In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 4 and Cornwall IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 4 and Klipsch Cornwall IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Elysian 4 and Klipsch Cornwall IV 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
Both Elysian 4 and Cornwall IV are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27x90mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Elysian 4 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 340Hz and 3100Hz. On the other hand, the Cornwall IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 15" Fiber composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Elysian 4 has a frequency range of 30-22k Hz whereas Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Elysian 4 can go slightly deeper then the Cornwall IV's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 4 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Cornwall IV 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 4 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Elysian 4 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Cornwall IV's is rated at 102 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch Cornwall IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian 4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 4 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Cornwall IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Elysian 4.
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 4 and Cornwall IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
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 4's and Klipsch Cornwall IV's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian 4 has external dimensions of 1188.0 x 402.0 x 462.0mm ( 46-3/4 x 15-13/16 x 18-3/16inch) whereas Klipsch Cornwall IV has external dimensions of 966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm ( 38 x 25-5/16 x 15-1/2inch) .
Klipsch Cornwall IV is 222mm shorter and 68mm less deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 4 but it is also 241mm wider.
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 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Cornwall IV is approximately 2533.4cm2 / 392.7inch2. The Elysian 4 requires 27% less surface area than the Cornwall IV 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 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs and the Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs. This makes the Elysian 4 11% heavier than the Cornwall IV.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 4 and Cornwall IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Elysian 4:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)4 Spike feetUser Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch Cornwall IV?
Here are the items that come with the Cornwall IV:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1857cm2 (402x462mm)
vs
2533cm2 (643x394mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
102 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
966mm
vs
1188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
6598USD
vs
9996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 4 |
Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-250 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
102 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-22k Hz |
34-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Fiber composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
340Hz and 3100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
966.0mm (38") |
| Width |
402.0mm (15.8") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Depth |
462.0mm (18.2") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
49.60kg (109.1lbs) |
44.55kg (98lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |