Dali Oberon 1 C review

Dali Oberon 1 C Book Shelf Speakers.

The Oberon one C has plainly been designed to charm to quite one reasonably emptor and set-up. This stand mounter package belongs to a three-strong active speaker unit series, that conjointly incorporates the seven C floor standers and On-Wall C wall-mounted speaker, and is predicated on the Danish company’s Oberon passive speaker range.

However, the Oberon C models are a rather totally different proposition to their active system siblings, mostly because of their accessible nature. that's in terms of school and sonic presentation, which matches detail and musicalness with the type of balance that may be accommodated in even the tiniest of rooms.

Dali Oberon 1 C review

The shared pursuit of affection and happiness aside, not most are when a similar issue – as Dali acknowledges within the style of its latest stereo speaker system, the Oberon one C. Audio systems, whether or not they are modest all-in-one micros or a lot of formidable active speaker types, typically adopt a one-size-fits-all model – it’s a part of their convenient, fuss-free marketing point, after all. However, the Oberon 1 C is designed to attract quite one quiet purchaser and set-up. Features This stand mounter package belongs to a three-strong active speaker unit series, that additionally incorporates the seven C floor standers and On-Wall C wall-mounted speaker and relies on the Danish company’s Oberon passive speaker range. As Dali's most reasonable active range, they sit below the Rubicon C and Galilean satellite C series, which are themselves supported passive speaker ranges. However, the Oberon C models are a rather totally different proposition to their active system siblings, for the most part, thanks to their a lot of accessible nature. whereas the brains of the Rubicon C and Callisto C speakers exist a separate wireless network preamplifier referred to as the Sound Hub, the Oberon C package introduces a smaller, changed version of this box, the Sound Hub Compact. This box is prepacked with the Oberon one C, however, you'll be able to value more highly to have the first Sound Hub instead of a £250 premium. taking place the hub route, instead of packing all the property within the speaker cabinets, permits the painter to supply upgradeable boxes within the future. From an aesthetic purpose of view, it additionally provides homeowners the choice to stay cables from connected sources off from speakers. however why 2 hubs? Dali feels that this worth point makes the Oberon one C (and seven C) an alternative to a soundbar, for those when a higher-performing TV-based system with a lot of convincing stereo soundstage than offered by one bar. The Sound Hub Compact’s property definitely reflects those ambitions. There’s an associate degree HDMI ARC socket providing one suggests that of connecting to a TV, permitting the TV remote to manage the Oberon 1 C’s volume changes and, because the hub additionally supports automobile input switching, for the most part negating the requirement for the system’s given remote. Optical inputs provide another, with one double-geared towards TV connectivity in order that the Sound Hub will mechanically power up once the TV is turned on. There' additionally aptX HD Bluetooth – handy for wirelessly taking part in music from a phone or alternative Bluetooth-toting audio supply – and a combination of RCA inputs, subwoofer output, and a USB service port. what's missing, compared with the complete Sound Hub, is that the BluOS streaming module, that offers DLNA playback, Spotify Connect, recurrent event Connect, and intrinsical access to other streaming services, comparable to Amazon Music, Qobuz, and Deezer. The Sound Hub Compact’s lack of BluOS support and general network access means each multi-room practicality with alternative BluOS devices associate degreed MQA file support aren’t out there – and for a few this can be an issue. The Sound Hub also options a concentric input and preamp output, which the compact version doesn’t. except for those that would like to stay their set-up simple, or who don’t rely on music streaming services, the Sound Hub Compact could also be all they need. Those when a full of life reproducer however have a much bigger budget or a lot of bold performance needs ought to remember that the Sound Hub Compact is additionally compatible with Dali' Rubicon C and Galilean satellite C active speakers, too.

Build

Dali has reduced the dimensions of the hub, largely in terms of its height, in order that it will a lot of simply be tucked away on a rack. Whereas the Sound Hub’s size is adore a set-top box, the Sound Hub Compact is more akin to a wi-fi router, with a straightforward half-circle arrangement of LED lights that denote input selection.

we tend to check each hub with the Oberon one C, however, whichever you choose, one amongst their design’s biggest blessings is their wireless transmission to speakers. The hub sends music to the Oberon century over a proprietary 30-bit wireless protocol, with transmission latency from input to speaker claimed to be under 15mS.

Upon receipt of the signal from the hub, the wireless receiver modules within the speakers notice that channel information (left or right) to play, betting on the channel allotted to every speaker throughout set-up. the proper channel data is passed at 24-bit/96kHz resolution to the DSP-based effort and crossover filter electronics. throughout our testing, we tend to don’t expertise any association or latency problems and also the experience is solid. The speakers are for the foremost half unchanged from the passive Oberon 1, that in our review we have a tendency to tend to same were “solid and nicely made” and “compact enough to suit unobtrusively into most rooms”. There are still four end choices – black ash, matte white, dark walnut, and light-weight oak – but, like the Oberon 1, the largest aesthetic statement here is provided by the mahogany-colored 13cm wood fiber mid/bass cone, that is employed in conjunction with Salvidor Dali’s Soft Magnet Compound (SMC) technology and sits below the 29mm soft dome speaker unit within the acquainted Dali arrangement. every unit, now though, is fed by an avid 50W category D amplifier.

The Oberon one C’s compact dimensions mean they must be simple to house, whether or not flanking a TV on a rack or combine of stands (such as Dali’s own Connect Stand E-600) or as an alternative wall-mounted via the speakers’ rear-panel hole slotsThe Dali's sound pretty balanced up against a wall, despite the utilization of a rear reflex port, but we have a tendency to discover they perform best once placed around 20cm to 30cm aloof from one, facing straight ahead. This way, the Oberon one C show familiar sonic behavior – clear, articulate, fast, and notably wonderful with vocals

Sound

We connect the Oberon one C to the total Sound Hub – a pairing cost accounting £1449 – and stream Tom Odell's Heal over periodic event Connect. The vocal-led track comes through the speakers with tangible clarity and therefore the} reasonably levels of insight you'll feel. Odell’s delivery is packed with tenderness and the Dali is sympathetic to that, whereas also keeping a firm hand on the incidental keys. This midrange insight was one in every of the passive Oberon 1’s highlights, and one thing the addition of wireless active operation hasn't changed.

there's depth and obvious layering to what is generally associated with open and precise soundstage – which still rings true with denser compositions. we tend to play the idea Of Everything by Jóhann Jóhannsson and therefore the} Dalis show a decent organization in their presentation of the piano, string, and percussion instrumental, whereas also proving smart in capturing the dynamic surges of the string ensemble.

we tend to move to the Love Theme From The Godfather by Nino Rota and the Dalis not solely have lots of insight – the chordophone is unmistakable, the accordion unsmooth – however, they also communicate the dense and crude nature of the production. It grasps what scale there's to the strings and keeps things tidy because the piece reaches its climax.

This organization, combined with dynamic power and agility, makes for a rhythmically partaking listen. The Oberon one C work musically, capturing the experimentalism at the core of Oneohtrix purpose Never' Long Road Home; all the musical strands are control along well, while not ever sounding messy. 

The Dali's have an honest go at rackety through pg. lost' Suffering – there’s over a touch of drive and weight behind the bally electrical guitars and walloping drums. However, just like the Oberon 1, you don’t get the authority or bass volume and depth you'd from a physically larger strive of speakers – one issue that individuals who have to be compelled to fill an enormous area ought to remember.

we tend to replace the Sound Hub with the Compact version and, connecting it to the Naim ND 555/555 note DR music streamer via RCA, are bestowed with constant admirable strengths and more, that is hardly stunning considering the Naim’s high-end caliber and therefore the wired connection.

Streaming from our Samsung Galaxy S21 phone to the Sound Hub Compact over Bluetooth (in aptX form) offers less clarity, openness, and refinement than that delivered by the Sound Hub’s BluOS streaming – and definitely by the Sound Hub Compact and Naim streamer pairing, as is to be expected. But, although relatively cruder, Dali’s detailed, organized and musical presentation remains prevalent.

Verdict

Active streaming systems are getting Associate in Nursingd more} common during this convenience-craving world, and also the Salvidor Dali Oberon one C is among the most effective examples we’ve seen at this level. 

whether or not you keep on with the bundled TV-friendly Sound Hub Compact or upgrade to the complete streaming-savvy Sound Hub, this package can create the foremost of the options on providing an easy-to-use operation and a musical, clear sound. As cheap stereo speaker systems go, this one’s gratifyingly complete.