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Wharfedale D310 vs ELAC Carina BS243.4 Comparison

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Wharfedale D310

Passive Bookshelf | 65-20k Hz

Wharfedale D310
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ELAC Carina BS243.4

Passive Bookshelf | 46-30k Hz

ELAC Carina BS243.4
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Wharfedale D310 Wharfedale D310
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ELAC Carina BS243.4 ELAC Carina BS243.4
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Wharfedale D310
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ELAC Carina BS243.4
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Wharfedale D310 vs ELAC Carina BS243.4 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D310 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D310 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-60watts
  • Weight:4.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 266.0" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"( 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm )

ELAC Carina BS243.4 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:30-100watts
  • Weight:6.70kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"( 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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* Wharfedale D310 ELAC Carina BS243.4
Near-field Good Average
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room No way Bad

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both D310 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale D310 ELAC Carina BS243.4
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .

Frequency Response

D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D310's min frequency of 65Hz.

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

D310
Carina BS243.4
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D310
ELAC Carina BS243.4
Min
Average
Max

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

D310 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. D310 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D310 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

D310
Carina BS243.4
Min
Average
Max

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.

D310 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the Carina BS243.4.

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

Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. D310 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D310 Terminals
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals

ELAC Carina BS243.4 Terminals
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both D310 and Carina BS243.4 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 D310's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm ( 10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .

ELAC Carina BS243.4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 55mm taller and 23mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.

Wharfedale D310 vs ELAC Carina BS243.4 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 Size and External Dimensions

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 D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The D310 requires 31% less surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Wharfedale D310 vs ELAC Carina BS243.4 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 on a Media Console
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 D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 68% heavier than the D310.

Here is a comparison of how D310 and Carina BS243.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale D310
ELAC Carina BS243.4
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
  • 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
  • User-feets Manual
  • Installation Guide
  • What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?

    Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled)
  • Operating Instructions

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale D310 over ELAC Carina BS243.4
    Sensitivity 86 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 266mm vs 321mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 349cm2 vs 506cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 199USD vs 1500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose ELAC Carina BS243.4 over Wharfedale D310

    Max Input Power 100 watts vs 60 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 46 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Wharfedale D310 vs ELAC Carina BS243.4 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale D310 ELAC Carina BS243.4
    Brand Wharfedale ELAC
    Speaker Type Compact bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-60 watts 30-100 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 85 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 3.6 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 65-20k Hz 46-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Foamed Polyether Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome JET AMT (Ribbon)
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Firing Direction bottom bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 266.0mm (10.5") 321.0mm (12.6")
    Width 156.0mm (6.1") 205.0mm (8.1")
    Depth 224.0mm (8.8") 247.0mm (9.7")
    Weight 4.00kg (8.8lbs) 6.70kg (14.7lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Polymer
    Available Colors Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut Satin Black,Satin White
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 22-26" 24-28"
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 3 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 3 Years

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