In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and Elysian C, two Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SC Ref and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
GoldenEar SC Ref Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Woofer
- 33-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-350watts
- Weight:14.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 150.0" x 35" x 11-1/16"( 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm )
Wharfedale Elysian C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 35-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:50-250watts
- Weight:30.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 32-11/16" x 14-9/16"( 321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar SC Ref 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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Drivers
Both SuperCenter Reference and Elysian C are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" 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
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go slightly deeper then the Elysian C's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
SuperCenter Reference is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 91 dBdB.
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.
SuperCenter Reference can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian C has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the SuperCenter Reference.
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 C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SuperCenter Reference has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 GoldenEar SC Ref's and Wharfedale Elysian C's external dimensions. GoldenEar SC Ref has external dimensions of 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm ( 5-7/8 x 35 x 11-1/16inch) 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) .
GoldenEar SC Ref is 171mm shorter and 89mm less deeper than Wharfedale Elysian C but it is also 58mm wider.
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 GoldenEar SC Ref is approximately 2498.1cm2 / 387.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 19% less surface area than the Elysian C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.