In this review, we will be comparing AURA 2 and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 2 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale AURA 2 | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-22k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 20.45kg / 45lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 22-1/16" x 11-1/4" x 15-13/16"
561.0 x 286.0 x 402.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 2 and KEF R3 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 2 |
KEF R3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
Drivers
Both AURA 2 and R3 are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale AURA 2KEF R3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 2 |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
AURA 2 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 520Hz, 4.5kHz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA 2 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the AURA 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 2 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3, 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.
R3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas AURA 2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the R3.
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 2 and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA 2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 2 has a bottom firing port whereas R3 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale AURA 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R3 with its rear-firing port.
KEF R3 Port
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 2's and KEF R3's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA 2 has external dimensions of 561.0 x 286.0 x 402.0mm (22-1/16inch x 11-1/4inch x 15-13/16inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
Wharfedale AURA 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 138mm taller and 65mm deeper than KEF R3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale AURA 2 and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale AURA 2 and KEF R3 Size and External Dimensions
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 2 is approximately 1149.7cm2 / 178.2inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The AURA 2 requires 71% more surface area than the R3 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 2 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the AURA 2 51% heavier than the R3.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 2 and R3'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 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 2:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper wires
- 8 Rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.5 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
423mm
vs
561mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
1149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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) |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
520Hz, 4.5kHz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
561.0mm (22.1") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-20" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale AURA 2 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale AURA 2 digs deeper - 42Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF R3 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | KEF R3 is easier to place; Wharfedale AURA 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale AURA 2: bi-amping; KEF R3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 is cheaper - $2,200 against $2,499, about 12% less. |
A Wharfedale AURA 2 B KEF R3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale AURA 2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF R3 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.