In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Wharfedale. Wharfedale AURA 1 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the AURA CS is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 1 and Wharfedale AURA CS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale AURA 1 | Wharfedale AURA CS |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Glass Fiber Matrix | 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 56-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.50kg / 27.5lbs | 18.64kg / 41lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-7/16" x 9-3/4" x 13-3/4"
367.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm | 9-15/16" x 24-1/4" x 13-7/8"
253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm |
|---|
AURA 1 and AURA CS are members of Wharfedale's AURA series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale AURA Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 1 and Wharfedale AURA CS 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 |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both AURA 1 and AURA CS are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale AURA 1Wharfedale AURA CS
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
2 x 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 AURA CS features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz.
Frequency Response
AURA 1 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas AURA CS has a frequency range of 56-22k 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 AURA CS's min frequency of 56Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. 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 AURA CS 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 AURA CS can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the AURA CS's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA CS 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AURA CS can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas AURA 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the AURA CS.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both AURA 1 and AURA CS 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 1 has a bottom firing port whereas AURA CS has a side firing ports.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Wharfedale AURA CS'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 Wharfedale AURA CS has external dimensions of 253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm (24-1/4).
Wharfedale AURA 1 is 368mm narrower and 3mm less deeper than Wharfedale AURA CS but it is also 114mm 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 Wharfedale AURA CS is approximately 2174.5cm2 / 337.0inch2. The AURA 1 requires 60% less surface area than the AURA CS which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA CS?
Here are the items that come with the AURA CS:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 2 Jumper wires
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual