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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale AURA CS and Wharfedale AURA C 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
Both AURA CS and AURA C are 2-way speakers.
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.
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 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. 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 AURA C.
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 AURA C features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AURA CS and AURA C have side 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 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 loudspeakerGrilleBase2 Jumper wires4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA C?
Here are the items that come with the AURA C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleBase2 Jumper wires4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white glovesUser 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 (616x353mm)
vs
2674cm2 (667x401mm)
|
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 |