In this review, we will be comparing Blackstone TL1 and Elysian C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TL1 and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk TL1 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk TL1 and Wharfedale Elysian C 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Blackstone TL1 is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian C 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.
Driver |
Polk TL1 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.5-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 2.5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
Blackstone TL1 features a 0.5" silk dome Tweeter and 2 x 2.5" Dynamic Balance Woofer . 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
Blackstone TL1 has a frequency range of 125-20k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Blackstone TL1's min frequency of 125Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Blackstone TL1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Blackstone TL1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Elysian C's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TL1, 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. 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.
Blackstone TL1 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Blackstone TL1 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS , 125 watts less than the Elysian C.
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 C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Blackstone TL1 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Blackstone TL1 and Elysian C have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Polk TL1's and Wharfedale Elysian C's external dimensions. Polk TL1 has external dimensions of 101.0 x 381.0 x 88.0mm ( 3-15/16 x 15 x 3-7/16inch) 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 450mm wider, 220mm taller and 282mm deeper than Polk TL1.
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 Polk TL1 is approximately 335.3cm2 / 52.0inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The Blackstone TL1 requires 89% 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 Polk TL1 weighs 1.84kg / 4lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 1,543% heavier than the Blackstone TL1.
Here is a comparison of how Blackstone TL1 and Elysian C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk TL1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Blackstone TL1:
Gloss-black center-channel loudspeakerDetachable black cloth grille (attached)System Diagram/Warranty sheetTemplateOnline Product Registration cardImportant Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpersUser Manual
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
101mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
335cm2 (381x88mm)
vs
3074cm2 (831x370mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
79USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
2.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
General |
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
10-125 watts |
50-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
Frequency Response |
125-20k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
2.5" |
8.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Dynamic Balance |
coated fiberglass matrix |
Tweeter Size |
0.5" |
27 x 45mm" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
101.0mm (4") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
381.0mm (15") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
Depth |
88.0mm (3.5") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
Weight |
1.84kg (4lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |