kHz. 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
ZX-1 has a frequency range of 52-24k Hz whereas Oberon 1 has a frequency range of 51-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Oberon 1 can go slightly deeper then the ZX-1's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
ZX-1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 1 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ZX-1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Oberon 1's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Mission ZX-1 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
ZX-1 and Oberon 1 have the same power range of 25-100 watts.
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
ZX-1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon 1 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Oberon 1's Post terminals
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 Mission ZX-1's and DALI Oberon 1's external dimensions. Mission ZX-1 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 240.0 x 362.0mm (11-13/16 x 9-7/16 x 14-1/4inch) 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).
Mission ZX-1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 76mm wider, 25mm taller and 134mm deeper than DALI Oberon 1.
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.
Mission ZX-1 needs about 132% more floor or shelf area. Mission ZX-1 is 134mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Mission ZX-1 is 25mm taller.
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 Mission ZX-1 is approximately 868.8cm2 / 134.7inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 1 is approximately 373.9cm2 / 58.0inch2. The ZX-1 requires 132% 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 Mission ZX-1 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs and the DALI Oberon 1 weighs 4.18kg / 9.2lbs. This makes the ZX-1 82% heavier than the Oberon 1.
Here is a comparison of how ZX-1 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 DALI Oberon 1?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber bumpers
- Manual
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
275mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
373cm2
vs
868cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission ZX-1 |
DALI Oberon 1 |
| Brand |
Mission |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-24k Hz |
51-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.6kHz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
275.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
164.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
362.0mm (14.3") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
4.18kg (9.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
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 |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (52Hz vs 51Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Mission ZX-1 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Mission ZX-1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | DALI Oberon 1 is easier to place; Mission ZX-1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Mission ZX-1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | DALI Oberon 1 is cheaper - $599 against $799, about 25% less. |
A Mission ZX-1 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?
The usual trade-off: Mission ZX-1 measures better, DALI Oberon 1 costs about about 33% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Mission ZX-1 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Mission ZX-1 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.