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Wharfedale Dovedale vs Wharfedale Elysian 2 Comparison

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Wharfedale Dovedale

Passive Bookshelf | 36-20K HZ

Wharfedale Dovedale
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Wharfedale Elysian 2

Passive Bookshelf | 35-22k Hz

Wharfedale Elysian 2
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Wharfedale Dovedale Wharfedale Dovedale
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Wharfedale Elysian 2 Wharfedale Elysian 2
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Wharfedale Dovedale
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Wharfedale Elysian 2
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Wharfedale Dovedale vs Wharfedale Elysian 2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Dovedale and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale Dovedale and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale Dovedale Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" soft dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer
  • 36-20K HZ Frequency Response
  • 89 DB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6.5ohms
  • Power Range:25-250watts
  • Weight:26.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 660.0" x 14.6" x 16.4"( 660 x 370 x 417mm )

Wharfedale Elysian 2 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer
  • 6" Midrange
  • 35-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:25-250watts
  • Weight:30.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 700.0" x 13.1" x 18.1"( 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale Dovedale 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* Wharfedale Dovedale Wharfedale Elysian 2
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Dovedale and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Dovedale and Elysian 2 are 3-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale Dovedale Wharfedale Elysian 2
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 27x90mm-inch
Midrange 1 x 5-inch 1 x 6-inch
Woofer 1 x 10-inch 1 x 8.5-inch

Dovedale features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2900Hz. 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

Dovedale has a frequency range of 36-20K HZ whereas Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go slightly deeper then the Dovedale's min frequency of 36Hz.

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

Dovedale
Elysian 2
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale Dovedale
Wharfedale Elysian 2
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

Dovedale is a 6.5 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.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dovedale sensitivity is rated at 89 DB and the Elysian 2's is rated at 89 dB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Dovedale
Elysian 2
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.

Dovedale and Elysian 2 has the same power range of 25-250 watts.

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 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dovedale has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale Dovedale Terminals
Wharfedale Dovedale's Post terminals

Wharfedale Elysian 2Post Terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Dovedale 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 Wharfedale Dovedale with its rear-firing 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 Wharfedale Dovedale's and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. Wharfedale Dovedale has external dimensions of 660 x 370 x 417mm ( 23.6 x 14.6 x 16.4 inch) 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 Dovedale is 40mm shorter and 45mm less deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 2 but it is also 36mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Dovedale and Wharfedale Elysian 2 in scale.

Wharfedale Dovedale vs Wharfedale Elysian 2 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale Dovedale and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Dovedale is approximately 1542.9cm2 / 239.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The Dovedale requires 0% 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 Wharfedale Dovedale weighs 26.20kg / 57.6lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 16% heavier than the Dovedale.

Here is a comparison of how Dovedale and Elysian 2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale Dovedale
Wharfedale Elysian 2
Min
Average
Max

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

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale Dovedale over Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Nominal Impedance 6.5 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 10 inches vs 8.5 inches Larger woofer
    Height 660mm vs 700mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1542cm2 vs 1543cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 5000USD vs 6996USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale Elysian 2 over Wharfedale Dovedale

    Low Frequency Response 35 Hz vs 36 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
    Wharfedale Dovedale vs Wharfedale Elysian 2 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale Dovedale Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Brand Wharfedale Wharfedale
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-250 watts 25-250 watts
    Sensitivity 89 DB 89 dB
    Impedance 6.5 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.6 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 36-20K HZ 35-22k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 10" 8.5"
    Woofer Composition black woven Kevlar cone Coated Fiberglass
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Foamed Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 27x90mm"
    Tweeter Type soft dome AMT (Ribbon)
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" 6"
    Crossover Frequency 560Hz and 2900Hz 360Hz and 2900Hz
    Firing Direction rear bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 660.0mm (26") 700.0mm (27.6")
    Width 370.0mm (14.6") 334.0mm (13.1")
    Depth 417.0mm (16.4") 462.0mm (18.2")
    Weight 26.20kg (57.6lbs) 30.50kg (67.1lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood Veneer MDF/Wood-veneer
    Available Colors Walnut Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 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

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