Wharfedale Elysian 1: Proof That Premium Bookies Can Go Toe-to-Toe with Towers
Introduction
The debate between bookshelf and floor-standing loudspeakers has been around for a while now. Traditionally, towers were seen as the superior option—more drivers, larger cabinets, better bass, right?
But in reality, there are two key challenges with full-range towers today:
- Most people can’t afford true full-range floorstanders (20Hz–20kHz often costs $40–50K+)
- Even fewer people have the floor space to accommodate them
So here’s the question: can you experience high-end fidelity for less? Less speaker. Less money. Less space.
Wharfedale thinks so. And the Elysian 1 is their answer.
What Is It?
The Elysian 1 is a two-way bookshelf loudspeaker featuring:
- 27 x 90mm Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter
- 7” (180mm) coated woven glass fibre mid/bass cone
- 4Ω nominal impedance (8Ω compatible)
- 89dB sensitivity
- Frequency response: 49Hz – 22kHz
- Recommended amplification: 25–175W
Each unit weighs 15kg and measures 490mm (H) x 263mm (W) x 285mm (D), with an extra 30mm for its large speaker terminals.
In the box: removable grilles, link cables (bi-wire capable), a printed user manual, and white gloves—all neatly packed in a leather-textured presentation case. It’s not about luxury packaging—it’s about spending every dollar on performance. And Wharfedale has done just that.
Wharfedale Elysian 1 Loudspeakers
Aesthetics & Build
Elysian’s six-layer, hand-finished piano lacquer sits atop real wood veneer with elegant curves from baffle to back. It’s luxe, but not flashy. And beneath the beauty is structure:
- Multi-layer timber construction with varying densities
- Damping adhesives to reduce resonance
- Curved panels to eliminate standing waves
Chrome accents, magnetic grilles, and seamless driver integration give Elysian 1 a modern, refined feel—designed to impress visually and acoustically.
The AMT Advantage
Grilles off, the 27 x 90mm AMT tweeter steals the show.
Unlike dome tweeters that move like pistons, AMTs squeeze air between pleated folds for faster, more efficient sound production—up to 4x faster than domes. The benefits?
- Lower distortion
- Faster transients
- Extended treble bandwidth
- Controlled dispersion and improved imaging
In short, you get that signature AMT “air”—a floating, open sound that feels holographic yet controlled. With a tweeter this large, Elysian 1 delivers serious top-end authority and microdetail.
Mid/Bass Driver: Strength & Speed
Wharfedale’s proprietary 7” cone is made from a woven glass fibre matrix, coated for precise acoustic control. Why that matters:
- High stiffness = reduced cone breakup
- Low mass = fast, accurate movement
- Controlled damping = deeper bass and lifelike mids
This is especially important in a two-way design where one driver handles both midrange and bass. And Elysian nails the balance—weighty lows with textured, natural mids.
Under the Hood: Motors & Mechanics
The woofer’s motor structure is as serious as its cone:
- 25mm, 2-layer voice coil in a high-flux magnet field
- Aluminium rings for eddy current control
- Die-cast aluminium baskets with large ventilation windows
- 12mm of linear excursion
Even the central phase plug is shaped to smooth frequency response off-axis—ensuring no single element (like a kick drum) dominates. Instead, you get balance, width, and realism—even in non-ideal listening spots.
SLPP Port & Room-Friendly Bass
Elysian’s Slot-Loaded Profiled Port (SLPP) vents downward through the plinth, dispersing internal bass energy between speaker and stand. The advantages:
- Deeper bass extension
- More placement flexibility (ideal for near-wall setups)
Even in tighter modern rooms, Elysian 1 avoids boomy bass. It’s refined, controlled, and still delivers surprising low-end presence. Matching stands are available and recommended—but the design performs impressively even off-axis or close to walls.
Crossover Design: The Peter Comeau Touch
Every crossover component was chosen for maximum transparency:
- Silicon-iron cored coils for bass/midrange
- Air-core coils for treble
- Low-ESR polypropylene capacitors throughout
But beyond the parts list, Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, has tuned the Elysian crossover with a craftsman’s ear—balancing clarity, cohesion, and musical flow.
The Verdict
Can a premium two-way bookshelf loudspeaker deliver floorstander-level fidelity?
Yes. Elysian 1 proves it.
Its huge AMTs deliver pristine air and treble realism. The mid/bass driver brings rich vocal texture and tight, controlled bass. And the down-firing SLPP port makes them flexible even in compact rooms.
At $8,000 AUD, they’re not cheap—but they’re still less than one-fifth the price of many full-range towers. Add a great musical sub and you’re close to full-range response—for a fraction of the cost.
So if you’re tight on space, or just don’t need floorstanders, Elysian 1 offers a new path to high-end listening—less speaker, but more soul.
To learn more about Elysian 1, head to Wharfedale Elysian 1 Loudspeakers
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