In this review, we will be comparing Reva 2 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 2 | ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Glass Fiber | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-13/16"
358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm | 12-5/8" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"
321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 Reva 2 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 Reva 2 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 2ELAC Carina BS243.4
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reva 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go slightly deeper then the Reva 2's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Reva 2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reva 2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Reva 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, 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.
Carina BS243.4 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Reva 2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Carina BS243.4.
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 Reva 2 and Carina BS243.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Reva 2 and Carina BS243.4 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 Reva 2's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm (14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch).
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is 37mm shorter and 79mm less deeper than Wharfedale Reva 2 but it is also 4mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 Reva 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The Reva 2 requires 29% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 on a Media Console
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 Reva 2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Reva 2 17% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 2 and Carina BS243.4'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 Reva 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled)
- Operating Instructions
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
506cm2
vs
655cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
358.0mm (14.1") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Satin Black,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (48Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Reva 2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | ELAC Carina BS243.4 takes more power (100W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC Carina BS243.4 is easier to place; Wharfedale Reva 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 2: bi-amping; ELAC Carina BS243.4: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Reva 2 is cheaper - $999 against $1,500, about 33% less. |
A Wharfedale Reva 2 B ELAC Carina BS243.4
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Reva 2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Carina BS243.4 is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $501 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.