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Wharfedale AURA 1 vs Buchardt S400 MKII Comparison

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Wharfedale AURA 1

Passive Bookshelf | 48-22k Hz

Wharfedale AURA 1
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Buchardt S400 MKII

Passive Bookshelf | 33-40k HZ

Buchardt S400 MKII
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Wharfedale AURA 1 Wharfedale AURA 1
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Buchardt S400 MKII Buchardt S400 MKII
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Wharfedale AURA 1
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Buchardt S400 MKII
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Wharfedale AURA 1 vs Buchardt S400 MKII Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing AURA 1 and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Buchardt.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale AURA 1 and Buchardt S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
  • 6" paper Woofer
  • 33-40k HZ Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:40-200watts
  • Weight:7.50kg
  • 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 S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII
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 S400 MKII compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both AURA 1 and S400 MKII are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale AURA 1 Buchardt S400 MKII
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 S400 MKII features a 0.74" fine weave soft fabric textile aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz.

Frequency Response

AURA 1 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MKII 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

AURA 1
S400 MKII
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale AURA 1
Buchardt S400 MKII
Min
Average
Max

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 S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S400 MKII's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

AURA 1
S400 MKII
Min
Average
Max

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 S400 MKII.

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 S400 MKII'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 S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII.

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 S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The AURA 1 requires 72% more surface area than the S400 MKII which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Weight Comparison

The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Wharfedale AURA 1 weighs 12.50kg / 27.5lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the AURA 1 67% heavier than the S400 MKII.

Here is a comparison of how AURA 1 and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale AURA 1
Buchardt S400 MKII
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 1?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 1:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 4 Jumper wires
  • 8 Rubber feet
  • Pair of white gloves
  • User Manual

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale AURA 1 over Buchardt S400 MKII
    Nominal Impedance 6 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Price per pair* 1999USD vs 2200USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Buchardt S400 MKII over Wharfedale AURA 1

    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 33 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 22k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Passive Radiator one 5x8-inch vs None Increases the bass performance
    Height 365mm vs 367mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 504cm2 vs 868cm2 Takes less floor space
    Wharfedale AURA 1 vs Buchardt S400 MKII Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale AURA 1 Buchardt S400 MKII
    Brand Wharfedale Buchardt
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-100 watts 40-200 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 4.1 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 48-22k Hz 33-40k HZ
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5" 6"
    Woofer Composition Glass Fiber Matrix paper
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
    Tweeter Size 1.0625 x 3.5" 0.74"
    Tweeter Type AMT (Ribbon) aluminum waveguide
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2.9kHz 1800Hz
    Firing Direction bottom n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 367.0mm (14.4") 365.0mm (14.4")
    Width 248.0mm (9.8") 180.0mm (7.1")
    Depth 350.0mm (13.8") 280.0mm (11")
    Weight 12.50kg (27.5lbs) 7.50kg (16.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Passive Radiator
    Finish Multi-layer wood n/a
    Available Colors Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak
    Mounting Bracket No
    Recommended Stand Height 22-24" n/a
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes n/a
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 10 years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 10 years

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