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.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Elysian 2 | Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8.5" Coated Fiberglass | 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-22k Hz | 54-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-250 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 30.50kg / 67.1lbs | 13.40kg / 29.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 27.5" x 13.1" x 18.1"
700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm | 17.9" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Elysian 2 and EVO4.2 are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale Elysian 2Wharfedale EVO4.2
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 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.
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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Elysian 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas EVO4.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Elysian 2.
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 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
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 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Elysian 2 costs roughly 5.8x what Wharfedale EVO4.2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale Elysian 2 digs deeper - 35Hz against 54Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale EVO4.2 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale Elysian 2 takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale EVO4.2 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Elysian 2: bi-amping; Wharfedale EVO4.2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale EVO4.2 is cheaper - $1,199 against $6,996, about 83% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Elysian 2 B Wharfedale EVO4.2
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?
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 5.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale EVO4.2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale Elysian 2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale EVO4.2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Elysian 2 the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Wharfedale EVO4.2 for a small room.
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.