Wharfedale Aura 1

OVERVIEW

The new AURA series continues the Wharfedale tradition of offering exceptional performance and value for money with a range of speakers that provide the home listener and dedicated audiophile a combination of monitor-class audio transparency and class-leading levels of musical enjoyment

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 port system and multi-layer cabinets.

Something of an AURA

AURA is the latest innovation in the family of class-leading Wharfedale speakers. Taking inspiration from the flagship ELYSIAN series through fit, finish and technological derivatives, AURA is another boundary-breaking model that challenges the norms of value while delivering all the detail, energy and thrill of your music collection with a class-leading performance but with a class-defying price tag.

AURA AMT

Equipped with the now world-famous Wharfedale AMT transducer, each AURA model emits breathtaking high-frequency definition.

Unlike conventional dome or other ribbon and planar diaphragms, the Wharfedale AMT high-frequency transducer does not move forwards and backwards like a piston. It is, therefore, not constrained by the mass of its diaphragm, with the attendant blurring of transient response. Instead, the diaphragm is folded and carries conductive elements immersed in an immensely strong magnetic field. Not only is this an efficient way of moving air, but it is also highly accurate as the diaphragm is under close control of the motor system at all times. The result is a wide bandwidth transducer that achieves extremely low distortion and extraordinary musical detail, with scintillating speed and dynamic ability.

AURA Cones

As Wharfedale engineers found when designing the flagship ELYSIAN series, the transient accuracy and efficiency of the AMT need to be matched by the midrange and bass drivers for a seamless audio performance. Accordingly, AURA also uses a proprietary woven glass fibre matrix diaphragm for the midrange and bass cones terminated by high-flexibility rubber surrounds. The voice coils driving the cones are immersed in high flux magnetic fields, with eddy currents and inductance controlled by copper-clad pole pieces.

These low-distortion motor systems are mounted on die-cast aluminium chassis, each fixed to the cabinet by six high-tensile bolts to maintain the rigidity of the structure and provide an accurate transient response. The rubber trim rings surrounding each chassis are not just a decorative feature but also control any resonance occurring at the junction of the aluminium chassis and wood cabinet.

SLPP

Wharfedale’s SLPP (Slot Loaded Profiled Port) bass reflex design was developed from the original idea of Gilbert Briggs, the entrepreneur who set up and ran Wharfedale from 1932 to 1964. In the AURA series, the high-pressure, high-velocity airflow from a downward-facing port is better matched to the low air pressure in the room by distributing the airflow through a series of slot ports in the plinth. This porting reduces unwanted turbulence from the port and improves the efficiency of the bass reflex system – another now design staple of the Wharfedale brand.

AURA Crossover

The crossover is at the heart of every loudspeaker, weaving the overall performance into a ‘sum-of-all-parts’. Wharfedale were one of the first domestic speaker manufacturers to utilise a crossover to divide the frequency band between drive units that were each optimised for bass, midrange and treble.

With 90 years of learning, not to mention the benefit of having one of the world’s most respected crossover architects leading the development, in the form of Peter Comeau, IAG’s Director of Acoustic Design, the sophisticated crossover networks are fine-tuned over hundreds of hours of listening tests to ensure a seamless blend between the drive units.

As with all Wharfedale series, only the highest grade, acoustically transparent components are used throughout the crossover network, ensuring all the musical detail is heard.

AURA Cabine

AURA cabinets are, in many ways, a work of art. Available in Black, White and a feature-grained Walnut natural wood veneer, each cabinet is then lacquered and polished to present a beautiful piece of furniture you will be proud to have in your home, akin to that of the significantly higher priced ELYSIAN series. The smooth curves of the cabinet are more than just eye-catching. They help to disperse the acoustic output of the drive units smoothly into the room without undesirable reflections from otherwise sharp edges.

Underneath the polished lacquers lie cabinet walls built from multiple layers of differing woods, designed to reduce panel resonance below audibility. This multi-layer construction, PROS (Panel Resonance Optimisation System), has a further benefit - it inhibits the leakage of unwanted sound energy from inside the cabinet, which would otherwise interfere with the forward output of the drive units.

AURA in Application

The Wharfedale AURA series comes in the form of AURA 1 and 2 stand-mount options. Each is offered with optional but suitably striking, custom-engineered stands. Like the speakers they present, the AURA stands use the finest materials, such as dark chrome trims matching and exemplifying the attention to detail and sheer quality of the build on offer.

Floorstanding options of AURA 3 and 4 are accompanied by centre channels in AURA C and the more compact AURA CS for pulsating, thoroughly entertaining home theatre configurations.

Based on the recent award-winning history of Wharfedale Diamond 12, EVO4 and the industry-revered ELYSIAN series, Wharfedale AURA confidently ventures into a new territory and segment.

Model    AURA 1 
General description    2-way bookshelf speaker
Enclosure type    bass reflex
Transducer complement    2-way
ABR    
Bass driver    5"(130mm) Black Glass    Fibre Matrix Cone
Midrange driver    
High Frequency Driver    27*90mm AMT
AV shield    No
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m)    86dB
Recommended amplifier power    25-100W
Peak SPL    103dB
Nominal impedance    6Ω (8Ω compatible)
Minimum impedance    4.1Ω
Frequency response (+/-3dB)    48Hz ~ 22kHz
Bass extension (-6dB)    44Hz
Crossover frequency    2.9kHz
Cabinet Volume (in litres)    16.5L
Dimensions (mm)    
Height (on plinth)    386mm
Width    246mm
Depth (with terminals)    (300+52)mm
Carton size    640 x 425 x 510mm
Net weight    12.5kg/pcs
Gross weight    26.5kg/ctn
Finish    Walnut/White/Black hi-gloss