In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 2 and EVO4.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Elysian 2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer
- 35-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-250watts
- Weight:30.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 700.0" x 13.1" x 18.1"( 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO4.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 54-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:13.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 455.0" x 9.8" x 13.7"( 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 2 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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
Both Elysian 2 and EVO4.2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27x90mm-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
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 EVO4.2 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz whereas EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k 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 EVO4.2's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 EVO4.2 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 EVO4.2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2, 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 EVO4.2 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
Both Elysian 2 and EVO4.2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Elysian 2 and EVO4.2 have bottom firing ports.
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 Wharfedale EVO4.2'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 Wharfedale EVO4.2 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm ( 17.9 x 9.8 x 13.7inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 84mm wider, 245mm taller and 112mm deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The Elysian 2 requires 76% more surface area than the EVO4.2 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 Wharfedale EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 128% heavier than the EVO4.2.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 2 and EVO4.2'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 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 Wharfedale EVO4.2?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 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
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
455mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
875cm2
vs
1543cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
54-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
700.0mm (27.6") |
455.0mm (17.9") |
| Width |
334.0mm (13.1") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
462.0mm (18.2") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
13.40kg (29.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-22" |
18-22" |
| 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 |