In this review, we will be comparing Sandwich 250 and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Leak and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Leak Sandwich 250 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Leak Sandwich 250 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 Leak Sandwich 250 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
Both Sandwich 250 and Elysian 2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Leak Sandwich 250 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.2-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 11-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
Sandwich 250 features a 1.2" Coated Textile Dome Tweeter , a 4.25" Midrange and 1 x 11" Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 470Hz and 3100Hz. 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
Sandwich 250 has a frequency range of 42Hz-26kHz 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 Sandwich 250's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Sandwich 250 and Elysian 2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sandwich 250 sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Elysian 2's is at 89 dB.
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 Sandwich 250 and the Sandwich 250 can provide this impedance level.
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.
Sandwich 250 and Elysian 2 has the same power range of 25-250 watts.
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 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Sandwich 250 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Leak Sandwich 250's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sandwich 250 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 Leak Sandwich 250 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 Leak Sandwich 250's and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. Leak Sandwich 250 has external dimensions of 655 x 370 x 300 mm ( 25.8 x 14.6 x 11.8 inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch) .
Leak Sandwich 250 is 45mm shorter and 162mm less deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 2 but it is also 36mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leak Sandwich 250 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 in scale.
Comparison image of Leak Sandwich 250 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Leak Sandwich 250 is approximately 1110.0cm2 / 172.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The Sandwich 250 requires 28% 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 Leak Sandwich 250 weighs 27.30kg / 60.1lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 12% heavier than the Sandwich 250.
Here is a comparison of how Sandwich 250 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
 Woofer Size |
11 inches
vs
8.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
655mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1110cm2 (370x300mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2399USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Leak Sandwich 250 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Brand |
Leak |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
25-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42Hz-26kHz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
11" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.2" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.25" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
470Hz and 3100Hz |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
655.0mm (25.8") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
| Width |
370.0mm (14.6") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
27.30kg (60.1lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real-wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
walnut |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
16-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |