In this review, we will be comparing ELYSIAN 1R and ELYSIAN 2R, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Wharfedale Elysian 2R first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Elysian 1R | Wharfedale Elysian 2R |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | AMT (Ribbon) | AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Coated glass fibre matrix | 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix |
|---|
| 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 | 15.00kg / 33lbs | 30.50kg / 67.1lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 27-9/16" x 13-1/8" x 18-3/16"
700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm |
|---|
ELYSIAN 1R and ELYSIAN 2R are members of Wharfedale's Elysian R series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Elysian R Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 1R and Wharfedale Elysian 2R 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 Elysian 2R |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ELYSIAN 1R is a 2-way design whereas the ELYSIAN 2R 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 1RWharfedale Elysian 2R
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 1R |
Wharfedale Elysian 2R |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 8.5-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 ELYSIAN 2R features a " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
ELYSIAN 1R has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz whereas ELYSIAN 2R has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the ELYSIAN 2R 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 and ELYSIAN 2R 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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ELYSIAN 2R can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas ELYSIAN 1R has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the ELYSIAN 2R.
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 1R and ELYSIAN 2R features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ELYSIAN 1R and ELYSIAN 2R 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2R'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 Elysian 2R has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm (27-9/16 x 13-1/8 x 18-3/16inch).
Wharfedale Elysian 2R is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 71mm wider, 210mm taller and 147mm deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 1R.
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 2R needs about 86% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Elysian 2R is 147mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Elysian 2R is 210mm 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2R is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The ELYSIAN 1R requires 46% less surface area than the ELYSIAN 2R 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 1R weighs 15.00kg / 33lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2R weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the ELYSIAN 2R 103% heavier than the ELYSIAN 1R.
Here is a comparison of how ELYSIAN 1R and ELYSIAN 2R's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
490mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
828cm2
vs
1543cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5995USD
vs
8495USD
|
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 1R |
Wharfedale Elysian 2R |
| 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 |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
49-22k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated glass fibre matrix |
Coated glass fibre matrix |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
490.0mm (19.3") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
| Width |
263.0mm (10.4") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
15.00kg (33lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| 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 R series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2R digs deeper - 35Hz against 49Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2R takes more power (250W vs 175W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Elysian 1R is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 2R is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Elysian 1R: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian 2R: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Elysian 1R is cheaper - $5,995 against $8,495, about 29% less. |
A Wharfedale Elysian 1R B Wharfedale Elysian 2R
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Elysian 2R measures better, Wharfedale Elysian 1R costs about about 42% more% 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 1R much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 2R has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale Elysian 1R 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.