In this review, we will be comparing AURA CS and AURA C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA CS and Wharfedale AURA C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale AURA CS | Wharfedale AURA C |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix | 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-22k Hz | 48-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.64kg / 41lbs | 27.27kg / 60lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 12" x 26-1/4" x 15-3/4"
305.0 x 667.0 x 401.0mm |
|---|
AURA CS and AURA C are members of Wharfedale's AURA series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale AURA Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA CS and Wharfedale AURA C 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 |
Wharfedale AURA C |
| 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
Both AURA CS and AURA C are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale AURA CSWharfedale AURA C
Woofer
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 |
Wharfedale AURA C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
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 AURA C features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer.
Frequency Response
AURA CS has a frequency range of 56-22k Hz whereas AURA C has a frequency range of 48-22k 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 AURA CS's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 and AURA C have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AURA C 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 AURA C.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both AURA CS and AURA C 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AURA CS and AURA C have side firing ports.
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 Wharfedale AURA C's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA CS has external dimensions of 253.0 x 616.0 x 353.0mm (24-1/4) whereas Wharfedale AURA C has external dimensions of 305.0 x 667.0 x 401.0mm (12inch x 26-1/4inch x 15-3/4inch).
Wharfedale AURA C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51mm wider, 52mm taller and 48mm 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 Wharfedale AURA C is approximately 2674.7cm2 / 414.6inch2. The AURA CS requires 19% less surface area than the AURA C 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 Wharfedale AURA C weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the AURA C 46% heavier than the AURA CS.
Here is a comparison of how AURA CS and AURA C'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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 2 Jumper wires
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA C?
Here are the items that come with the AURA C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 2 Jumper wires
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
253mm
vs
305mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2174cm2
vs
2674cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
1799USD
|
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 |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA CS |
Wharfedale AURA C |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-22k Hz |
48-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
side |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
253.0mm (10") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Width |
616.0mm (24.3") |
667.0mm (26.3") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
18.64kg (41lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
Multi-layer wood |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
| 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 |
Siblings in Wharfedale's AURA series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale AURA C digs deeper - 48Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale AURA C takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale AURA CS is easier to place; Wharfedale AURA C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale AURA CS: bi-amping; Wharfedale AURA C: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale AURA CS is cheaper - $1,499 against $1,799, about 17% less. |
A Wharfedale AURA CS B Wharfedale AURA C
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale AURA C measures better, Wharfedale AURA CS costs about about 20% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 56Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale AURA CS much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale AURA C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale AURA CS 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.