In this review, we will be comparing Reference 3 Meta and Elysian 4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 3 Meta and Wharfedale Elysian 4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 3 Meta 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 KEF Reference 3 Meta 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 Reference 3 Meta and Elysian 4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Reference 3 Meta |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
Reference 3 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. 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
Reference 3 Meta has a frequency range of 43-35k 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 Reference 3 Meta's min frequency of 43Hz.
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
Reference 3 Meta and Elysian 4 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Elysian 4's is at 92 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 4 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 3 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 3 Meta and the Reference 3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
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.
Reference 3 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 4 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Reference 3 Meta.
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
Both Reference 3 Meta and Elysian 4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reference 3 Meta has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 4 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Reference 3 Meta with its rear-firing port.
KEF Reference 3 Meta 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 KEF Reference 3 Meta's and Wharfedale Elysian 4's external dimensions. KEF Reference 3 Meta has external dimensions of 1207 x 323 x 467 mm ( 47.5 x 12.7 x 18.4 in.) 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 19mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than KEF Reference 3 Meta but it is also 79mm 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 KEF Reference 3 Meta is approximately 1508.4cm2 / 233.8inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2. The Reference 3 Meta requires 19% 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 KEF Reference 3 Meta weighs 51.30kg / 112.9lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs. This makes the Reference 3 Meta 3% heavier than the Elysian 4.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 3 Meta 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 |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1508cm2 (323x467mm)
vs
1857cm2 (402x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
43 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1188mm
vs
1207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
9996USD
vs
15000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Reference 3 Meta |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
43-35k Hz |
30-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
340Hz and 3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1207.0mm (47.5") |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
| Width |
323.0mm (12.7") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
467.0mm (18.4") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
51.30kg (112.9lbs) |
49.60kg (109.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |