DALI Oberon 5 Vs Q Acoustics 3020i & 3060s (Blind Sound Comparison)

[@MrVoayer]

To my ears A sounded more balanced overall while B sounded overpowerd at the bottom and more like disco/club speakers than a home/room speakers. I prefer Dali's but Q Acoustics are serius contenders !

[@andymill32]

Detail retrieval, soundstage and dynamics are just as important, more bass is not the only thing that denotes a quality speaker. I have and love the Dalis no need for a Sub for them in my small living room.

[@andymill8552]

On my system: A was more coherent and in balance to me. B was much boomier and more V-shaped.

[@gregfreeman8441]

I'm new to this, what does V-shaped mean?

[@andymill8552]

@@gregfreeman8441 V-shaped means that the mid-frequencies are more recessed than the low- and high frequencies. If you would see a graph of the frequency response it resembles a sort of 'V' (a dip in the middle). A more 'neutral' sound would look more like a straight line instead of a V. On the first impression a 'V shape' can sound more lifely and vivid (more accent on bass and treble), but in the long term it can come accross as more fatiquing and less balanced than a more neutral sound.

[@SergioGarcia-jg3yy]

I also was going to say that about cymbals. I can't tell about imaging, but I like more the treble in the Dali's and even the bass (more natural to me). So, my vote is for the Dali's

[@calvinnapier9977]

The problem with judging the sound from what your hearing and what we're hearing from KZbin is gonna mess with things. To me the Dali's has a richer low end while the Q's brought out better details in the mids and highs. Fantastic magic trick at the beginning 👏 Your talents never cease to amaze me 😄

[@shemsureshot]

You did a really good job explaining the difference between the two form factors. I wanted floor standers but didn’t want their weight, bulk or having to store large boxes. I ended up buying a pair of Kef R2 speakers and found this form factor gave me the best of both worlds. If you get the chance it would be good to see another video like this with something like the R2’s in them. I suppose they could be called tall bookshelf speakers.

[@diegocanale1124]

I have Dalis for a decade. First the zensor 1 and now spektor 2 for the past 3 years

[@vgnow6558]

That's how sound battles should be done, well done 👍

[@100Chicky]

i knew straight away. floorstanders are much smoother

[@andreassouth1523]

Excellent review.I'm not into forward (in your face)sounding speakers. So i bought a year ago Q 3030i with Yamaha a-s 501.I was very worry maybe the sound turn out to be too bright for me.Ηappily the sound is laid back.The highs are crystal but not offencive,the mids are warm and revealingly and the bass deep and strong (in my room).In some movies bass gets very low frequencies like a subwoofer!The whole room is shaking!!So i don't have to spend more money for a subwoofer. Like i said i was worry about the synergy between them but Yamaha A-S 501 proved to be a true gem.Far better speakers than wrfs 12.2.

[@harrydavidson5548]

The Q accoustic, far more dynamic with good instrument separation. Great video, thank you.

[@marleymcleay9228]

I have the 3060s subwoofer. Ive recently purchased the SVS Soundpath Subwoofer isolation system. a set of 4 feet to screw onto your subwoofer, to reduce reverb or noise from the flooring and wall. They are not really designed for subs outside of the svs range. The provided screws are a half mm to thick for the thread to work properly. But the amazing workaround is that the spikes with the rubber feet provided OEM with the 3060s subwoofer work a treat for securing the feet to the speaker. The sub sits over an inch off of the ground. I notice significant reduction in unwanted vibrations around the house. And i feel the sub integrates easier into the soundfield with less mud and distortion. I enjoy music more especially. (Oneday ill have a setup for film) as a first time sub owner, for the price it is a very good addition to have.

[@paulb4uk]

A was much better sounding to me

[@RanTausi]

I Liked the A more !

[@kevinsheppard6085]

It could just be the You tube effect or my ageing lug holes, but I actually preferred the bass on the Dali, I thought the Sub sounded deeper but more one one note base in comparison. I also thought the Dali speaker won on the treble front as well. However the mids were a tad better on the 3020i's but I think that is the book shelf speaker effect. Fab review though

[@henningpedersen3838]

The QA system with subwoofer had the most base but I like the sound and the loock of the Dalys more...

[@noosamike]

Thanks for this review, you saved me from buying the 3060s, it sounded terribly boomy and best suited to a night club.

[@sihartley6838]

I think a better comparison would have been the 3030i's. The 3020i is more of a satellite speaker, they tend to be more of a rear/surround or PC option. Very much a "bookshelf" speaker, where as 3030i is more standmount, which would be the better option for a front/main speaker comparison.

