Short answer: the Wharfedale Aura 2. It ranks #13 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $2,799; the Perlisten A3m ranks #51, rated 4.2/5, and costs $3,000, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Wharfedale Aura 2 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A mini tower style bookshelf speaker with nearly flat response, huge clean output, wide sound, and bass that reaches deep in most rooms. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.03 against 4.30 for the Perlisten A3m. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 3dB, against 85.8Hz for the Perlisten A3m. Watch for: A breakup/peak around 13kHz can sound sharp or shrill depending on the track, the main tonal flaw noted.
Why pick the Perlisten A3m: A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater. The tradeoff: The low-quality vendor Spinorama data measures only 85.8Hz at -3dB, 74.1Hz at -6dB, and 55.7Hz at -12dB, conflicting with Perlisten’s much deeper in-room extension claim.
Buy the Wharfedale Aura 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Perlisten A3m and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
A mini tower style bookshelf speaker with nearly flat response, huge clean output, wide sound, and bass that reaches deep in most rooms.
A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Aura 2 | Perlisten A3m | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2799 per pair | $3,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 22.1”H x 11.3”W x 15.3”D (561.3 x 287 x 388.6 mm) | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum |
| Drivers | 6.5” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone woofer, 4” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone midrange, 27x90mm AMT tweeter | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.03 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.65 | 7.34 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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