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 20 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 20 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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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Drivers
Both Evoke 30 and Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz. 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 40-23k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Evoke 30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
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 86 dB and the Elysian 1's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 20, 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. 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.
Evoke 30 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 1 has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Evoke 30.
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
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 20'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 20 with its rear-firing port.
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 Dynaudio Evoke 20's and Wharfedale Elysian 1's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 343.0mm ( 15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch) 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) .
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 49mm narrower and 78mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian 1 but it is also 27mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 20 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 20 is approximately 737.5cm2 / 114.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 12% 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 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 1 52% 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 20?
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 loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)User Manual
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
458mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
737cm2 (215x343mm)
vs
834cm2 (264x316mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 180 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-23k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
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 |
3200Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.5") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
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 |