Dali Oberon 3 vs Dali Opticon 2: which should you buy?

The Dali Oberon 3 is my pick here. It leads on sound quality, bass response, treble detail, design and value for money, and takes the midrange narrowly as well.

Buy the Dali Oberon 3 if this is the system you sit down in front of. It throws a broad, well imaged soundstage, the 7 inch mid-woofer reaches down to 47 Hz where the smaller pair stops at 59 Hz, and the top end has real audiophile detail once it is dialled in. It rewards a bit of patience: a proper break-in period, straight forward-facing placement, and some attention to positioning if certain vocal registers sound boxy in your room. Off-axis behaviour is strong, so a small room is no obstacle and toe-in is not something you need to fuss over. The one caveat is that poor recordings can sound a touch sharp through it, and the highs can read slightly rolled off until placement and EQ are settled.

The Opticon 2 makes more sense as a second system, or as a compact pair for a room where the speaker should blend into the furniture rather than dominate it. Its midrange is natural and well defined, the highs are clean without ever turning shrill, and the bass is punchy and tight for a 6.5 inch driver, which makes it easy to listen to for hours without fatigue. The presentation is balanced rather than dramatic, and the build feels solid. One practical point before you buy: it is a 4 ohm load and asks for 30 W at minimum, so give it an amplifier that is happy driving 4 ohms. Do that and you get an even-handed, unfussy speaker that suits long casual listening more than critical listening.