Напольная акустика — Wharfedale AURA 4

The AURA 4 is the larger of two three-way floorstanders in the Wharfedale AURA series, placed above the AURA 3. The series started shipping in the week beginning 9 October 2023 and also includes the AURA 1 and AURA 2 standmounts and the AURA C and CS centre channels. UK pricing for the AURA 4 is GBP 3,999 per pair. Finishes are Hi-Gloss Black, Hi-Gloss Walnut and Hi-Gloss White.

Key specs that matter

Two 150 mm bass drivers and a 100 mm midrange all use Black Glass Fibre Matrix cones, and treble is reproduced by a 27 x 90 mm AMT. The crossover splits the signal at 475 Hz and 3.3 kHz. Response is 37 Hz to 22 kHz within 3 dB, with bass extension to 26 Hz at minus 6 dB. Sensitivity is 89 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m and peak SPL is 107 dB. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm, listed as 8 ohm compatible, with a 3.1 ohm minimum. Cabinet volume is 67.2 litres. The speaker is 1107 mm tall on its plinth, 286 mm wide and 402 mm deep with terminals, and weighs 24.5 kg net or 26.5 kg in the carton.

Engineering and use context

Unlike a piston driver, the AMT uses a folded diaphragm whose conductive elements sit in a very strong magnetic field, which Wharfedale credits with very low distortion. The mid and bass cones are made from a proprietary woven glass fibre matrix with high-flexibility rubber surrounds. Their voice coils work in high flux magnetic fields, with copper-clad pole pieces controlling eddy currents and inductance, and each motor sits on a die-cast aluminium chassis fixed to the cabinet by six high-tensile bolts. The reflex port faces downward and feeds SLPP, a Slot Loaded Profiled Port that spreads the high-velocity airflow through a series of slots in the plinth to reduce turbulence. PROS, the Panel Resonance Optimisation System, builds the curved cabinet from multiple layers of differing woods to push panel resonance below audibility and limit leakage of energy from inside the box. The crossover uses high grade components. According to Wharfedale, the AMT extends response to 36 kHz, and the coated woven glass fibre cones and low-distortion motors descend from the ELYSIAN series.

Pairing

Recommended amplifier power is 30 to 200 W. With impedance this low across the band, the speaker suits a solid state amplifier specified for continuous output into low loads. As the AURA C and CS centre speakers share the same drive unit technology, the AURA 4 can form the main pair in a surround layout built from one series.

Alternatives

The Wharfedale AURA 3 is the smaller floorstander in the AURA series, with two 130 mm bass drivers.