In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Wharfedale. Wharfedale Elysian CR is a Center Channel speaker whereas the ELYSIAN 2R is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian CR and Wharfedale Elysian 2R first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Elysian CR Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer
- 35-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-250watts
- Weight:30.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 12-5/8" x 32-11/16" x 14-9/16" ( 320.0 x 830.0 x 370.0mm )
Wharfedale Elysian 2R Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 35-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-250watts
- Weight:30.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 27-9/16" x 13-1/8" x 18-3/16" ( 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm )
ELYSIAN CR and ELYSIAN 2R are members of Wharfedale's Elysian R series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Elysian R Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian CR and Wharfedale Elysian 2R 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 CR |
Wharfedale Elysian 2R |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
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 CR and Wharfedale Elysian 2R 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 CR and ELYSIAN 2R are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian CR |
Wharfedale Elysian 2R |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
ELYSIAN CR features a " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the ELYSIAN 2R features a " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
ELYSIAN CR and ELYSIAN 2R has exactly the same frequency range of 35-22k Hz.
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 CR is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ELYSIAN 2R 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 ELYSIAN 2R can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ELYSIAN CR sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the ELYSIAN 2R's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian CR a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian 2R, 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 CR and ELYSIAN 2R has the same power range of 25-250 watts.
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 CR features Binding post type posts and ELYSIAN 2R has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ELYSIAN CR and ELYSIAN 2R 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 CR's and Wharfedale Elysian 2R's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian CR has external dimensions of 320.0 x 830.0 x 370.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 32-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 2R has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27-9/16 x 13-1/8 x 18-3/16inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian CR is 380mm shorter and 92mm less deeper than Wharfedale Elysian 2R but it is also 496mm 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 CR is approximately 3071.0cm2 / 476.0inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2R is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The ELYSIAN CR requires 99% more surface area than the ELYSIAN 2R which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.