[@invisiblekid99]

I think I’m planning to get the 3020i for PC and maybe the 3060sub and the 3030i and stands for the living room 3020 vs 3030, the 3030’s win hands down. The sub evens things a little bit, but for pure TV music listening the 3030’s are the way to go. Only a few quid more too.

[@handokosetiawan2803]

I prefer Dali's sound.

[@ryanbakshi]

A very good review. The floorstanders won straightaway during the blind test. Maybe if you could have adjusted the bass to be a bit less, then the Q acoustics could have been very close. As an owner of entire 3000 series of Q acoustics, I can vouch that they have better soundstage and imaging and mid range. But as an overall package and balanced sound, I found the DALI floorstanders much better. I think ANY floorstanders are better than using bookshelves with a sub. I usually go almost full volume on my amps, crossing 90%, and that is where the bookshelves just cannot handle it. So I learnt that floorstanders are always best. For people who listen at reasonable volumes till 70%, bookshelves will do just fine.

[@bartbrodsky7190]

Listening at home on my own 3020i setup with a small subwoofer, I found the Dali more balanced but the Q system had more presence, especially in the mids and lower mids. I liked some tracks better with the Dali setup, others better with the Qs. As for bass response, you might have set the volume a wee too high on the Q subwoofer, skewing test results. Booming bass was a tell as to which system was A and which was B.

[@LorDarkGoose]

From experience I know standmounts image much better than floorstanders generally- so standmounts + sub is usually going to be the winning combo. That said, for some reason in the sound samples the Oberons' bass sounded more tuneful which I like as opposed to "thuddy". I own the Oberons though and it's not the most tuneful of bass really. So there may be something in how it's picked up by the mic, recorded, processed by youtube or just my headphones causing this. Still a very interesting comparison!

[@I_am_not_a_bot-s6i]

Hard to tell? B is more versatile if you want to use it in a home theater setup. A look nicer. I think everyone would like to own floor standers if the had a big enough room to get the best out of them they recommend 3 feet from any walls. I think this as helped me not to go for floor standers

[@RanTausi]

You did it again, you just knocked right in my face😎 , Thanks for the video and be carful with special magic.

[@michaelvincent8306]

Bookshelf speakers every time your room is the key and the imagery from good Bookshelf speakers takes some beating unless you have tons of cash

[@michals1108]

I have got 3020i now and bass is the only thing missing so I'm looking to upgrade something... either buy new set or ...

[@vzrbala]

Awesome comparison.. what are your thoughts on floor standing vs just bookshelf? Is it a fair comparison?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

In this instance, I preferred the bookshelves and sub. But It's subjective to the listener really.

[@audioman6007]

I still don't think that marantz amp works well with the oberon 5, but i didn't like that sub, the bass was all wrong for me. Put the dali with something like a Yamaha amp and them speakers will sing.

[@davidevans4535]

I totally agree with you

[@johnewing383]

I watch you on a tablet, so I cannot differentiate between the tracks. So how do you record from speakers without gaps between changing speakers? As I cannot hear any difference.

[@darrenhawksley4459]

Hi Marty, I’m by no means a so called “Audiophile” 🤣but I have worked in many audio studios over the years.(if that counts) You are spot on!! everyone’s ears are different and we all like different sound. I have done a full circle now and ditched my 2:1 set up for a good old fashioned stereo one and I must say I prefer it over an added sub. The problem with a sub is they really need fine tuning as to frequency and positioning and its so hard to get the balance right! I found it would sound fantastic with one track and shocking with another.😕Live recordings and jazz tracks were great with the sub I must add. Stereo 2 speaker is the way to go for me anyway. P.S I’ve now just returned back to a Musical Fidelity B1 integrated amp after many years and I’ve fallen in love with music all over again. Brilliant video as always mate. Well done. 💪💪✨🙏

[@skeezer180]

Hi mate the 3020i with a rel sub woofer is just great

[@lexusuk7901]

A all day everyday. Suspect with some configuration you could obtain similar results from both setups however.

[@Rockin_Kat]

Q Acoustics 3020i & 3060s gives too boomy bass. Frequency 64-250Hz is superimposed twice, apparently that’s why the booming sound appears. If the sound from the subwoofer was cut off at 100Hz it would be much better. Or select bookshelf speakers starting from 200 Hz. Dali sounds more natural.

[@Rockin_Kat]

Or just turn off the bass on the amplifier a little, maybe then it would be better than Dali.

