Short answer: the Wharfedale Aura 2. It ranks #13 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $2,799; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #85, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Wharfedale Aura 2: Three-way “mini tower” design with a 27x90mm AMT tweeter, 4” mid-range, and 6.5” midwoofer, using an unusual bottom-firing port. The catch: A breakup/peak around 13kHz can sound sharp or shrill depending on the track, the main tonal flaw noted.
The case for the Dynaudio Special Forty: Smooth, “buttery” overall tonal character consistent with Dynaudio’s house sound. The tradeoff: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
Buy the Wharfedale Aura 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Aura 2 | Dynaudio Special Forty | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2799 per pair | $3600 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #85 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.1”H x 11.3”W x 15.3”D (561.3 x 287 x 388.6 mm) | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone woofer, 4” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone midrange, 27x90mm AMT tweeter | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.03 | 4.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.65 | 6.74 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Aura 2: $2799 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Three-way “mini tower” design with a 27x90mm AMT tweeter, 4” mid-range, and 6.5” midwoofer, using an unusual bottom-firing port. Nearly “ruler flat” on-axis linearity (within about 1.5dB for most of the range) apart from one specific breakup point. Exceptional output capability with very low distortion even at high volume: the reviewer reached about 100dB average at 10 feet with no audible strain, outperforming rivals like the KEF LS50 Meta in multitone distortion above 1kHz. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° combined with excellent imaging and pair matching: passed demanding stereo-separation test tracks with precise instrument placement. Bass reaches a genuine 40Hz in most rooms, potentially eliminating the need for a subwoofer for material that doesn’t demand extreme sub-bass. About 20dB of usable dynamic range with no compression issues at 96dB/1m. Considered by the reviewer one of the best speakers he’s tested, potentially challenging his personal all-time top five. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: A breakup/peak around 13kHz can sound sharp or shrill depending on the track, the main tonal flaw noted. Minor midbase-to-midrange balance discrepancy (about 1dB), most noticeable if the speaker sits more than about 2 feet from the rear wall. Vertical listening window is narrower than typical, a consequence of the AMT ribbon tweeter’s tall physical size: staying within about ±15-20° of the tweeter reference axis (or slightly below it) is important. Impedance dips to about 3.1 ohms with a 1.4-ohm minimum EPDR, meaning a dedicated amplifier is recommended over an AVR due to potential power-supply strain. Distortion rises at the very lowest frequencies (an expected limitation of a 6.5” woofer), and the woofer audibly struggles with extreme 30-35Hz content at high volume. Horizontal directivity narrows from about ±70° to ±50° above roughly 6-7kHz as the ribbon tweeter’s pattern collapses inward.
Full Wharfedale Aura 2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 22.1”H x 11.3”W x 15.3”D (561.3 x 287 x 388.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone woofer, 4” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone midrange, 27x90mm AMT tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.65 |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Why the Wharfedale AURA 2 Will Blow Your Mind More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Wharfedale Aura 2
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Upgrade Your Sound with These 6 Surprisingly Affordable Speakers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Personal Favorite Speakers Under $2500
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Dynaudio Special Forty: $3600 per pair Safe and Sound HQ eBay
Pros: Smooth, “buttery” overall tonal character consistent with Dynaudio’s house sound. Surprisingly precise, focused imaging despite wide horizontal radiation (about ±70°): atypical, since wide-radiating speakers usually sacrifice some image precision in reflective rooms. Strong output capability: reached 100-101dB average at 3.5 meters with no audible distortion or woofer distress, and compression testing at 102dB shows the cabinet holding up mechanically well at extreme output. Bass reaches a genuine 50Hz (potentially 40Hz) in most rooms from a rear-ported design. Distortion stays below 1% at 86dB and doesn’t cross 3% THD until about 50Hz even at 96dB. Extra weight and impact on snares and percussion around 700-800Hz that the reviewer found appealing on many tracks. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.5dB.
Cons: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ. Multiple enclosure resonances appear between 500Hz-1kHz across on-axis, listening window, early-reflections, and sound-power measurements, corroborated by independent third-party CSD data showing similar 500-800Hz cabinet resonances. A dip around 1.2kHz traces to a cone-edge-to-surround compliance mismatch in the driver itself (confirmed by testing the bare driver’s impedance): a known artifact common to many similarly-sized drivers across several manufacturers, contributing to elevated second-order distortion in that region. A somewhat laid-back, recessed 1-2kHz character (sometimes described as a “BBC dip”) gives an overall subdued quality that isn’t overtly problematic but shapes the tonal balance. Impedance drops below 3 ohms in the 100-200Hz region, requiring a genuinely 4-ohm-stable amplifier rather than an AVR. Rear port means it can’t be placed directly against a wall.
Full Dynaudio Special Forty review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Special Forty vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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