In this review, we will be comparing Platinum 300 3G and Elysian 4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G and Wharfedale Elysian 4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Platinum 300 3G and Elysian 4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
Platinum 300 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 650 Hz - 3000 Hz. 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
Platinum 300 3G has a frequency range of 17-60k Hz whereas Elysian 4 has a frequency range of 30-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Platinum 300 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 4's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
Impedance and Sensitivity
Platinum 300 3G and Elysian 4 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Platinum 300 3G sensitivity is rated at 88dB and the Elysian 4's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 4 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 300 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 300 3G and the Platinum 300 3G 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.
Platinum 300 3G can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 4 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Platinum 300 3G.
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 Platinum 300 3G and Elysian 4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Platinum 300 3G 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G with its rear-firing port.
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G's and Wharfedale Elysian 4's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G has external dimensions of 1131.1 x 429.8 x 525 mm ( 44.5 x 16.9 x 20.6-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 28mm narrower and 63mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G but it is also 57mm taller.
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 300 3G is approximately 2257.5cm2 / 349.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2. The Platinum 300 3G requires 22% more surface area than the Elysian 4 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 300 3G weighs 53.60kg / 117.9lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs. This makes the Platinum 300 3G 8% heavier than the Elysian 4.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum 300 3G and Elysian 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
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 |
400 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1131mm
vs
1188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1857cm2 (402x462mm)
vs
2257cm2 (430x525mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
9996USD
vs
17900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 400 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
17-60k Hz |
30-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8.5" |
| 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 |
4" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
650 Hz - 3000 Hz |
340Hz and 3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
525.0mm (20.7") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
53.60kg (117.9lbs) |
49.60kg (109.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |