In this review, we will be comparing MilleniaOne 1.0 and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Paradigm and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 | Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" S-PAL Aluminum | 8.5" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 120-20k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-100 watts | 25-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.45kg / 5.4lbs | 30.50kg / 67.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/4" x 4-9/16" x 5-3/4"
197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm | 27.5" x 13.1" x 18.1"
700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Average |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that MilleniaOne 1.0 is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian 2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0Wharfedale Elysian 2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
MilleniaOne 1.0 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" S-PAL Aluminum Woofer. 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
MilleniaOne 1.0 has a frequency range of 120-20k Hz 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 MilleniaOne 1.0's min frequency of 120Hz.
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
MilleniaOne 1.0 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Elysian 2 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas MilleniaOne 1.0 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Elysian 2.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Elysian 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. MilleniaOne 1.0 has a Spring post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's Spring post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
MilleniaOne 1.0 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 with its rear-firing 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm (7-3/4 x 4-9/16 x 5-3/4inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm (27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch).
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 218mm wider, 503mm taller and 315mm deeper than Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0.
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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is approximately 170.5cm2 / 26.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The MilleniaOne 1.0 requires 89% 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 weighs 2.45kg / 5.4lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 1,145% heavier than the MilleniaOne 1.0.
Here is a comparison of how MilleniaOne 1.0 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of MilleniaOne 1.0:
- Satellite loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tabletop stand
- Wall-bracket
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
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
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
197mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
170cm2
vs
1543cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
700USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-100 watts |
25-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
120-20k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
S-PAL Aluminum |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
| Width |
116.0mm (4.6") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Depth |
147.0mm (5.8") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
2.45kg (5.4lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Die-cast aluminum |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Gloss White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-32" |
16-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Elysian 2 costs roughly 10x what Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2 digs deeper - 35Hz against 120Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2 takes more power (250W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2: bi-amping. Wharfedale Elysian 2 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is cheaper - $700 against $6,996, about 90% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 B Wharfedale Elysian 2
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Elysian 2 measures better, Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 costs about about 10x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 120Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale Elysian 2 for a mid-size room, a large room and a very large 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.