Wharfedale Elysian 4

[Audionaut]

I wouldn't buy an upper range Wharfedale speaker after what I see here on ASR.
Beautiful cabinets from the outside. That's the positive.
The capacitances of the crossovers look ok, the inductances are not high quality.
The drivers are mid-range.
The internal finish with cardboard as the cabinet material for the midrange and for the bass reflex ports is a hallmark of very cheap loudspeakers.
Shame on you Wharfedale.
This is not Elysium, this is Hades

 

[Snoopy]

Meant to add, my jade's and I think all the others have a cardboard enclosure for the midrang/upper midrange

While it looks cheap (I’m feeling it as well as owner of the Evo 4.2 and Super Linton) as long as it does the Job ?

When you look at the crossover and absorber material used in the original 60/70s loudspeakers you will have a laugh.

This is inside a modern Harbeth loudspeaker:

 

[dcolak]

Meant to add, my jade's and I think all the others have a cardboard enclosure for the midrang/upper midrange

Uh, didn't check, might do it later, I hope it's not cardboard

When can we start calling this by its proper name, a scam?

They sell 10K USD speaker with specs that have nothing to do with reality, they talk about "quality of construction" and you find cardboard port, cheap parts and shoddy workmanship.

 

[PGansz]

Uh, didn't check, might do it later, I hope it's not cardboard

When can we start calling this by its proper name, a scam?

They sell 10K USD speaker with specs that have nothing to do with reality, they talk about "quality of construction" and you find cardboard port, cheap parts and shoddy workmanship.

View attachment 445710

View attachment 445713

Sympathies. Certainly looks the part on the outside.

 

[Snoopy]

Sympathies. Certainly looks the part on the outside.

Hmm quess lots of the money goes in the cabinet with speakers like that.
Check out what other expensive speakers look on the inside.. sure the renders will look different. But im not convinced a plastic port would beat a cardboard port.

So does it matter ?

The woofers seem to cost 100 bucks per piece for normal people. So probably 500-600 bucks per speaker for everything minus the cabinet ?

this is why retailers are able to give big discounts and everybody still makes money.

My retailer sold me the wharfedale super Linton for 1400 euro (retail price 2000 euro) and he still made money on them (that’s including shipping and tax).

I can only imagine what the profit margin on the Elysian has to be.

I have seen some Dali speakers and other brands that manufacture in china.. and it’s not really that different from wharfedale.

Would like to know what a really expensive or BW speaker looks on the inside

But on the plus side..when I compare the difference between a Evo 4.2 with a Aura speaker .. those are speakers I would be interested in modding
Might do that with my EVo 4.2 as experiment.

Here is another 2000 GBP bookshelf

The Elysian 4 are 8500 euro with 20% VAT included in there. Seems about right when you factor in that dealers are able to give 30% discount on that and still make money.

I would probably get big Bookshelves instead with 2 subwoofers.

 

[Cadillacofminds]

Being remiss, @dcolak thanks not just for your time, but all the risk you've run related to your expensive property !!

 

[Cadillacofminds]

The vertical bracing running the entire height, I think that's pretty unusual

 

[Audionaut]

Would like to know what a really expensive or BW speaker looks on the inside

On this website you can see some of the drivers used in more expensive loudspeakers.

What Drivers Do They Use? – Wilson Audio

Are you wondering what drivers the High End speaker manufactures are using? I always think it is quite fun and also to some degree an inspiration to see what makes up some og the most expensive or …

www.sensibleaudio.dk

What Drivers Do They Use? – Kii Audio / Kii Three

The Kii Audio Kii Three, is a briliant construction and innovation setting new standards for a small speaker this size. Brain child of not least Bruno Putzeys, the inventor of the UcD class D ampli…

www.sensibleaudio.dk

What Drivers Do They Use? – Revel

Revel Performa 3 Who does not know Revel? Owned bay the big Harman International, home to JBL, Mark Levinson and many other brands. In my little DIY inspirational series of “What Drivers Do T…

www.sensibleaudio.dk

What Drivers Do They Use? – Perlisten

I was at the Sound Society HiFi show here in CPH DK last weekend and had the fortune to listen to both the r5t and the s7t Limited Edition.What stood out to me, besides overall very very good sound…

www.sensibleaudio.dk

 

[Cadillacofminds]

That seems like a great site!

 

[regan]

Might do that with my EVo 4.2 as experiment.

Are you pleased with your evo 4.2? How much did you pay for it?

 

[Snoopy]

Are you pleased with your evo 4.2? How much did you pay for it?

I got them currently stored away. I got them a couple of years ago for 640 euro .
With subwoofer and EQ the Evo 4.2 are actually pretty good

Currently using the Super Linton.

 

[DSJR]

While it looks cheap (I’m feeling it as well as owner of the Evo 4.2 and Super Linton) as long as it does the Job ?

When you look at the crossover and absorber material used in the original 60/70s loudspeakers you will have a laugh.

