In this review, we will be comparing ELYSIAN 1R and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Elysian 1R | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | AMT (Ribbon) | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Coated glass fibre matrix | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-22k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-175 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.00kg / 33lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19-5/16" x 10-3/8" x 12-3/8"
490.0 x 263.0 x 315.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Dynaudio Evoke 20 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 1R |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both ELYSIAN 1R and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Elysian 1RDynaudio Evoke 20
TweeterWoofer
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 1R |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
ELYSIAN 1R features a " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
ELYSIAN 1R has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Evoke 30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ELYSIAN 1R'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 1R is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 1R can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ELYSIAN 1R sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1R a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 20, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Evoke 30 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas ELYSIAN 1R has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Evoke 30.
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
ELYSIAN 1R features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Evoke 30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ELYSIAN 1R and Evoke 30 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.
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 1R's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian 1R has external dimensions of 490.0 x 263.0 x 315.0mm (19-5/16 x 10-3/8 x 12-3/8inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 48mm narrower and 110mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian 1R but it is also 2mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale Elysian 1R needs about 22% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Elysian 1R is 110mm taller.
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 1R is approximately 828.5cm2 / 128.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The ELYSIAN 1R requires 22% more surface area than the Evoke 30 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 Elysian 1R weighs 15.00kg / 33lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the ELYSIAN 1R 52% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how ELYSIAN 1R and Evoke 30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
490mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
828cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
5995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 1R |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-175 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
49-22k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated glass fibre matrix |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
490.0mm (19.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
263.0mm (10.4") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
15.00kg (33lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
A generation apart: Wharfedale Elysian 1R is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 49Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale Elysian 1R is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (175W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 1R is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale Elysian 1R: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is cheaper - $4,798 against $5,995, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale Elysian 1R B Dynaudio Evoke 20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 49Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 1R has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.