Short answer: the Wharfedale Aura 2. It ranks #13 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $2,799. The Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranks #134, rated 3.6/5, at $2,200, $599 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Wharfedale Aura 2 is the better-sounding pick. A mini tower style bookshelf speaker with nearly flat response, huge clean output, wide sound, and bass that reaches deep in most rooms. The tradeoff: A breakup/peak around 13kHz can sound sharp or shrill depending on the track, the main tonal flaw noted.
The Philharmonic BMR Monitor is the deeper-bass option. Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 56Hz for the Wharfedale Aura 2. The catch: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
Buy the Wharfedale Aura 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $599 saving on the Philharmonic BMR Monitor is not enough to make up the difference.
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.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Aura 2 | Philharmonic BMR Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2799 per pair | $2200 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (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) | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone woofer, 4” Black Glass Fibre Matrix Cone midrange, 27x90mm AMT tweeter | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.03 | 6.02 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.65 | 7.67 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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