In this review, we will be comparing SUPER LINTON and AURA 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Wharfedale AURA 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON | Wharfedale AURA 2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone | 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-20k Hz | 42-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.80kg / 43.6lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 23.8" x 12" x 14.2"
605 x 300 x 360 mm | 22-1/16" x 11-1/4" x 15-13/16"
561.0 x 286.0 x 402.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Wharfedale AURA 2 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 SUPER LINTON |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
| 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 SUPER LINTON and AURA 2 are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTONWharfedale AURA 2
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 SUPER LINTON |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SUPER LINTON features a 1" woven textile Soft-dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550Hz and 2500Hz. On the other hand, the AURA 2 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 520Hz, 4.5kHz.
Frequency Response
SUPER LINTON has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz whereas AURA 2 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the SUPER LINTON can go slightly deeper then the AURA 2's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
SUPER LINTON and AURA 2 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SUPER LINTON sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the AURA 2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
SUPER LINTON can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas AURA 2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SUPER LINTON.
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 SUPER LINTON and AURA 2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale AURA 2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SUPER LINTON has a rear firing port whereas AURA 2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale AURA 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale SUPER LINTON with its rear-firing port.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON dual Port
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 SUPER LINTON's and Wharfedale AURA 2's external dimensions. Wharfedale SUPER LINTON has external dimensions of 605 x 300 x 360 mm (23.82 x 12 x 14.2 inches) whereas Wharfedale AURA 2 has external dimensions of 561.0 x 286.0 x 402.0mm (22-1/16inch x 11-1/4inch x 15-13/16inch).
Wharfedale AURA 2 is 14mm narrower and 44mm shorter than Wharfedale SUPER LINTON but it is also 42mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Wharfedale AURA 2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Wharfedale AURA 2 Size and External Dimensions
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 SUPER LINTON is approximately 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale AURA 2 is approximately 1149.7cm2 / 178.2inch2. The SUPER LINTON requires 6% less surface area than the AURA 2 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 SUPER LINTON weighs 19.80kg / 43.6lbs and the Wharfedale AURA 2 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the AURA 2 3% heavier than the SUPER LINTON.
Here is a comparison of how SUPER LINTON and AURA 2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SUPER LINTON:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User's Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 2?
Here are the items that come with the AURA 2:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper wires
- 8 Rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1080cm2
vs
1149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
561mm
vs
605mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2499USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-20k Hz |
42-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black Woven Kevlar Cone |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
550Hz and 2500Hz |
520Hz, 4.5kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
605.0mm (23.8") |
561.0mm (22.1") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Depth |
360.0mm (14.2") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
19.80kg (43.6lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Multi-layer wood |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
18-20" |
| 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 |
Both are Wharfedale, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON digs deeper - 39Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON: bi-amping; Wharfedale AURA 2: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,500 vs $2,499 a pair). |
A Wharfedale SUPER LINTON B Wharfedale AURA 2
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?
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.