In this review, we will be comparing A2 and Oberon 5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Spendor and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Spendor A2 and DALI Oberon 5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Spendor A2 | DALI Oberon 5 |
|---|
| Brand | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.87" | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 2 x 5.25" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-25k Hz | 39-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.00kg / 26.4lbs | 10.80kg / 23.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 30.9" x 5.9" x 10.15"
784.9 x 149.9 x 257.8mm | 32-3/4" x 7-15/16" x 10-7/8"
832.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Spendor A2 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Spendor A2 |
DALI Oberon 5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both A2 and Oberon 5 are 2-way speakers.
Spendor A2DALI Oberon 5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Spendor A2 |
DALI Oberon 5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.87-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
A2 features a 0.87" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 4,200 Hz. 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
A2 has a frequency range of 36-25k Hz whereas Oberon 5 has a frequency range of 39-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the A2 can go slightly deeper then the Oberon 5's min frequency of 39Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
A2 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. A2 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Oberon 5's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Oberon 5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Spendor A2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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
A2 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
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 Spendor A2's and DALI Oberon 5's external dimensions. Spendor A2 has external dimensions of 784.9 x 149.9 x 257.8mm (30.9 x 5.9 x 10.15inch) 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).
DALI Oberon 5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52.1mm wider, 47.1mm taller and 19.2mm deeper than Spendor A2.
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.
DALI Oberon 5 needs about 45% more floor or shelf area. DALI Oberon 5 is 19mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI Oberon 5 is 47mm 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 Spendor A2 is approximately 386.4cm2 / 59.9inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 5 is approximately 559.5cm2 / 86.7inch2. The A2 requires 31% less surface area than the Oberon 5 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 Spendor A2 weighs 12.00kg / 26.4lbs and the DALI Oberon 5 weighs 10.80kg / 23.8lbs. This makes the A2 11% heavier than the Oberon 5.
Here is a comparison of how A2 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 DALI Oberon 5?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 5:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spike-feet
- 8 Hex-nuts
- Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.91 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
784mm
vs
832mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
386cm2
vs
559cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
3100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Spendor A2 |
DALI Oberon 5 |
| Brand |
Spendor |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-25k Hz |
39-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.87" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
4,200 Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
784.9mm (30.9") |
832.0mm (32.8") |
| Width |
149.9mm (5.9") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
257.8mm (10.1") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
12.00kg (26.4lbs) |
10.80kg (23.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Spendor A2 costs roughly 2.1x what DALI Oberon 5 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Spendor A2 digs deeper - 36Hz against 39Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI Oberon 5 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Spendor A2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Size | depends | Spendor A2 is easier to place; DALI Oberon 5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | DALI Oberon 5 is cheaper - $1,499 against $3,100, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Spendor A2 B DALI Oberon 5
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?
Spendor A2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 107% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - DALI Oberon 5 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Spendor A2 appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Spendor A2 the better fit for a small room, and DALI Oberon 5 for a large room. In a large or open-plan room, DALI Oberon 5 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Spendor A2 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.