Wharfedale upgrades Elysian R speakers

Wharfedale has refined its top-tier Elysian Series. The new Elysian R Series replaces all five Elysian models with new finishes, elevated engineering and a more captivating musical performance. 

The series are the finest range of loudspeakers Wharfedale has ever produced, and first appeared in 2020, the culmination of a three-year R&D project. Designed by Elysian’s original development team with Peter Comeau at its helm, Elysian R benefits from continuity of vision and a deeper understanding of the platform’s full potential. 

The Elysian R Series builds upon the proven foundation of the original series, enhancing performance through refinements in crossover execution, driver performance and cabinet behaviour. 

Enhanced AMT high-frequency drivers deliver even greater resolution and transient accuracy; refined glass fibre matrix bass and midrange drivers improve clarity and control; advanced crossover modelling ensures superior phase integration and cabinet refinements deliver greater acoustic transparency. The result is a range of five loudspeakers that retain Elysian’s sonic character whilst delivering greater precision, refinement and realism. 

The build and finish quality included black, white and walnut – lavished in high-gloss piano lacquer. The original piano lacquered black and white finishes have been replaced with smooth, deeply layered matt black and matt grey. The popular walnut wood option has been retained, complete with its high-gloss lacquered finish, but refined matt black trims, driver detailing and metalwork contribute to an updated visual identity. 

A key element of Elysian speakers is the AMT (Air Motion Transformer) high-frequency driver – a superior transducer capable of delivering wide bandwidth, ultra-low distortion and speed. Unlike conventional dome tweeters, the AMT uses a pleated diaphragm to move air with remarkable efficiency and precision, resulting in greater detail, faster transient response and more natural high-frequency reproduction. 

The new Elysian R AMT driver has been further enhanced, featuring an ultra-lightweight PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) diaphragm with an enlarged, high-specification design and acoustically damped rear chamber. This delivers an even more open, extended and effortless high-frequency performance than the original Elysian models. 

All the Elysian R speakers bar the Elysian 1R incorporate a dedicated midrange driver with a 150mm cone made from a proprietary woven glass fibre matrix. This has been further refined from the driver used by the original Elysian models to deliver realism and tonal accuracy. 

Enhancements to the low-mass, high-strength cone construction complement the new driver’s advanced motor system. A high-plasticity coating controls the cone’s acoustic behaviour, coupled with a special acoustic damping frame, low-damping cone surround, heavy die-cast chassis and an aluminium demodulation ring that improves distortion control. 

A custom-designed phase plug helps to ensure wide dispersion and a linear response. This midrange driver enables Elysian R speakers to deliver voices and instruments with realism. 

The Elysian R series feature refined glass fibre matrix bass cones – 180mm or 220mm depending on the model – and bass extends below 30Hz in the larger models, aided by an advanced version of Wharfedale’s signature SLPP (Slot-Loaded Profiled Port) system to ensure the rear output of the bass units is not wasted. 

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. Also, because the air is dispersed uniformly in the room, the speakers are less sensitive about positioning. 

The crossover network is a vital part of two- and three-way loudspeaker systems, responsible for blending the drive units into a seamless sonic whole. For the Elysian R Series, the crossover in every model has been revised and improved. 

Individual components have been selected for their transparency, featuring high-silicon-iron-cored coils for the bass that provide low DCR (Direct Current Resistance) and enable the amplifier to exert excellent control over the drivers. Air core coils are used for the midrange and treble, complemented by Super Audiophile Polypropylene capacitors throughout the signal path. All resistors are low-inductance types, specially chosen for their neutral effect on music signals. 

All components are mounted on newly designed ‘direct path’ circuit boards, optimised for the shortest possible signal route. In the three-way models the network is split onto two separate PCBs, ensuring that electromagnetic interference from the bass crossover components does not affect higher frequency signals. The PCBs are connected to the drive units with cables containing LC-OFC high-purity copper strands in PET insulation – all of which contributes to a superior full-range performance compared to the original Elysian models. 

The Elysian R speaker cabinets are designed to enhance the acoustic output of the drivers whilst providing an eye-catching piece of furniture of which the owner can be justly proud. All five Elysian R models feature the latest evolution of Wharfedale’s PROS (Panel Resonance Optimisation System), comprising a multi-layer construction of woods of differing density accompanied by strategic bracing optimised by advanced computer modelling. 

Refinements in driver manufacturing ensure tighter tolerances and greater consistency across every unit, allowing the system to perform exactly as intended. Improvements in cabinet construction techniques further reduce structural variance, enhancing the effectiveness of resonance control strategies. 

Speaking about the development of the Elysian R Series, Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, says, “The new, second-generation Elysian R Series takes the Elysian concept to the next level, further elevating the speakers’ engineering, aesthetic quality and sonic performance. The holistic and uncompromising approach to every element of the loudspeaker system – the drivers, the crossover, the cabinet – allows every Elysian R model to convey the full-bodied character of instruments like cello and bass guitar, without constraining the dynamics of the musical recital. Whether you’re listening to solo piano, a full orchestra, a jazz trio, an electronic composition or a guitar-based rock band – or even a rip-roaring movie soundtrack – these speakers bring the thrill and excitement of the performance to your listening room.” 

All five Wharfedale Elysian R Series models are available from late June in a choice of matt black, matt grey or piano lacquered walnut wood veneer. 

The speakers come with high-stability spikes, spike shoes for hard floors, high-quality jumper cables and a pair of white handling gloves. Dedicated speaker stands made from hardened carbon steel can be purchased for the Elysian 1R, 2R and CR, custom-designed to optimise the height and acoustic performance of each individual model. 

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