In this review, we will be comparing AURA C and Opticon VOKAL MK2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA C and Dali Opticon VOKAL II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale AURA C | Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) | 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix | 6.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 47-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.27kg / 60lbs | 9.23kg / 20.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12" x 26-1/4" x 15-3/4"
305.0 x 667.0 x 401.0mm | 7-15/16" x 17-1/8" x 12-5/16"
202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA C and Dali Opticon VOKAL 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 C |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
| 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AURA C is a 2-way design whereas the Opticon VOKAL MK2 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.
Wharfedale AURA CDali Opticon VOKAL II
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 C |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
AURA C features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer. On the other hand, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz and 14.000Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Opticon VOKAL MK2 can go slightly deeper then the AURA C's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 C and Opticon VOKAL MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AURA C sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Opticon VOKAL MK2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA C a more sensitive speaker compared to Dali Opticon VOKAL 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 C and the AURA C can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the AURA C.
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
AURA C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Dali Opticon VOKAL II's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA C has a side firing port whereas Opticon VOKAL MK2 has a front firing ports. Dali Opticon VOKAL II's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale AURA C with its rear-firing port.
Dali Opticon VOKAL II slot 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 C's and Dali Opticon VOKAL II's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA C has external dimensions of 305.0 x 667.0 x 401.0mm (12inch x 26-1/4inch x 15-3/4inch) whereas Dali Opticon VOKAL II has external dimensions of 202.0 x 435.0 x 313.0mm (7-15/16 x 17-1/8 x 12-5/16inch).
Wharfedale AURA C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 232mm wider, 103mm taller and 88mm deeper than Dali Opticon VOKAL II.
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 C is approximately 2674.7cm2 / 414.6inch2 and base area of the Dali Opticon VOKAL II is approximately 1361.6cm2 / 211.0inch2. The AURA C requires 96% more surface area than the Opticon VOKAL 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 C weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs and the Dali Opticon VOKAL II weighs 9.23kg / 20.3lbs. This makes the AURA C 195% heavier than the Opticon VOKAL MK2.
Here is a comparison of how AURA C and Opticon VOKAL MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 2 Jumper wires
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of Dali Opticon VOKAL II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon VOKAL MK2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Rubber bumpers
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
202mm
vs
305mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1361cm2
vs
2674cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA C |
Dali Opticon VOKAL MK2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
47-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| 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 |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2400Hz and 14.000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
305.0mm (12") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Width |
667.0mm (26.3") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Depth |
401.0mm (15.8") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
9.23kg (20.3lbs) |
| 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 |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (48Hz vs 47Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
A |
Wharfedale AURA C takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II is easier to place; Wharfedale AURA C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
A |
Wharfedale AURA C: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
Dali Opticon VOKAL II is cheaper - $1,199 against $1,799, about 33% less. |
A Wharfedale AURA C
B Dali Opticon VOKAL II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale AURA C measures better, Dali Opticon VOKAL II costs about 33% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale AURA C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dali Opticon VOKAL II is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $600 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.