In this review, we will be comparing AURA CS and HTM71 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA CS and BW HTM71 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA CS and BW HTM71 S2 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 CS and BW HTM71 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AURA CS is a 2-way design whereas the HTM71 S2 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 CS |
BW HTM71 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AURA CS features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz. On the other hand, the HTM71 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer .
Frequency Response
AURA CS has a frequency range of 56-22k Hz whereas HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HTM71 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AURA CS's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 CS is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the HTM71 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the AURA CS can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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 CS can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA CS has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the HTM71 S2.
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 CS and HTM71 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA CS has a side firing port whereas HTM71 S2 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 CS's and BW HTM71 S2's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA CS has external dimensions of 253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm ( 24-1/4) whereas BW HTM71 S2 has external dimensions of 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm ( 8-15/16 x 23-1/4 x 11-7/8inch) .
Wharfedale AURA CS is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 25mm taller and 51mm deeper than BW HTM71 S2.
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 CS is approximately 2174.5cm2 / 337.0inch2 and base area of the BW HTM71 S2 is approximately 1784.8cm2 / 276.6inch2. The AURA CS requires 22% more surface area than the HTM71 S2 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 CS weighs 18.64kg / 41lbs and the BW HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the AURA CS 3% heavier than the HTM71 S2.
Here is a comparison of how AURA CS and HTM71 S2'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 CS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA CS:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleBase2 Jumper wires4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?
Here are the items that come with the HTM71 S2:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Two-piece foam port plugs4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
228mm
vs
253mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1784cm2 (591x302mm)
vs
2174cm2 (616x353mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-22k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Aerofoil Profile |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
side |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
253.0mm (10") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Width |
616.0mm (24.3") |
591.0mm (23.3") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
18.64kg (41lbs) |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut |
| 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 |