In this review, we will be comparing Lumina II and Oberon 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus Faber and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Lumina II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 6" paper cone Woofer
- 55-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:5.65kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 304.0" x 7.1" x 10.3"( 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm )
DALI Oberon 3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 7" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 47-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:6.32kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.0" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"( 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm )
What size room are the Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 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 II |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 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 Lumina II and Oberon 3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina II |
DALI Oberon 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Lumina II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina II's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Lumina II is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 3 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 Lumina II can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina II sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Oberon 3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina II, 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. 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.
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
Lumina II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon 3 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Oberon 3's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina II has a front firing port whereas Oberon 3 has a rear firing ports. Sonus Lumina II's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Oberon 3 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 Sonus Lumina II's and DALI Oberon 3's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina II has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm ( 12 x 7.1 x 10.3inch) whereas DALI Oberon 3 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm ( 13-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/16inch) .
DALI Oberon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 21mm wider, 46mm taller and 47mm deeper than Sonus Lumina II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 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 II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 3 is approximately 623.1cm2 / 96.6inch2. The Lumina II requires 24% less surface area than the Oberon 3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 Sonus Lumina II and DALI Oberon 3 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 Sonus Lumina II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs and the DALI Oberon 3 weighs 6.32kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the Oberon 3 12% heavier than the Lumina II.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina II and Oberon 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina II:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 3?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 3:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feetManual