In this review, we will be comparing AURA 2 and AURA 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 2 and Wharfedale AURA 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
AURA 2 and AURA 1 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 2 and Wharfedale AURA 1 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 2 and Wharfedale AURA 1 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AURA 2 is a 3-way design whereas the AURA 1 is a 2-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 2 |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 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 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.
Frequency Response
AURA 2 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas AURA 1 has a frequency range of 48-22k 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 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 2 and AURA 1 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AURA 2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the AURA 1's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA 2 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 2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the AURA 2.
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 2 and AURA 1 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
Wharfedale AURA 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AURA 2 and AURA 1 have bottom firing ports.
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 2's and Wharfedale AURA 1'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 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 ) .
Wharfedale AURA 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 194mm taller and 52mm deeper than Wharfedale AURA 1.
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 Wharfedale AURA 1 is approximately 868.0cm2 / 134.5inch2. The AURA 2 requires 32% more surface area than the AURA 1 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 Wharfedale AURA 1 weighs 12.50kg / 27.5lbs. This makes the AURA 2 64% heavier than the AURA 1.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 2 and AURA 1'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 loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper wires8 Rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 1?
Here are the items that come with the AURA 1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper wires8 Rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
367mm
vs
561mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
868cm2 (248x350mm)
vs
1149cm2 (286x402mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
Wharfedale AURA 1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
48-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
520Hz, 4.5kHz |
2.9kHz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
561.0mm (22.1") |
367.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
12.50kg (27.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
Multi-layer wood |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-20" |
22-24" |
| 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 |