In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 2 and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Elysian 2 and Elysian 1 are members of Wharfedale's Elysian series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Elysian Series History
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 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.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27x90mm-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
1 x 7-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 Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k 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 Elysian 1'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 2 and Elysian 1 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 2 and the Elysian 2 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 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 1 has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 75 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 Elysian 1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Elysian 2 and Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1'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 Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm ( 18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 242mm taller and 146mm deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The Elysian 2 requires 85% more surface area than the Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 103% heavier than the Elysian 1.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 2 and Elysian 1'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 Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
2 Stand-mount loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)User Manual
 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 |
 Height |
458mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
834cm2 (264x316mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4995USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
700.0mm (27.6") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
334.0mm (13.1") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
462.0mm (18.2") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-22" |
18-24" |
| 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 |