In this review, we will be comparing AURA 1 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 1 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 1 and KEF R3 Meta 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale AURA 1 and KEF R3 Meta 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AURA 1 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 Meta is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA 1 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the AURA 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 R3 Meta 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 R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R3 Meta's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the R3 Meta.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both AURA 1 and R3 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 1 has a bottom firing port whereas R3 Meta has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale AURA 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R3 Meta with its rear-firing port.
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 KEF R3 Meta'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 KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm ( 16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch) .
KEF R3 Meta is 46mm narrower and 13mm less deeper than Wharfedale AURA 1 but it is also 56mm taller.
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 KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The AURA 1 requires 28% more surface area than the R3 Meta 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 KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the AURA 1 1% heavier than the R3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 1 and R3 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper wires8 Rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers 1 pair of microfiber grilles Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
367mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
680cm2 (202x337mm)
vs
868cm2 (248x350mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.9kHz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
367.0mm (14.4") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
248.0mm (9.8") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
12.50kg (27.5lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |