In this review, we will be comparing Platinum 100 3G and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G | Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" RDT III | 7" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-60k Hz | 49-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 25-175 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.20kg / 33.4lbs | 15.03kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.6" x 8.8" x 12.8"
398.0 x 225.0 x 325.0mm | 18-24" x 10-3/8" x 12-7/16"
458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Platinum 100 3G and Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3GWharfedale Elysian 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Platinum 100 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter and 1 x 6" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2850 Hz. On the other hand, the Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Platinum 100 3G has a frequency range of 28-60k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Platinum 100 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Platinum 100 3G and Elysian 1 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Platinum 100 3G sensitivity is rated at 85dB and the Elysian 1's is at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G, 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 Platinum 100 3G and the Platinum 100 3G 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Elysian 1 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Platinum 100 3G has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Elysian 1.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Platinum 100 3G and Elysian 1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Platinum 100 3G has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G with its rear-firing port.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G's and Wharfedale Elysian 1's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G has external dimensions of 398.0 x 225.0 x 325.0mm (15.6 x 8.8 x 12.8-inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm (18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch).
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is 39mm narrower and 60mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian 1 but it is also 9mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is approximately 731.3cm2 / 113.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The Platinum 100 3G requires 12% less surface area than the Elysian 1 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G weighs 15.20kg / 33.4lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Platinum 100 3G 1% heavier than the Elysian 1.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum 100 3G and Elysian 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
398mm
vs
458mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
731cm2
vs
834cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
4995USD
vs
6900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-60k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2850 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
398.0mm (15.7") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
225.0mm (8.9") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
325.0mm (12.8") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
15.20kg (33.4lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G digs deeper - 28Hz against 49Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Elysian 1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 175W). |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian 1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale Elysian 1 is cheaper - $4,995 against $6,900, about 28% less. |
A Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G B Wharfedale Elysian 1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 49Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Elysian 1 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Elysian 1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.