In this review, we will be comparing ELYSIAN 1R and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Elysian 1R Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 7" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer
- 49-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-175watts
- Weight:15.00kg
- 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 )
Wharfedale EVO5.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 44-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:15.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4" ( 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Wharfedale EVO5.2 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 1R |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Wharfedale EVO5.2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ELYSIAN 1R is a 2-way design whereas the EVO5.2 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.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 1R |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 EVO5.2 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz and 4.3 kHz.
Frequency Response
ELYSIAN 1R has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz whereas EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ELYSIAN 1R'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
ELYSIAN 1R and EVO5.2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ELYSIAN 1R sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the EVO5.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1R a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO5.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 1R and the ELYSIAN 1R 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. 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.
ELYSIAN 1R can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the ELYSIAN 1R.
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 1R features Binding post type posts and EVO5.2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.2's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
ELYSIAN 1R has a rear firing port whereas EVO5.2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Elysian 1R 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 Elysian 1R's and Wharfedale EVO5.2'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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm ( 19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4") .
Wharfedale Elysian 1R is 7mm shorter and 35mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.2 but it is also 3mm wider.
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 Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2. The ELYSIAN 1R requires 9% less surface area than the EVO5.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.