In this review, we will be comparing AURA CS and Silver C250 7G, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA CS and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale AURA CS | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-22k Hz | 65-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 80-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.64kg / 41lbs | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-15/16" x 24-1/4" x 13-7/8"
253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm | 8-1/16" x 18-15/16" x 10-3/4"
205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA CS and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 CS |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| 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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AURA CS is a 2-way design whereas the Silver C250 7G 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 CSMonitor Audio Silver C250 7G
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 CS |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer.
Frequency Response
AURA CS has a frequency range of 56-22k Hz whereas Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the AURA CS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Silver C250 7G's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 CS is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver C250 7G 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.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA CS sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Silver C250 7G's is rated at 88.5 dB.
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.
Silver C250 7G can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas AURA CS has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Silver C250 7G.
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.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
AURA CS features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Silver C250 7G has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post terminals
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 CS's and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA CS has external dimensions of 253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm (24-1/4) whereas Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm (8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch).
Wharfedale AURA CS is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 134mm wider, 48mm taller and 79mm deeper than Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G.
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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2. The AURA CS requires 65% more surface area than the Silver C250 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs. This makes the AURA CS 75% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how AURA CS and Silver C250 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA CS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA CS:
- 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver C250 7G:
- Center-channel loudspeakers
- Grille
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 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 |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
205mm
vs
253mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
2174cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
80-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-22k Hz |
65-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
side |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
253.0mm (10") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
616.0mm (24.3") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
18.64kg (41lbs) |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
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 | A | Wharfedale AURA CS digs deeper - 56Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is easier to place; Wharfedale AURA CS is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale AURA CS: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is cheaper - $1,100 against $1,499, about 27% less. |
A Wharfedale AURA CS B Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale AURA CS has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is the easier speaker to get right.
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.