In this review, we will be comparing AURA C and Motion 50XTi, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA C and MartinLogan 50XTi 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 )
MartinLogan 50XTi Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:13.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 196.0" x 23" x 13-5/8"( 196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA C and MartinLogan 50XTi 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 |
MartinLogan 50XTi |
| 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 MartinLogan 50XTi 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 Motion 50XTi 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 |
MartinLogan 50XTi |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
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 Motion 50XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 900Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas Motion 50XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the AURA C can go slightly deeper then the Motion 50XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Motion 50XTi 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 Motion 50XTi's is at 94 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 50XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA C, 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA C has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Motion 50XTi.
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 Motion 50XTi 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
MartinLogan 50XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA C has a side firing port whereas Motion 50XTi has a rear 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 C's and MartinLogan 50XTi'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 MartinLogan 50XTi has external dimensions of 196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm ( 7-11/16 x 23 x 13-5/8inch) .
Wharfedale AURA C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 82mm wider, 109mm taller and 54mm deeper than MartinLogan 50XTi.
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 MartinLogan 50XTi is approximately 2030.0cm2 / 314.7inch2. The AURA C requires 32% more surface area than the Motion 50XTi 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 MartinLogan 50XTi weighs 13.86kg / 30.5lbs. This makes the AURA C 97% heavier than the Motion 50XTi.
Here is a comparison of how AURA C and Motion 50XTi'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 loudspeakerGrilleBase2 Jumper wires4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 50XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 50XTi:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
196mm
vs
305mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2030cm2
vs
2674cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA C |
MartinLogan Motion 50XTi |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
900Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
side |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
305.0mm (12") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Width |
667.0mm (26.3") |
585.0mm (23") |
| Depth |
401.0mm (15.8") |
347.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
13.86kg (30.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Walnut |
| 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 |