In this review, we will be comparing Elysian C and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian C and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian C and ELAC VELA CC 401 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 C and ELAC VELA CC 401 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Elysian C is a 3-way design whereas the VELA CC 401 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 C |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Elysian C features a 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900HZ. On the other hand, the VELA CC 401 features a " JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich Woofer .
Frequency Response
Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz whereas VELA CC 401 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the VELA CC 401 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian C's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 C is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the VELA CC 401 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 VELA CC 401 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Elysian C sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the VELA CC 401's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian C a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA CC 401, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas VELA CC 401 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Elysian C.
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 C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. VELA CC 401 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Elysian C and VELA CC 401 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 C's and ELAC VELA CC 401's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian C has external dimensions of 321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 32-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) whereas ELAC VELA CC 401 has external dimensions of 193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm ( 7-9/16 x 25-9/16 x 9-7/16inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 181mm wider, 128mm taller and 130mm deeper than ELAC VELA CC 401.
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 C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The Elysian C requires 97% more surface area than the VELA CC 401 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 C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs and the ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the Elysian C 58% heavier than the VELA CC 401.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian C and VELA CC 401's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Elysian C:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpersUser Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA CC 401?
Here are the items that come with the VELA CC 401:
1 Center channel speaker2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)Operating And Safety Instructions
 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 |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
193mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1560cm2 (650x240mm)
vs
3074cm2 (831x370mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-250 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
coated fiberglass matrix |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
27 x 45mm" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
831.0mm (32.7") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |