In this review, we will be comparing Platinum C250 3G and Elysian C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G | Wharfedale Elysian C |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
|---|
| Midrange | 2.5" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" RDT III | 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-60k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 50-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.40kg / 55.9lbs | 30.23kg / 66.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.8" x 24.8" x 12.8"
225 x 630 x 325.7 mm | 12-5/8" x 32-11/16" x 14-9/16"
321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G and Wharfedale Elysian C 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 C250 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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Drivers
Both Platinum C250 3G and Elysian C are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3GWharfedale Elysian C
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 C250 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
Platinum C250 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter, a 2.5" Midrange and 2 x 5" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 850 Hz - 3500 Hz. 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
Platinum C250 3G has a frequency range of 30-60k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Platinum C250 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian C's min frequency of 35Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 C250 3G is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Platinum C250 3G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Platinum C250 3G sensitivity is rated at 88dB and the Elysian C's is rated at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian C a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Platinum C250 3G can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Elysian C has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Platinum C250 3G.
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 C250 3G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Platinum C250 3G and Elysian C features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 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 C250 3G's and Wharfedale Elysian C's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G has external dimensions of 225 x 630 x 325.7 mm (8.8 x 24.8 x 12.8-inch) 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).
Wharfedale Elysian C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 201mm wider, 96mm taller and 44mm deeper than Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G.
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 C250 3G is approximately 2053.8cm2 / 318.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The Platinum C250 3G requires 33% less surface area than the Elysian C 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 C250 3G weighs 25.40kg / 55.9lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 19% heavier than the Platinum C250 3G.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum C250 3G and Elysian C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
225mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2053cm2
vs
3074cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Price per pair* |
4995USD
vs
5900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
50-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-60k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
coated fiberglass matrix |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27 x 45mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2.5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
850 Hz - 3500 Hz |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
225.0mm (8.9") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
630.0mm (24.8") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
25.40kg (55.9lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
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 |
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 C250 3G digs deeper - 30Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (300W vs 250W). |
| Size |
depends |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian C: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C is cheaper - $4,995 against $5,900, about 15% less. |
A Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G
B Wharfedale Elysian C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Wharfedale Elysian C has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Elysian C much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Wharfedale Elysian C for a small room.
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.