In this review, we will be comparing AURA C and R6 Meta, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA C and KEF R6 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale AURA C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer
- 48-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:27.27kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 305.0" x 26-1/4" x 15-3/4"( 305.0 x 667.0 x 401.0mm )
KEF R6 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 65-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-250watts
- Weight:17.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 202.0" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"( 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA C and KEF R6 Meta 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 |
KEF R6 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
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 C and KEF R6 Meta 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 C is a 2-way design whereas the R6 Meta 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.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA C |
KEF R6 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 R6 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the AURA C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 C and R6 Meta 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 R6 Meta's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale AURA C a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R6 Meta, 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. 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 C can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA C has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the R6 Meta.
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 C and R6 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 C's and KEF R6 Meta'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 KEF R6 Meta has external dimensions of 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm ( 7-15/16-inch x 24-5/8-inch x 13-5/16-inch) .
Wharfedale AURA C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 41mm wider, 103mm taller and 62mm deeper than KEF R6 Meta.
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 KEF R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2. The AURA C requires 26% more surface area than the R6 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.