Short answer: the March Audio Sointuva AWG. It ranks #5 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $4,150. The Wharfedale Aura 2 ranks #13, rated 4.6/5, at $2,799, $1,351 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
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.
What the March Audio Sointuva AWG does well: Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion (the reviewer calls them “world class”) paired with bass extension unusually deep for a bookshelf (F3 40Hz, F10 30Hz), reaching down to about 30Hz in-room with some boundary reinforcement. Watch for: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line, which means shorter stands (around 24”) than typical bookshelf stands are sold at: get the height wrong and the sound scoops out in the mid/high frequencies.
Buy the March Audio Sointuva AWG. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,351 you would save on the Wharfedale Aura 2 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Aura 2 | March Audio Sointuva AWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2799 per pair | $4150 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (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) | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Drivers | 6.5” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone woofer, 4” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone midrange, 27x90mm AMT tweeter | 6.5” Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.03 | 6.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.65 | 8.45 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How March Audio Sointuva AWG compares with other leading options:
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- AsciLab C6B vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- KEF R3 Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
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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
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs KEF R3
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs KEF R3 Meta
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs Buchardt Audio E50
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
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- See all 49 comparisons
March Audio Sointuva AWG: $4150 per pair March Audio eBay
Older model: the March Audio Sointuva (ranked lower, rated 4.6/5).
Pros: Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion (the reviewer calls them “world class”) paired with bass extension unusually deep for a bookshelf (F3 40Hz, F10 30Hz), reaching down to about 30Hz in-room with some boundary reinforcement. Sensitivity tolerance band measured extremely tight at 1.6-1.73dB, indicating excellent build consistency. Estimated in-room response is exceptionally smooth and neutral: one of the flattest the reviewer has measured, with none of the usual coloration descriptors (bright, boomy, nasal, shouty) needed to describe it. Distortion stays so low even at loud volumes that there’s no audible warning cue before you’re playing dangerously loud: a backhanded compliment to how clean it sounds. At $4150/pair, ranked among the reviewer’s top three bookshelf speakers in that price range. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.4dB.
Cons: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line, which means shorter stands (around 24”) than typical bookshelf stands are sold at: get the height wrong and the sound scoops out in the mid/high frequencies. Moderate-low sensitivity (~82dB) is roughly 3dB below a typical bookshelf speaker, meaning close to double the amplifier power is needed for the same output; low impedance also calls for a 4-ohm capable amp. Horizontal radiation holds a wide ±60° only up to about 3kHz before narrowing: tighter top-end dispersion than the reviewer’s preferred ±60-70° through the treble, and the reason he left the previous generation off his all-time top-five list. Multitone distortion rises above the reviewer’s personal 3% threshold in the 1-2kHz region, though it wasn’t audible in his listening. Not intended to be crossed over with a subwoofer at 80Hz: designed to play full-range down to 40-50Hz, so pairing it with a sub and cutting it off early wastes its bass capability. Best positioned about 3 feet from the rear wall, requiring more floor space than many bookshelf speakers.
Full March Audio Sointuva AWG review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.45 |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs AsciLab C6B
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF R3 Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF R3
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs GR-Research NX-Bravo
- See all 11 comparisons