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DeepgramCartesiaAudio matchupSpeech output

Aura-2vs.Sonic 3.6

Which model is better?

Aura-2 is slightly ahead in independent tests, but the lead is not certain.

Independent tests
Aura-20 of 1
Sonic 3.60 of 1
Cekura
Popularity
Aura-244
Sonic 3.639
out of 100
Weights and access
Aura-2proprietary
Sonic 3.6proprietary
Released
Aura-2n/a
Sonic 3.6n/a

Pick Aura-2 for

leaning Cekura

Pick Sonic 3.6 for

No clear edge

Shared tests

Independent evaluators and leaderboards only, the newest shared snapshot per evaluator. With 95 % ranges a lead counts when they do not overlap; for hit rates, when it holds in a 95 % test. Without any uncertainty figure at most “slightly ahead”.

Cekura

Aura-2 slightly ahead

Aura-2 is clearly ahead in 0 of 9 subtests and slightly in 4, Sonic 3.6 in 0 clearly and slightly in 1. 4 are level.

Cekura TTS stopping duration

Aura-240 ms
Sonic 3.6764 ms

lower is better, as of October 19, 2026

Cekura TTS streaming latency median

Aura-2126 ms
Sonic 3.6270 ms

lower is better, as of October 19, 2026

Cekura TTS hard-part accuracy: read from context

Aura-275.0 %
Sonic 3.658.0 %

as of October 19, 2026

Show all 9 subtests
SubtestAura-2Sonic 3.6Verdict
Cekura TTS stopping duration (lower is better)40 ms764 msAura-2 slightly ahead
Cekura TTS streaming latency median (lower is better)126 ms270 msAura-2 slightly ahead
Cekura TTS hard-part accuracy: read from context75.0 %58.0 %Aura-2 slightly ahead
Cekura TTS hard-part accuracy: medical terms86.0 %100.0 %Sonic 3.6 slightly ahead
Cekura TTS hard-part accuracy: codes and addresses87.0 %75.0 %Aura-2 slightly ahead
Cekura TTS ASR-based hard-part accuracy estimate77.2 %74.9 %level
Cekura TTS non-streaming latency (lower is better)281 ms286 mslevel
Cekura UTMOS-predicted naturalness44level
Cekura TTS hard-part accuracy: numbers and shorthand71.0 %71.0 %level

Source · latest October 19, 2026

All data side by side

Prices are verbatim from the provider, because audio models bill per minute, character or token.

Aura-2Sonic 3.6
TaskSpeech outputSpeech output
DeveloperDeepgramCartesia
StatusActiveActive
Weightsproprietaryproprietary
Runs locallynono
Popularity (out of 100)4439