Buying guide
Dimplex Optimyst Aura
vs Optimyst Revive
A new fireplace with open sides, or a new fire for the hearth you already love?
The decision
Keep the hearth—or open the fire to the room.
Dimplex Optimyst Aura makes the stronger case when you are designing a new fireplace feature and want to see the fire from the side as well as the front. Dimplex Optimyst Revive is the starting point when an existing mantel and opening already give the room its character. Both bring illuminated water vapor and a log bed into the picture; they solve different room projects.
We would settle that project choice before comparing flame colors or app controls. Aura’s open-sided possibilities can change the view from an adjoining seat. Revive can keep the attention on an existing hearth. Choosing the smaller name does not automatically mean a simpler installation, and choosing Aura does not make it a drop-in replacement for an old opening.
Designing the fireplace around the room
Start with Aura when a corner or bay view is a real part of the design. Choose which sides remain visible before the surround is drawn. The same appliance supports those arrangements, with configuration-specific panels, trims and widths.
Keeping the hearth at the center
Start with Revive when you want a front-facing display within a suitable opening and intend to keep the surrounding architectural features. Its minimum opening, electrical connection, airflow and drawer access still need checking.
Watch the fire
Similar flame technology. Different places in the room.
Water mist catches the light above the logs rather than forming a solid sheet of flame behind them. That is the shared reason to consider these two. The more useful distinction is where the edges of the fireplace sit and whether an open side will be visible from the places you actually use.
Before choosing Aura for a bay view, look from your main sofa, the dining table and the route into the room. If the side views will be hidden by furniture or joinery, front-facing Aura or Revive may deserve more attention than a more elaborate surround. A room photograph helps us understand which views matter before you commit to a surround.
Compare the project
The opening tells a more useful story than the model width.
| What changes | Optimyst Aura | Optimyst Revive |
|---|---|---|
| Best starting point | A new front, corner or bay fireplace feature | A front-facing fireplace within a suitable existing opening |
| Visible-side options | Front, left corner, right corner or bay | Front-facing |
| Dimension basis | Overall width changes with visible-side arrangement | Minimum opening is a separate requirement from appliance size |
| Relevant planning dimensions | Overall: 28 13/16 in. single-sided, 29 7/16 in. two-sided or 30 in. three-sided; 29 3/16 H × 15⅜ D in. | Minimum opening: 25¼ W × 25 H × 12 D in. |
| Water access | Refillable tank through front drawer | Refillable tank through front drawer |
| Supply | 120 volts | 120 volts; dedicated 15-amp circuit recommended |
| Flame and warmth | Flame can operate with heat off | Flame can operate with heat off |
| Current appliance price | $4,199.99 | $2,149.99 |
Aura’s figures are overall appliance dimensions for each view—not a universal framed cutout. Revive’s figures above are minimum opening requirements. Those are deliberately different measurement categories. Have the installer work from the corresponding manual and allow for the intended finishes, air paths and service access.
If Revive is already the right format, our Dimplex Optimyst Revive buying guide goes further into its everyday use. This comparison is about choosing between a new open-sided feature and retaining an existing hearth.
The Hearth Outpost view
Put the extra work where you will enjoy it.
Our take on Dimplex Optimyst Aura
Aura is compelling when the room gives its open sides a purpose. We like being able to choose a front, corner or bay arrangement without changing the underlying model. The drawer can also take a matching finish within the manual’s five-pound limit, which lets the water access become part of the surround design.
We would decide that finish and the air openings together. A beautifully continuous wall that prevents the drawer moving or blocks fresh air defeats the point of the fireplace.
Ratings cover the Dimplex Optimyst Aura family.
Our take on Dimplex Optimyst Revive
We would choose Revive when the traditional shape of the fireplace belongs in the room and the new flame presentation is the change you want. The mantel stays part of the story, with the water-vapor fire as the new focal point. Keep the opening measurements and drawer access in the plan.
Ratings cover the Dimplex Optimyst Revive family.
