In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B1+ and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Emotiva and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv B1+ is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian 2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
Airmotiv B1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Elysian 2 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv B1+'s min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Airmotiv B1+ is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 2 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 2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv B1+ sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Elysian 2's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, 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.
Airmotiv B1+ can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS , 180 watts less than the Elysian 2.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Airmotiv B1+ has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has external dimensions of 274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm ( 10-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 8-1/4inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 153mm wider, 426mm taller and 252mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv B1+.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Wharfedale Elysian 2 in scale.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is approximately 380.1cm2 / 58.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The Airmotiv B1+ requires 75% less surface area than the Elysian 2 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 663% heavier than the Airmotiv B1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+ and Elysian 2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 2?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 2:
Stand-mount loudspeaker Grille 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed) User Manual
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
274mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
380cm2 (181x210mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
Up to 70 watts |
25-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48 Hz – 28 kHz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8.5" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Coated Fiberglass |
Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
Foamed Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
27x90mm" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
16-22" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |