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Wharfedale Aura 2 review by ErinsAudioCorner

Comparing both the vertical polar graphs on Erin's measurements, is it correct to consider that (as long as the listener stays above the tweeter line) the Lintons are quite better than the Aura 2?
 

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How would these compare to the Evo 4.2?
 
The top end is narrower than most domes, but not by a dramatic amount. As long as you're seated and not using the speakers in the extreme nearfield, it should be perfectly fine. If you're up and walking around, then yeah, the treble is going to drop off quickly. If that's a common use case, you probably want a coaxial anyway.
Whats behind the comment to not use these speakers in the nearfield? Sure, the vertical listening window might be small but if one is seated with tweeter at ear level then isn’t it ok?
 
I tested both the horizontal and vertical listening windows. I could hear the speaker fine two seats away from my main listening position. It maybe sounded 10%-15% not as good as the sweet spot. I’d be fine sitting there for an entire movie and wouldn’t feel like I’m missing much. I also stood up and walked around my room and did not feel like I was missing much. Of course, a little detail but good enough.
 
Just got mine. Quick impressions are the midrange is more forward than my Revel M106, bass is plentiful and deep. Even during low level listening, you can feel the bass excite the room. They don't have the warmer sound I remember the Linton's having which I didn't care for.

I'm impressed so far, they are aesthetically more to my liking than anything else I've have. Right now I have a Berhinger A800 powering them (full range) but I do plan on getting a Buckeye NC502 for a permanent solution. I'll get the subs dialed in after a couple days as is.

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Just got mine. Quick impressions are the midrange is more forward than my Revel M106, bass is plentiful and deep. Even during low level listening, you can feel the bass excite the room. They don't have the warmer sound I remember the Linton's having which I didn't care for.

I'm impressed so far, they are aesthetically more to my liking than anything else I've have. Right now I have a Berhinger A800 powering them (full range) but I do plan on getting a Buckeye NC502 for a permanent solution. I'll get the subs dialed in after a couple days as is.

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I also got a pair recently and really like them.
Do they sound boomy having them so close to the wall?
What speaker stands are you using If I may ask?
 
I also got a pair recently and really like them.
Do they sound boomy having them so close to the wall?
What speaker stands are you using If I may ask?

No, not at all, I can and will probably move them out more but space is limited. I'm using the new Monoprice easel style stands (18").
 

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Took advantage of the ongoing sale myself and grabbed a pair for the home office. Sounds fantastic to me and what’s been stated about the midrange is absolutely true…it’s extremely well balanced. I initially had them angled to my listening position but flattening them out gave me wonderful imaging still. Using a Yamaha AS1100 to push them. Listening position is about 10ft away.
 
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Took advantage of the ongoing sale myself and grabbed a pair for the home office. Sounds fantastic to me and what’s been stated about the midrange is absolutely true…it’s extremely well balanced. I initially had them angled to my listening position but flattening them out gave me wonderful imaging still. Using a Yamaha AS1100 to push them. Listening position is about 10ft away.
Those look great! Try pulling them away from the wall a bit and see what you think of the sound. Even if you can't keep them away from the wall normally, you owe it to yourself to hear them pulled away. I had them about 24” from my back wall. They sounded so good. In my room, the midrange was warm and juicy and the top end treble was rolled off.
 
Those look great! Try pulling them away from the wall a bit and see what you think of the sound. Even if you can't keep them away from the wall normally, you owe it to yourself to hear them pulled away. I had them about 24” from my back wall. They sounded so good. In my room, the midrange was warm and juicy and the top end treble was rolled off.
Unfortunately I can’t pull them too far out as the left speaker is nearly in the entryway at the top of the stairs. I’ll give it a shot to hear how it sounds, though. One thing though, do you feel the 6.5” woofer is either easily overdriven or under suspended? I heard what I thought was a cone strike or two on some of the lower frequencies at moderate levels.
 
Unfortunately I can’t pull them too far out as the left speaker is nearly in the entryway at the top of the stairs. I’ll give it a shot to hear how it sounds, though. One thing though, do you feel the 6.5” woofer is either easily overdriven or under suspended? I heard what I thought was a cone strike or two on some of the lower frequencies at moderate levels.
I don’t think it ever bottomed out for me. I don’t have these anymore so I can’t test it. If it happens with multiple songs, I think I would have noticed it. Is it just one speaker or both having the issue? If one, that speaker may have an issue. I upgraded to Elysian 2 because I wasn’t getting enough bass in my room. Slightly different sound signature, though. Elysian is a little brighter. I often wonder if I would have been better off with the Aura 4.
 
I don’t think it ever bottomed out for me. I don’t have these anymore so I can’t test it. If it happens with multiple songs, I think I would have noticed it. Is it just one speaker or both having the issue? If one, that speaker may have an issue. I upgraded to Elysian 2 because I wasn’t getting enough bass in my room. Slightly different sound signature, though. Elysian is a little brighter. I often wonder if I would have been better off with the Aura 4.
Yeah, it happens with both. The woofers move a good bit with even moderate bass so I’m wondering if they’re a bit under suspended. The bass is sufficient for my little office but I have to watch the amount fed into them or else the cones bottom out. Should’ve had 8” in cabinets this big in my opinion…
 
Just got mine. Quick impressions are the midrange is more forward than my Revel M106, bass is plentiful and deep. Even during low level listening, you can feel the bass excite the room. They don't have the warmer sound I remember the Linton's having which I didn't care for.

I'm impressed so far, they are aesthetically more to my liking than anything else I've have. Right now I have a Berhinger A800 powering them (full range) but I do plan on getting a Buckeye NC502 for a permanent solution. I'll get the subs dialed in after a couple days as is.
Care to share any further impressions after a few days of listening in?

Trying to get a grasp on the sound, specifically whether the treble is too sharp for general use. I'd like to use them in a 2.1 TV role, so some level of forgiveness for poor sources (like Youtube) would be nice.

In the below video the AMT is a little hot, but that could just be recording/reflections, etc. Oddly there are almost no demos of the 2's online

 
I'm a bad candidate to describe the sound as I do have some upper frequency hearing loss and tinnitus.

I don't think they are overly hot or bright though, I have not found them offensive in any way in the week I've had them.
They do have a more forward sound and energy compared to the revel M106 and JBL Studio 680 floor-standers I have on hand. Similar, but with more clarity and less distortion, than the Klipsch RP 500m ii I have in the basement system.

I say all the above to conclude that I will probably be getting rid of them and staying with a Revel performa product (looking for a pair of F206), as I do prefer what they do in my room more.
 
Care to share any further impressions after a few days of listening in?

Trying to get a grasp on the sound, specifically whether the treble is too sharp for general use. I'd like to use them in a 2.1 TV role, so some level of forgiveness for poor sources (like Youtube) would be nice.

In the below video the AMT is a little hot, but that could just be recording/reflections, etc. Oddly there are almost no demos of the 2's online

I don’t think they are bright at all. They roll off the very top frequencies. I had them in my room compared to many speakers reviewers say are neutral and the Aura were less bright in the higher octaves but still have some pizzazz. To name a few that were brighter in my system in the higher octaves - Mofi SP10, Elysian 2, Canton Reference 7K and Sonus Faber Olympicas. I think they would be a great 2.1 channel speaker for your TV. I am planning to buy a pair for that use case next time they are on sale. Please note: their bass is not that good in a medium sized room. Their size makes you think their bass should be bigger. My SP10 had more bass. All of the speakers I listed had more bass but they were also brighter sounding and would be less forgiving.
 
I'm a bad candidate to describe the sound as I do have some upper frequency hearing loss and tinnitus.

I don't think they are overly hot or bright though, I have not found them offensive in any way in the week I've had them.
They do have a more forward sound and energy compared to the revel M106 and JBL Studio 680 floor-standers I have on hand. Similar, but with more clarity and less distortion, than the Klipsch RP 500m ii I have in the basement system.

I say all the above to conclude that I will probably be getting rid of them and staying with a Revel performa product (looking for a pair of F206), as I do prefer what they do in my room more.
Let them break in. The sound will change if they are brand new. I know some people dispute break in but either their AMT tweeter / midrange woofer need some break in. They will sound more harsh at first then milky smooth. So smooth you may wonder why you can’t get that brightness back you had when you first bought the speaker.
 
I don’t think they are bright at all. They roll off the very top frequencies. I had them in my room compared to many speakers reviewers say are neutral and the Aura were less bright in the higher octaves but still have some pizzazz. To name a few that were brighter in my system in the higher octaves - Mofi SP10, Elysian 2, Canton Reference 7K and Sonus Faber Olympicas. I think they would be a great 2.1 channel speaker for your TV. I am planning to buy a pair for that use case next time they are on sale. Please note: their bass is not that good in a medium sized room. Their size makes you think their bass should be bigger. My SP10 had more bass. All of the speakers I listed had more bass but they were also brighter sounding and would be less forgiving.

In my living room they have no problem down to upper 30, low 40hz at decent levels, I like a good bass as much as the next guy and have no qualms running them without a sub for music.

I played some demo material via Jazz Variants and Billie Eilish's NDA and they get very close to my cheaper towers.

I think they fit in exactly where the physical dimensions suggest, more than your traditionally sized bookshelf, but less than a tower.
 
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