Wharfedale ELYSIAN 1

ELYSIAN 1 is the latest addition to the flagship loudspeaker series from Wharfedale, pushing the boundaries of capability and performance. A genuine example of luxury audio, ELYSIAN offers indulgence in design, materials, aesthetics and performance, now in a more compact standmount format.

Each component part is engineered to the very highest standard. The drivers, the crossover, the cabinet every aspect has been developed in harmony and without cost constraint to push the project to its performance limit. This thorough and no-compromise approach has led the Wharfedale engineers to create a benchmark in affordable, audiophile-grade luxury loudspeakers. Cutting-edge design and class-leading technology are combined to deliver musical reproduction that will proudly challenge the world’s finest loudspeakers.

A proven concept in the form of the award winning ELYSIAN 4 and ELYSIAN 2 models, the ELYSIAN 1 continues with the specially engineered AMT HF driver; a radically different way of moving air, using a large, pleated, lightweight diaphragm driven across its surface by rows of strategically placed metallic strips immersed in a strong magnetic field. The pleats in the diaphragm contract and expand under the influence of the musical drive, squeezing the air between them to form the desired waveform. Featuring an ultra-lightweight diaphragm material called ‘PET‘ and an acoustically damped rear chamber, the ELYSIAN AMT stands out against comparable high-frequency units by delivering even more spellbindingly clear and sweetly extended high frequencies.

Operating in a two-way configuration, ELYSIAN 1 is also fitted with a custom, glass fibre matrix cone bass unit. Terminated with a highly flexible rubber surround and driven by a specially developed low-distortion motor system, the 180mm (7”) bass units are capable of reaching down below 49Hz, revealing the full body and impact of percussion, stringed and wind instruments with detail and depth that other standmount speaker options just cannot reach.

The performance of ELYSIAN 1 is enhanced with an advanced version of Wharfedale’s signature slot-loaded port. Christened SLPP (Slot-Loaded Profiled Port), it ensures that the rear output of the bass units is not wasted. Instead, the lowest frequency energy is vented to a slot at the base of the speaker, specially profiled to equalise the high internal pressure to the low pressure in the room. This reduces the distortion that is typical of bass reflex systems and increases the port’s efficiency. In addition, because the air is dispersed uniformly in the room, the speakers are less fussy about placement.

In combination, the bass units and SLPP bass reflex system provide the massive foundation upon which the rest of the musical performance sits, letting you feel as well as hear the full impact of thunderous low-frequency information. High overall system sensitivity allows any amplifier to reveal the full dynamic range of the music fed to it, without strain or limitation.

The drivers’ output is combined via a sophisticated crossover network, fine-tuned over hundreds of hours of listening tests to ensure a seamless blend between the drive units.

Of particular note is the phase consistency across the driver output, permitting a wide range of seating positions and encouraging the power response to be highly linear throughout the listening room. Only the highest grade, acoustically transparent components are used throughout the crossover network, ensuring all the musical detail is heard with nothing held back.

Beautifully finished, the ELYSIAN speaker cabinets are designed to enhance the acoustic output of the drivers and provide a piece of furniture of which the owner can be justly proud. Handcrafted veneers are enhanced by true piano finish lacquers, hand-polished to six levels of depth. This exquisite touch offers a truly standout aesthetic, unmatched at this price-point.

ELYSIAN 1 is truly another audio engineering work of art. The degree of natural transparency will leave you breathless and questioning, how is this possible in this price-class?