Wharfedale AURA 1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Wharfedale. It was released in October 2023. It features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Wharfedale AURA 1 has an MSRP of 1999$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale AURA 1 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | Bad |
(* 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.)
Wharfedale AURA 1 Lifestyle
Wharfedale's AURA Series of Loudspeakers
AURA 1 is a member of Wharfedale's AURA series of Passive speakers. Borrowing heavily from the advanced technology of the elite ELYSIAN research project, AURA features the Wharfedale AMT high frequency transducer, glass fibre matrix midrange and bass cones, the SLPP ports system and multi-layer cabinets Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 6 Wharfedale AURA models compared »
Wharfedale AURA Series Speakers
Wharfedale AURA Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Wharfedale AURA 1 Speaker
Wharfedale AURA 1 has a Frequency response range of 48-22k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 25-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 48 Hz, AURA 1 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how AURA 1's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Wharfedale AURA 1?
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 2000$ (Pair), there is only one Passive Bookshelf speaker that have the deeper bass levels than the Wharfedale AURA 1's 48Hz:
Crossover frequency of the Wharfedale AURA 1?
The Crossover frequency of the AURA 1 is set to 2.9kHz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Wharfedale AURA 1's nominal impedance level is
6 ohms but can go down to as low as
4.1 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 6 Ohms makes the Wharfedale AURA 1 a relatively difficult to drive speaker compared to more frequently found 8 ohms speakers from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Wharfedale AURA 1 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the Wharfedale AURA 1 plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale AURA 1
Even though the nominal impedance of the AURA 1 is 6 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 4.1 ohms Wharfedale AURA 1 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the Wharfedale AURA 1 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
25–100 W
per channel into 6 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $2,000, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
AURA 1 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Wharfedale AURA 1 Back View
Wharfedale AURA 1 External Dimensions and Weight
Wharfedale AURA 1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 14-7/16inch x 9-3/4inch x 13-3/4inch (367.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Wharfedale AURA 1 is approximately 868.0cm2 / 134.5inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Wharfedale AURA 1, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Wharfedale AURA 1 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Wharfedale AURA 1 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Wharfedale AURA 1 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Wharfedale AURA 1 weighs 12.50kg / 27.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how AURA 1's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $2000
How does the Wharfedale AURA 1 compare to the Wharfedale AURA 2?
One of the natural alternative to the Wharfedale AURA 1 is the AURA 2 which is located one step higher in Wharfedale's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Wharfedale AURA 1 and Wharfedale AURA 2 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Wharfedale AURA 1 vs AURA 2 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Wharfedale AURA 1 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a Multi-layer wood finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
Wharfedale AURA 1 is a bottom-firing port speaker.
Available colors
Wharfedale AURA 1 is available in Piano Black, Piano Walnut and White Gloss.
Wall Mounting
AURA 1 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Speaker Stands
Wharfedale sells a dedicated speaker stand for the AURA 1 with a model name
Wharfedale AURA 1. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
Wharfedale AURA 1 Speaker Stands for Wharfedale AURA 1
Does the Wharfedale AURA 1 come with a Grille?
AURA 1 comes with magnetic grilles in Black color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the AURA 1 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
Wharfedale AURA 1 with Grille
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper wires
- 8 Rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User Manual
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale AURA 1.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Wharfedale AURA 1, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Wharfedale AURA 1
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale AURA 1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Wharfedale AURA 1
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.