In this review, we will be comparing R400 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 R400 and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk R400 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 R400 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 R400 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 R400 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K 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 R400's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
R400 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. R400 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 R400, 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.
R400 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R400 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 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. R400 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R400 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.
Polk R400 dual 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 Polk R400's and Wharfedale Elysian C's external dimensions. Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) 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) .
Polk R400 is 213mm narrower and 122mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian C but it is also 2mm deeper.
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 R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The R400 requires 25% 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 R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 103% heavier than the R400.
Here is a comparison of how R400 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 R400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
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 |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
vs
3074cm2 (831x370mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 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
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
50-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-39K Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
coated fiberglass matrix |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27 x 45mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
199.0mm (7.8") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
618.0mm (24.3") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| 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 |