In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 2 and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 2 and KEF Q350 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Elysian 2 and KEF Q350 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Elysian 2 is a 3-way design whereas the Q350 is a 2-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. 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. On the other hand, the Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k 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 Q350's min frequency of 63Hz.
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 2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Q350 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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. Elysian 2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q350's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q350, 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. 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 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q350 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Elysian 2.
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. Q350 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Elysian 2 has a bottom firing port whereas Q350 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q350 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 2's and KEF Q350's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch) whereas KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm ( 14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 124mm wider, 342mm taller and 156mm deeper than KEF Q350.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and KEF Q350 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and KEF Q350 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 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The Elysian 2 requires 140% more surface area than the Q350 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 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs and the KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 301% heavier than the Q350.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 2 and Q350'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 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Elysian 2:
Stand-mount loudspeaker Grille 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed) User Manual
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Foam port plugs 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
358mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2 (210x306mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
700.0mm (27.6") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
334.0mm (13.1") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
462.0mm (18.2") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-22" |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |