Bookshelf Speakers — HECO Aurora 300

The Aurora 300 is a compact bookshelf loudspeaker from the German manufacturer HECO. It uses the same 170 mm woofer as the considerably larger Aurora 700 floorstander, fitted here in a somewhat smaller but equally sturdy cabinet. The Aurora series takes its name both from the Roman goddess of dawn and from the polar aurora, and the 300 combines modern wood-decor side panels with a silk-matte lacquer finish.

Key specs that matter

The 170 mm woofer-midrange has a light long-fibre kraft paper membrane with a flat long-fibre dust cap, long-throw suspension and a high-performance voice coil, optimised for low-distortion signal transmission. Above it sits the newly developed Fluktus tweeter, a 28 mm silk-compound dome with ferrofluid cooling and a ferrite double-magnet system. Sensitivity is rated at 90 dB (2.83 V/1 m), nominal impedance ranges from 4 to 8 ohms and the crossover point is 3300 Hz. Power handling is 80 W RMS and 150 W peak, and HECO recommends amplifiers rated between 20 and 150 W. The quoted frequency response is 32 Hz to 42500 Hz. Each speaker measures 195 x 357 x 315 mm, or 333 mm deep including the terminal and feet, and weighs 7.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

The front panel around the tweeter has a computer-optimised multi-corrugated geometry intended to give even dispersion through the upper frequency range. The acoustic fabric grille attaches to the baffle with hidden magnets, so no fixings are visible when it is removed. The lacquer comes in two colours, Ebony Black and Ivory White, both combined with the wood-decor side panels.

Pairing

With its moderate amplifier requirement, the Aurora 300 is easy to match with a wide range of receivers and integrated amplifiers. It works in a dedicated stereo system and also as part of a surround home cinema built from other Aurora-series speakers.

Alternatives

HECO's Aurora 200 P is another bookshelf model carrying the Aurora name.