These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Wharfedale Aura 3 ranks #21 of 139 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $4,499; the Wharfedale Aura 1 ranks #17 of 122 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2,199.
What the Wharfedale Aura 3 does well: 3-way floorstanding tower speaker in the Aura series featuring dual 5-inch glass-fibre matrix woofers, a 4-inch glass-fibre midrange, and a 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter. The tradeoff: Rating estimated based on Aura series sibling testing.
Why pick the Wharfedale Aura 1: Compact 2-way standmount monitor in the Aura series equipped with a 5-inch woven glass-fibre cone woofer and a proprietary 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter. The tradeoff: Rating estimated based on Aura series sibling testing.
Buy the Wharfedale Aura 3 at $4,499 if you want a floorstanding speaker. Buy the Wharfedale Aura 1 at $2,199 if you want a bookshelf speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Aura 3 | Wharfedale Aura 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,499.00 per pair | $2,199.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #21 of 139 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #17 of 122 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter, 4” (100mm) glass fibre midrange, 2 x 5” (130mm) glass fibre woofers | 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter, 5” (130mm) woven glass fibre matrix cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 48Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.1 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified) | 48Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 31Hz (manufacturer specified) | 44Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 40.8”H x 9.7”W x 11.8”D (1037 x 246 x 300 mm) | 15.2”H x 9.7”W x 11.8”D (386 x 246 x 300 mm) |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23.0 kg) each | 27.6 lbs (12.5 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Wharfedale Aura 1:
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs Wharfedale Aura 3
- Wharfedale Aura 4 vs Wharfedale Aura 1
- Wharfedale Aura 2 vs Wharfedale Aura 1
- Wharfedale Aura 4 vs Wharfedale Aura 3
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Elac Carina BS243.4
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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 3: $4,499.00 per pair Estimated Wharfedale eBay
Smaller models: the Wharfedale Aura 2 (rated 4.6/5) and the Wharfedale Aura 1 (estimated 4.2/5).
Larger model: the Wharfedale Aura 4 (ranked higher, estimated 4.7/5).
Pros: 3-way floorstanding tower speaker in the Aura series featuring dual 5-inch glass-fibre matrix woofers, a 4-inch glass-fibre midrange, and a 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter. Yields low intermodulation distortion, expansive horizontal dispersion, and clean bass extension down to 39Hz via the SLPP slot port.
Cons: Rating estimated based on Aura series sibling testing. 4-ohm nominal impedance load with 88dB sensitivity requires dedicated, clean amplification for dynamic transients.
Full Wharfedale Aura 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 31Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.8”H x 9.7”W x 11.8”D (1037 x 246 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter, 4” (100mm) glass fibre midrange, 2 x 5” (130mm) glass fibre woofers |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.1 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23.0 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Wharfedale Aura 1: $2,199.00 per pair Estimated Wharfedale eBay
Larger models: the Wharfedale Aura 2 (rated 4.6/5), the Wharfedale Aura 3 (estimated 4.6/5) and the Wharfedale Aura 4 (estimated 4.7/5).
Pros: Compact 2-way standmount monitor in the Aura series equipped with a 5-inch woven glass-fibre cone woofer and a proprietary 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter. Features the SLPP downward-firing slot reflex system, delivering remarkable high-frequency resolution, low distortion, and refined tonal linearity in a smaller footprint.
Cons: Rating estimated based on Aura series sibling testing. Vertical listening window is relatively narrow due to the tall physical height of the AMT driver, requiring ear-level placement on dedicated stands.
Full Wharfedale Aura 1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 44Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.2”H x 9.7”W x 11.8”D (386 x 246 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | 27x90mm AMT ribbon tweeter, 5” (130mm) woven glass fibre matrix cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 27.6 lbs (12.5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons