In this review, we will be comparing SCM40 and Elysian 4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ATC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM40 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM40 | Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
|---|
| Brand | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.98" | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | 2.95" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.46" | 2 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 30-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75 to 300 Watts watts | 15-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 31.00kg / 68.2lbs | 49.60kg / 109.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38.58" x 14.57" x 12.01"
980.0 x 370.0 x 305.0mm | 46-3/4" x 15-13/16" x 18-3/16"
1188.0 x 402.0 x 462.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ATC SCM40 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ATC SCM40 |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SCM40 and Elysian 4 are 3-way speakers.
ATC SCM40Wharfedale Elysian 4
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ATC SCM40 |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.98-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2.95-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.46-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
SCM40 features a 0.98" Tweeter, a 2.95" Midrange and 1 x 6.46" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz & 3.5kHz. On the other hand, the Elysian 4 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 340Hz and 3100Hz.
Frequency Response
SCM40 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas Elysian 4 has a frequency range of 30-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Elysian 4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SCM40's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SCM40 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 4 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 4 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SCM40 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Elysian 4's is rated at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 4 a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC SCM40, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SCM40 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Elysian 4 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SCM40.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Elysian 4 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SCM40 has a Binding Posts/4mm Plugs, tri-wire which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ATC SCM40's and Wharfedale Elysian 4's external dimensions. ATC SCM40 has external dimensions of 980.0 x 370.0 x 305.0mm (38.58 x 14.57 x 12.01inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 4 has external dimensions of 1188.0 x 402.0 x 462.0mm (46-3/4 x 15-13/16 x 18-3/16inch).
Wharfedale Elysian 4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 32mm wider, 208mm taller and 157mm deeper than ATC SCM40.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale Elysian 4 needs about 65% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Elysian 4 is 157mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Elysian 4 is 208mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ATC SCM40 is approximately 1128.5cm2 / 174.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2. The SCM40 requires 39% less surface area than the Elysian 4 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ATC SCM40 weighs 31.00kg / 68.2lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 4 60% heavier than the SCM40.
Here is a comparison of how SCM40 and Elysian 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 4?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 4:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
980mm
vs
1188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1128cm2
vs
1857cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
7999USD
vs
9996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6.46 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
ATC SCM40 |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
| Brand |
ATC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
75 to 300 Watts watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
30-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.46" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.98" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2.95" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz & 3.5kHz |
340Hz and 3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
980.0mm (38.6") |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
| Width |
370.0mm (14.6") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
31.00kg (68.2lbs) |
49.60kg (109.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Elysian 4 digs deeper - 30Hz against 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Elysian 4 is more sensitive (92dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | ATC SCM40 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | ATC SCM40 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 4 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Elysian 4: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | ATC SCM40 is cheaper - $7,999 against $9,996, about 20% less. |
A ATC SCM40 B Wharfedale Elysian 4
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Elysian 4 measures better, ATC SCM40 costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ATC SCM40 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate ATC SCM40 the better fit for a small room and a mid-size room, and Wharfedale Elysian 4 for a large room and a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.