The surround and the routine
The water drawer should be easy to reach after the room is finished.
For Aura’s matching drawer front, keep the added finish within the five-pound limit and use adhesive as directed, not screws. Preserve the underside air inlet and the drawer’s full movement.
Both appliances use refillable tanks. They do not need a permanent water line for the supplied arrangement, but they do need an owner who can refill and clean them. Leave room to withdraw the drawer and handle the container comfortably; a coffee table or fixed hearth detail should not turn refilling into furniture moving.
Aura requires a top fresh-air opening with at least 29 square inches of free area, an unobstructed inlet beneath the drawer, and recommends an additional 16-square-inch inlet to the underside. A decorative grille’s outside dimensions are not its free area. Revive’s manual recommends an additional 16-square-inch fresh-air inlet to the underside; use its own placement instructions rather than copying Aura’s surround.
Both Aura and Revive connect to FlameConnect over Bluetooth for nearby phone control. They do not use Wi-Fi for away-from-home operation. The supplied handheld remotes and onboard controls offer a practical alternative when you prefer to put the phone down. The handheld remote does not operate the fireplace while the app is open on a mobile device.
Both offer six flame themes and six intensity levels; crackling sound has five volume levels and an off setting. These shared features should not be the reason to pay for a different fireplace format. Both fireplaces can show the flame without adding heat. In a room that is already comfortable, that is a practical way to keep the visual experience through more of the year.
A complete project
The appliance is one part of the finished fireplace.
Account for the fireplace
- The selected Aura or Revive appliance and its supplied log presentation
- Its refillable water system and model-specific control equipment
- The panels, trims and mounting items specified for the selected arrangement
Account for the surrounding work
- A suitable opening or a correctly designed new enclosure
- Electrical installation and unobstructed air paths
- Finishes that preserve drawer and service access
- A reachable water source and an ongoing cleaning routine
Aura’s care guide calls for cleaning the top cover, reservoir, tank and transducer at least monthly, with more frequent cleaning when water conditions require it. Antimicrobial technology does not replace that work. Review each appliance’s water guidance before purchase, particularly in a hard-water area.
Shop the ranges
Continue with the exact configuration.
Aura offers front-facing, left-corner, right-corner and bay arrangements using the same appliance. Revive is the 25-inch front-facing model for a suitable existing opening. Check the view and the actual opening rather than comparing the nominal 30- and 25-inch names.
Warranty and documents
Two years of covered appliance protection.
Dimplex Optimyst Aura
Two years of limited appliance coverage protects against defects in materials and workmanship, with on-site or in-home service available for eligible covered claims.
Dimplex Optimyst Revive
Two years of limited appliance coverage addresses defects in materials and workmanship, with on-site or in-home service for eligible covered claims.
Eligible on-site or in-home service is a useful benefit for an appliance installed within a finished fireplace. Preserve clear access to serviceable parts and read the written terms for location, trims, accessories and surround work. The written terms also explain how access and surrounding installation work are handled.
Before ordering
A few details worth settling first.
Let’s find the right fit for your project.
Send us the opening measurements, a room photograph and the view you want from your main seats. We can help you choose the right Optimyst format before the surround is planned.
Speak to an Expert
Good questions
A clearer choice.
Do I need a different Aura model for a bay installation?
The same Aura appliance supports front, corner and bay arrangements. Panels, trims and overall widths depend on the selected view; decide the arrangement before planning the opening.
Does either model need a permanent water line?
The supplied arrangements use refillable tanks accessed through a drawer. Plan the refilling and cleaning access as part of the project.
Is Aura’s app a Wi-Fi control?
The Aura manual describes Bluetooth remote operation through FlameConnect, not control through a Wi-Fi network or from anywhere away from home.
Can I compare the opening by the 30-inch and 25-inch model names?
No. Aura’s overall dimensions vary by viewing arrangement, while Revive has its own minimum opening requirements. Use the corresponding drawings and airflow instructions.