Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with the Dali Oberon 3 speakers, including in-room measurements and the impact of some light room treatment and EQ adjustments. Here’s how you can make these budget-friendly speakers sound even better.
( my little livingroom )
Speakers and Initial Setup
The Dali Oberon 3 speakers can be described as slightly V-shaped when set up according to the manufacturer's instructions. These speakers are not designed to be toed-in and should be used with the front panels on to calm the highs. In this setup, sitting in the sweet spot, you'll experience a mild V-shaped sound with substantial room bass. However, there's a noticeable brightness between 7k and 10k.
Here are my in-room measurements with the speakers set up as recommended by the manufacturer (without the acoustic panels on the left wall).
While this sound profile is acceptable, it lacks a clear center image in my living room, making the soundstage feel dispersed. Although the wide sound is impressive, it’s not ideal for listening to acoustic music. Additionally, positioning the sofa at the end of the listening triangle is too close to the TV and wall, and moving the speakers every time I want to listen to music isn't practical.
Part 2: Improving Soundstage and Setup
To create a better soundstage while maintaining a comfortable distance from the wall, I toed-in the speakers and removed the front panels.
Here are some measurements from my listening position on the sofa. Though I'm just under 2 feet outside the listening triangle, this setup is practical and wife-approved.
As seen in the measurements, the speakers are now brighter, but the mids and upper mids are smoother. The toe-in also creates a center image. Unfortunately, the speakers are now very V-shaped, pushing the vocals far back in the mix, which is still not optimal.
Part 3: EQ to the Rescue
Finally, let’s apply some EQ.
Here, the speakers are EQed to a flat response with a slight slope. The effect is noticeable, with the mids in music pulled forward. The sound is close to my HD650 headphones, but with better bass.
Regarding soundstage and imaging, the toe-in significantly helps, and the acoustic panels also play their part. We now have a clear center image, and the soundstage extends 1-2 feet outside the speakers when the mix allows it. While my RT60 measurements aren't perfect, this setup is practical and wife-approved.
Conclusion
So, what’s the verdict on the Dali Oberon 3?
If you’re a casual listener looking for fun-sounding speakers that still sound good without a dedicated listening spot, these are a great choice for the money. However, if you want something more neutral or flat and expect a good soundstage, you might want to look elsewhere unless you’re willing to use EQ.
Hope you enjoyed my little post!
Best regards,
Thomas
I wanted to share my experience with the Dali Oberon 3 speakers, including in-room measurements and the impact of some light room treatment and EQ adjustments. Here’s how you can make these budget-friendly speakers sound even better.
( my little livingroom )
Speakers and Initial Setup
The Dali Oberon 3 speakers can be described as slightly V-shaped when set up according to the manufacturer's instructions. These speakers are not designed to be toed-in and should be used with the front panels on to calm the highs. In this setup, sitting in the sweet spot, you'll experience a mild V-shaped sound with substantial room bass. However, there's a noticeable brightness between 7k and 10k.
Here are my in-room measurements with the speakers set up as recommended by the manufacturer (without the acoustic panels on the left wall).
While this sound profile is acceptable, it lacks a clear center image in my living room, making the soundstage feel dispersed. Although the wide sound is impressive, it’s not ideal for listening to acoustic music. Additionally, positioning the sofa at the end of the listening triangle is too close to the TV and wall, and moving the speakers every time I want to listen to music isn't practical.
Part 2: Improving Soundstage and Setup
To create a better soundstage while maintaining a comfortable distance from the wall, I toed-in the speakers and removed the front panels.
Here are some measurements from my listening position on the sofa. Though I'm just under 2 feet outside the listening triangle, this setup is practical and wife-approved.
As seen in the measurements, the speakers are now brighter, but the mids and upper mids are smoother. The toe-in also creates a center image. Unfortunately, the speakers are now very V-shaped, pushing the vocals far back in the mix, which is still not optimal.
Part 3: EQ to the Rescue
Finally, let’s apply some EQ.
Here, the speakers are EQed to a flat response with a slight slope. The effect is noticeable, with the mids in music pulled forward. The sound is close to my HD650 headphones, but with better bass.
Regarding soundstage and imaging, the toe-in significantly helps, and the acoustic panels also play their part. We now have a clear center image, and the soundstage extends 1-2 feet outside the speakers when the mix allows it. While my RT60 measurements aren't perfect, this setup is practical and wife-approved.
Conclusion
So, what’s the verdict on the Dali Oberon 3?
If you’re a casual listener looking for fun-sounding speakers that still sound good without a dedicated listening spot, these are a great choice for the money. However, if you want something more neutral or flat and expect a good soundstage, you might want to look elsewhere unless you’re willing to use EQ.
Hope you enjoyed my little post!
Best regards,
Thomas
