In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 10 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 10 | Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 7" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-23k Hz | 49-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 160 watts | 25-175 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs | 15.03kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.4" x 7.1" x 10.5"
315.0 x 180.0 x 266.0mm | 18-24" x 10-3/8" x 12-7/16"
458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 10 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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* |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Evoke 30 and Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 10Wharfedale Elysian 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1400Hz. On the other hand, the Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 47-23k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Evoke 30 can go slightly deeper then the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Evoke 30 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 1 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 1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Evoke 30 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Elysian 1's is rated at 89 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 10, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Elysian 1 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 160 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the Elysian 1.
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 1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Evoke 30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 10's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Evoke 30 has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Dynaudio Evoke 10 with its rear-firing port.
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 Dynaudio Evoke 10's and Wharfedale Elysian 1's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 10 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 180.0 x 266.0mm (12.4 x 7.1 x 10.5inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm (18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch).
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 84mm wider, 143mm taller and 50mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 10 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 10 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 Size and External Dimensions
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 Dynaudio Evoke 10 is approximately 478.8cm2 / 74.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 43% less surface area than the Elysian 1 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 Dynaudio Evoke 10 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 1 124% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 30 and Elysian 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Evoke 30:
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
315mm
vs
458mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
478cm2
vs
834cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3398USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
160 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 160 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-23k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1400Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
315.0mm (12.4") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (47Hz vs 49Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Elysian 1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Dynaudio Evoke 10 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (160W vs 175W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 10 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Elysian 1: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Dynaudio Evoke 10 is cheaper - $3,398 against $4,995, about 32% less. |
A Dynaudio Evoke 10 B Wharfedale Elysian 1
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?
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 47% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Dynaudio Evoke 10 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale Elysian 1 appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 10 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Elysian 1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.