In this review, we will be comparing AURA 4 and Opticon 8 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 4 and DALI Opticon 8 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale AURA 4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer
- 37-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Weight:24.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1105.0" x 14-1/2" x 15-5/8"( 1105.0 x 369.0 x 397.0mm )
DALI Opticon 8 II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 38-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-300watts
- Weight:37.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 9-1/2" x 18-1/16"( 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 4 and DALI Opticon 8 II 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 4 |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 4 and DALI Opticon 8 II 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 4 and Opticon 8 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 4 |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
AURA 4 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 475Hz, 3.3kHz. On the other hand, the Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA 4 has a frequency range of 37-22k Hz whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the AURA 4 can go slightly deeper then the Opticon 8 MK2's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 4 and Opticon 8 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AURA 4 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Opticon 8 MK2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA 4 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the AURA 4 and the AURA 4 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 4 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 4 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Opticon 8 MK2.
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 4 and Opticon 8 MK2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA 4's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 4 has a bottom firing port whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale AURA 4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI Opticon 8 II with its rear-firing port.
DALI Opticon 8 II 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 4's and DALI Opticon 8 II's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA 4 has external dimensions of 1105.0 x 369.0 x 397.0mm ( 43-1/2inch x 14-1/2inch x 15-5/8inch ) whereas DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) .
Wharfedale AURA 4 is 45mm shorter and 62mm less deeper than DALI Opticon 8 II but it is also 124mm wider.
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 4 is approximately 1464.9cm2 / 227.1inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2. The AURA 4 requires 30% more surface area than the Opticon 8 MK2 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 4 weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs and the DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 51% heavier than the AURA 4.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 4 and Opticon 8 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 4:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers8 Spike feet8 Collars 8 Knobs8 Protective discsPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 8 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1105mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1124cm2
vs
1464cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4200USD
vs
4999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 4 |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
37-22k Hz |
38-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
475Hz, 3.3kHz |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1105.0mm (43.5") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
369.0mm (14.5") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Depth |
397.0mm (15.6") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| 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 |