[@celloryoku]

Great video, love the edits! :D I have a similar system, Q 3020i with stands but using an SVS 1000 pro for the sub. Was considering Oberon 5, but after this video I understood that while it’s better, it’s not too much of an upgrade. The SVS sounds much more integrated to me, especially after a lot of setting adjustments. But mainly the crossover set in the low 60’s, mine to 62hz (since the 3020i’s go down to 65hz) made the sub disappear… what was the crossover set to for this vid by the way?

[@johntknight]

No contest! …the Oberon’s by a mile! Much more balanced and satisfying sound to my ears 👂

[@louisdefunes8952]

Nice review! Ihad the Oberon 5(bought new for about €800,-) great speaker but for me a little to much bass; i'm living in a tiny room(but high ceiling) that's why. The Q Acoustics i've never heard. After the Dali's i bought (second hand €250,- but as new) a pair of Triangle Borea 3 and love this speakers. Sounds great connected with my Aiyima D03 class D-amp. I won't believed it, but it does. Use a 36 volt adapter instead of the standard 32 volt adapter by the way. Have also the very much and good reviewed SMSL AL200; this amp is a good amp, don't get me wrong. But i miss the "warm" sound, i miss some low frequencies. Okay, probably a matter of taste.. And paired with a pair of warm speakers(like the Oberon 5) it could be a right match. The sound of the Aiyima is not worse than my total restored vintage(1987) Sansui AU-317.. Ohh, i only stream music; BlueSound Node 2i, love this streamer and user interface.

[@roncarter5532]

Based on what I hear via my I phone I prefer the Q acoustics and sub personally 👍

[@frankhyam3125]

I use dali 5 with a dali sub as the 5s alone didnt go low enough

[@eliezernunes9601]

Bom as diferenças entre ambos tem seu pq claro eu estou cogitando de ir pro Q Acoustics para home theater 5.1 para filmes e shows à qualidade do Q Acoustics é muito top este é o meu voto ok 👍🏽

[@kelvintan2629]

The treble bass setting u set to neautral on the av receiver? Or bass set to max?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Neutral

[@sassteve1971]

Dali’ 100% but listening through Sony headphones via IPad so not sure an accurate test- Better overall sound staging for me 👍

[@joekelly9369]

Towers anytime ,( get some soft furnishings on them echos) the rest is myth bookshelfs need to be aimed at the listening area more precisely . Towers have massive bass (monitor audio) 6s are bass monsters , hearing beats paper parameters (companies play with numbers ) they cant play with the sound !

[@Adrianek81]

Awesome video,my pick is oberon 5 cause they are bigger so more powerfull and more bass,i own Oberon 3 now with marantz nr1711,amazing sound and bass after audyssey mic calibration😁

[@dmvinyl8326]

Version A is better

[@stevanbatinic6733]

Definitely A !!! 👍

[@jozsefrezmuves3981]

Definitely A

[@kentsha8013]

I prefer Dali Oberon 5

[@Niels133]

I would go for the 3050i.

[@andywrollo2915]

Cant get same stereo soundstage with a sub woofter.

[@ohnonate]

Awsome!

[@Timoeltejano]

A sounded better over all. The Dali Oberon.

[@rodmcleod4897]

I own the 3020is and liked A better..The sub sounded to boomy with q acoustics to my ears

[@gprider1525]

Interesting, A was more coherent

[@rocco37ful]

Las oberon 5 sin duda son superior

[@drandall1000]

Q's sounded great

[@nigelparr4994]

A few months ago I tested 6 floorstanders I had set my heart on the Dali 5's, and was severely disappointed, the bass was very weak, and the rest of the range was mediocre, not worth £800 readies of my money, in the end it was between q acoustics 3050 and wharfedale 12.3, the 12.3 had the edge punchy bass, really nice mid range, and a not too harsh top end, and £300 cheaper, the dali oberon 5 was about the worst speaker out of the six I tested

[@JG-gg9wk]

Lose the theatrics,

[@TranceHeed]

A

[@seanjoe1704]

dali win

[@anthonyp.3486]

Oberon

[@harrykain285]

If you're listening on your phone, you're never gonna hear the difference

[@nuznikas]

On tablet a speakers vibrated more than b

[@fulvioseverino4835]

A...

[@100popsongs]

Wow, B sounded significantly better

[@olaberglund6871]

Q acustics is better.

[@robertgough5804]

Both too boomy both crap

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Have you considered the equipment you're listening on is what's crap?

[@ady2416]

A

[@ady2416]

it stood out instantly ;) I'm still chasing some new speakers lol

[@sandeepkrishnan5105]

A

[@alanstonelake2673]

A

[@untouchable9917]

A