In this review, we will be comparing Vestia No4 and Elysian 4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia No4 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Vestia No4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Vestia No4 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 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 Vestia No4 and Elysian 4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Vestia No4 |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
Vestia No4 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 2800Hz. 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
Vestia No4 has a frequency range of 40-30k 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 Vestia No4's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Vestia No4 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 92 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Vestia No4 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 4 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Vestia No4.
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
Vestia No4 has a front firing port whereas Elysian 4 has a bottom firing ports. Focal Vestia No4's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Elysian 4 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 Focal Vestia No4's and Wharfedale Elysian 4's external dimensions. Focal Vestia No4 has external dimensions of 1128.0 x 305.0 x 429.0mm ( 44-3/8-inch x 12-inch x 16-7/8-inch) 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 97mm wider, 60mm taller and 33mm deeper than Focal Vestia No4.
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 Focal Vestia No4 is approximately 1308.5cm2 / 202.8inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2. The Vestia No4 requires 30% 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 Focal Vestia No4 weighs 31.50kg / 69.3lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 4 57% heavier than the Vestia No4.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia No4 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 loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)4 Spike feetUser Manual
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1128mm
vs
1188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1308cm2 (305x429mm)
vs
1857cm2 (402x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4398USD
vs
9996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Focal Vestia No4 |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-350 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-30k Hz |
30-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280Hz and 2800Hz |
340Hz and 3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1128.0mm (44.4") |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
429.0mm (16.9") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
31.50kg (69.3lbs) |
49.60kg (109.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |