In this review, we will be comparing AURA CS and Sonetto CII, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Sonus Faber. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA CS and Sonus Sonetto Center II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA CS and Sonus Sonetto Center 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale AURA CS and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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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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 CS is a 2-way design whereas the Sonetto CII 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 |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6-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 Sonetto CII features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.650 Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA CS has a frequency range of 56-22k Hz whereas Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto CII 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 and Sonetto CII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AURA CS sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Sonetto CII's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA CS, 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 CS and the AURA CS 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 CS can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA CS has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Sonetto CII.
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 Sonetto CII 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 Sonetto CII 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 Sonus Sonetto Center II's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA CS has external dimensions of 253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm ( 24-1/4) whereas Sonus Sonetto Center II has external dimensions of 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm ( 12 x 30 x 16inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 127mm wider, 36mm taller and 56mm deeper than Wharfedale AURA CS.
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 Sonus Sonetto Center II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2. The AURA CS requires 28% less surface area than the Sonetto CII which gives it a small advantage 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 Sonus Sonetto Center II weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs. This makes the AURA CS 15% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how AURA CS and Sonetto CII'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 Sonus Sonetto Center II?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto CII:
1 Masks1 Fabric dust guards1 Basis2 Jumpers1 Manual
Height |
253mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
2174cm2 (616x353mm)
vs
3038cm2 (743x409mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
General |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Sonus Faber |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
25-150 watts |
50-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
56-22k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6" |
Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
aluminum cone |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1.15" |
Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
high definition DAD Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
1.650 Hz |
Firing Direction |
side |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
253.0mm (10") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
Width |
616.0mm (24.3") |
743.0mm (29.3") |
Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
Weight |
18.64kg (41lbs) |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|