This is inside a modern Harbeth loudspeaker:View attachment 445690

Made in the UK rather than China in arguably FAR smaller batch quantities and with higher production/labour costs as a result no doubt. I'd suggest the panel damping and foam lining was *very* carefully selected too and not just any old stuff pulled off a shelf and quickly stuck in. It's already been determined I believe, that fancy-foo caps are just that - basically a mugs eyeful for the unwary

Chinese production and high import profits have fooled us hugely I fear and costs of enclosures, components and tooling are horrendous over these parts I'm told (by a small-scale speaker maker). I doubt Harbeth will shift production to China any time soon

It's all in the eyes, I tell ye, not the sound quality...

 

[dcolak]

Elyisan 4

Red - Bass reflex plate with front and back plugs (as it comes from factory)
Yellow - Without bass reflex plate, going directly into carpet
Orange - Bass reflex plate without front and back plugs

I like most the Orange option, still needs a sub but, with +12dB at 40Hz it can sometimes be ok.

 

[dibble1]

I think you may have an issue with yours speakers or setup. My Elysian 4’s are seriously full sounding and excellent bass and for most music I don’t need a sub- only electronic very deep stuff. If I set my sub (KEF k92) higher than 40Hz it’s too much - my ears confirm they are definitely 30 Hz in room. Large room. 1m from side wall. Dirac testing does confirm sub-80Hz responses as well (at least in my room)

 

[dcolak]

I think you may have an issue with yours speakers or setup. My Elysian 4’s are seriously full sounding and excellent bass and for most music I don’t need a sub- only electronic very deep stuff. If I set my sub (KEF k92) higher than 40Hz it’s too much - my ears confirm they are definitely 30 Hz in room. Large room. 1m from side wall. Dirac testing does confirm sub-80Hz responses as well (at least in my room)

My friend, your own measurements show HUGE drop in bass, you're DSP-ing them back into something acceptable:

 

[dibble1]

Hi. I don’t actually use the Dirac but was only experimenting with it (is massively narrows soundscape and headroom for vinyl). The drop below 0 in bass only occurs at 30Hz for 1 and 40Hz for another speaker (room effect) with a general up and down- likely room effect-and average decline below 80hz from what is actually a pretty elevated amount (not a massive drop). In room (and at ports) there is absolutely masses of bass I promise you! My sub only kicks in below 40Hz as it’s just not needed. These are the best speakers I’ve ever heard (not that I’ve listened to mega $ ones!)

 

[Petrakeas]

I also have the Elysian 4 paired to a Hegel H600. The front and back of the port is blocked and slideway's it's open, same as in the OP's photos. I am not facing any issues with the bass though.

Haven't done any measurements but I can certainly play sinewave up to 30 hz and have the house shaking.

I recently renovated my house and also treated the living room using a professional. After the treatment, the bass is slightly less than what it used to, but it's clearer even though the speakers are placed at the exact same position.

Will be back with measurements at some point.

PS. The OP used the bass terminals from the bi-amp terminals and since he could hear high frequencies he deduced that the woofers were playing the sound. I think the logic is flawed here. The crossover can still provide some sound to the tweeter even if you are connected only to the bass terminals.

 

[dcolak]

PS. The OP used the bass terminals from the bi-amp terminals and since he could hear high frequencies he deduced that the woofers were playing the sound. I think the logic is flawed here. The crossover can still provide some sound to the tweeter even if you are connected only to the bass terminals.

No it cannot, how could it? Cables do not go from bass crossover to the mid/highs.

 

[Petrakeas]

Did some tests and you are right. The 8 inch woofers cross over quite high.

Did some really fast measurements with Spectroid app on Android and a sine swipe that are certainly not in par to the standards of ASR but they are informative. Look at the red line. The app does not do smoothing.

low (bass) binding post, on sitting position:

high binding post, on sitting position:

both binding posts, on sitting position:

both binding posts, near speaker position:

The speaker plays linearly up to 56 Hz and then drops. You can still hear/feel up to 30 Hz but it's quite lower.

 

[dcolak]

Did some tests and you are right. The 8 inch woofers cross over quite high.

Did some really fast measurements with Spectroid app on Android and a sine swipe that are certainly not in par to the standards of ASR but they are informative. Look at the red line. The app does not do smoothing.

low binding post on sitting position:
View attachment 451383

high binding post on sitting position:

View attachment 451385


both binding posts on sitting position:


View attachment 451386

both binding posts under speaker:

View attachment 451387

The speaker plays linearly up to 56 Hz and then drops. You can still hear/feel up to 30 Hz but it's quite lower.

I told you, these speakers have no bass, at all. I have no idea why they made such big boxes if they are not going to play bass.

By the way, what does "binding posts under speaker" mean?

I hope some day Erin or Amir will review these and let everyone know that either I'm a moron or that Wharfedale is scaming everyone with false advertisement (and all other reviewers are just paid shills.)

P.S.
I have no idea what bass crossover does. Those "8" inch drivers play practically full range and have huge dip below 80Hz.

I'll try disconnecting them from the crossover and seeing how they play on their own. I would not be surprised to see they actually produce real bass.