In this review, we will be comparing Lumina CI and Oberon Vokal, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus faber and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina Center I and DALI Oberon Vokal first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina Center I | DALI Oberon Vokal |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 1-1/8" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.75" paper cone | 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-24k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs | 7.45kg / 16.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.6" x 20.6" x 8.4"
169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm | 6-3/8" x 17-7/16" x 11-9/16"
162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Lumina Center I and DALI Oberon Vokal 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* |
Sonus Lumina Center I |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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 Lumina CI and Oberon Vokal are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina Center IDALI Oberon Vokal
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina Center I |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-1/8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.75-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Lumina CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 2 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon Vokal features a 1-1/8" ultra-light soft textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Lumina CI has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas Oberon Vokal has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon Vokal can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina CI's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Lumina CI and Oberon Vokal have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina CI sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Oberon Vokal's is at 89.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon Vokal a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina Center I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina CI and the Lumina CI can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Oberon Vokal can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Lumina CI has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Oberon Vokal.
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
Lumina CI features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon Vokal has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Oberon Vokal's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Lumina CI and Oberon Vokal have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Sonus Lumina Center I's and DALI Oberon Vokal's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina Center I has external dimensions of 169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm (6.6 x 20.6 x 8.4inch) whereas DALI Oberon Vokal has external dimensions of 162.0 x 443.0 x 294.0mm (6-3/8 x 17-7/16 x 11-9/16inch).
DALI Oberon Vokal is 81mm narrower and 7mm shorter than Sonus Lumina Center I but it is also 81mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina Center I and DALI Oberon Vokal in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina Center I and DALI Oberon Vokal 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 Sonus Lumina Center I is approximately 1116.1cm2 / 173.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon Vokal is approximately 1302.4cm2 / 201.9inch2. The Lumina CI requires 14% less surface area than the Oberon Vokal which gives it a small advantage 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 Sonus Lumina Center I weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs and the DALI Oberon Vokal weighs 7.45kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the Lumina CI 2% heavier than the Oberon Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina CI and Oberon Vokal's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina Center I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina CI:
- 1 Center Channel Speaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Grilles
- 1 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon Vokal?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon Vokal:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1116cm2
vs
1302cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
162mm
vs
169mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina Center I |
DALI Oberon Vokal |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-24k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1-1/8" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
169.0mm (6.7") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Width |
524.0mm (20.6") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
213.0mm (8.4") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
7.45kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| 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 | B | DALI Oberon Vokal digs deeper - 47Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI Oberon Vokal is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon Vokal takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus Lumina Center I: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | DALI Oberon Vokal is cheaper - $599 against $699, about 14% less. |
A Sonus Lumina Center I B DALI Oberon Vokal
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?
DALI Oberon Vokal is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Sonus Lumina Center I if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Lumina Center I the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and DALI Oberon Vokal for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.