In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and Elysian C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W HTM71 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian C 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W HTM71 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both HTM71 S3 and Elysian C are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
4 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
HTM71 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the Elysian C features a 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900HZ.
Frequency Response
HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM71 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
HTM71 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HTM71 S3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Elysian C's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian C a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W HTM71 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
HTM71 S3 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Elysian C.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both HTM71 S3 and Elysian C features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S3 and Elysian C have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W HTM71 S3's and Wharfedale Elysian C's external dimensions. B&W HTM71 S3 has external dimensions of 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm ( 9-1/4inch x 24-3/4inch x 14inch ) whereas Wharfedale Elysian C has external dimensions of 321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 32-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 202mm wider, 86mm taller and 14mm deeper than B&W HTM71 S3.
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 B&W HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm2 / 347.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The HTM71 S3 requires 27% less surface area than the Elysian C 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 B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 73% heavier than the HTM71 S3.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and Elysian C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W HTM71 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S3:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleTwo-piece foam port plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty InformationOnline Registration Card
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpersUser Manual
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
235mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
2239cm2 (629x356mm)
vs
3074cm2 (831x370mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2499USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
30-200 watts |
50-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
8.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
coated fiberglass matrix |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
27 x 45mm" |
Tweeter Type |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
235.0mm (9.3") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
Depth |
356.0mm (14") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |