In this review, we will be comparing AURA 2 and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Wharfedale AURA 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 AURA 2 is a 3-way design whereas the Elysian 1 is a 2-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 |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
AURA 2 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 520Hz, 4.5kHz. On the other hand, the Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
AURA 2 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the AURA 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
AURA 2 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 1 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 1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Elysian 1's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale AURA 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
AURA 2 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the Elysian 1.
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 AURA 2 and Elysian 1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA 2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AURA 2 and Elysian 1 have bottom firing ports.
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 Wharfedale AURA 2's and Wharfedale Elysian 1's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA 2 has external dimensions of 561.0 x 286.0 x 402.0mm ( 22-1/16inch x 11-1/4inch x 15-13/16inch ) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm ( 18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch) .
Wharfedale AURA 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 103mm taller and 86mm deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 1.
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 Wharfedale AURA 2 is approximately 1149.7cm2 / 178.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The AURA 2 requires 38% more surface area than the Elysian 1 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 Wharfedale AURA 2 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the AURA 2 36% heavier than the Elysian 1.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 2 and Elysian 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale AURA 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 2:
2 Stand-mount loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper wires8 Rubber feetPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
2 Stand-mount loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)User Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
2499USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
| Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
458mm
vs
561mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
834cm2 (264x316mm)
vs
1149cm2 (286x402mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
520Hz, 4.5kHz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
561.0mm (22.1") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
402.0mm (15.8") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-20" |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |