In this review, we will be comparing AURA 1 and P300, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Buchardt.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 1 and Buchardt P300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale AURA 1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer
- 48-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:12.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 367.0" x 9-3/4" x 13-3/4"( 367.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm )
Buchardt P300 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
- 6" paper Woofer
- 37-40k HZ Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50 - 200watts
- Weight:6.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 365.0" x 7" x 11"( 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 1 and Buchardt P300 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* |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
Buchardt P300 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale AURA 1 and Buchardt P300 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both AURA 1 and P300 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
Buchardt P300 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
AURA 1 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.9kHz. On the other hand, the P300 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA 1 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the P300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AURA 1's min frequency of 48Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AURA 1 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the P300 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the P300 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AURA 1 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the P300.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Wharfedale AURA 1's and Buchardt P300's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA 1 has external dimensions of 367.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm ( 14-7/16inch x 9-3/4inch x 13-3/4inch ) whereas Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
Wharfedale AURA 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 68mm wider, 2mm taller and 70mm deeper than Buchardt P300.
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 Wharfedale AURA 1 is approximately 868.0cm2 / 134.5inch2 and base area of the Buchardt P300 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The AURA 1 requires 72% more surface area than the P300 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.