In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 1 and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 1 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Elysian 1 | Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Coated Fiberglass | 8.5" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-22k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-175 watts | 25-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.03kg / 33.1lbs | 30.50kg / 67.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18-24" x 10-3/8" x 12-7/16"
458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm | 27.5" x 13.1" x 18.1"
700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm |
|---|
Elysian 1 and Elysian 2 are members of Wharfedale's Elysian series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Elysian Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Elysian 1 is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian 2 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.
Wharfedale Elysian 1Wharfedale Elysian 2
MidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27x90mm-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz whereas Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Elysian 1 and Elysian 2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 1 and the Elysian 1 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Elysian 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Elysian 1 has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Elysian 2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Elysian 1 and Elysian 2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Elysian 1 and Elysian 2 have bottom firing ports.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Elysian 1's and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. 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) 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 Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 242mm taller and 146mm deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Elysian 1 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The Elysian 1 requires 46% 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 Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 103% heavier than the Elysian 1.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 1 and Elysian 2'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 Elysian 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Elysian 1:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
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
 Height |
458mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
834cm2
vs
1543cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4995USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-175 watts |
25-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
49-22k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
458.0mm (18") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
| Width |
264.0mm (10.4") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Depth |
316.0mm (12.4") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-24" |
16-22" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Wharfedale's Elysian series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 digs deeper - 35Hz against 49Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 takes more power (250W vs 175W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Wharfedale Elysian 1: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian 2: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is cheaper - $4,995 against $6,996, about 29% less. |
A Wharfedale Elysian 1
B Wharfedale Elysian 2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Elysian 2 measures better, Wharfedale Elysian 1 costs about 29% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 49Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Elysian 1 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Elysian 1 the better fit for a small room, and Wharfedale Elysian 2 for a large room and a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.