Elysian 2 R Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)

Refined. Reaffirmed. Elevated. ELYSIAN R is the next chapter in Wharfedale's storied history, following the original ELYSIAN series that debuted in 2020 as the most ambitious research and development project in the company's history since its 1932 founding. Developed by the same team, led by Director of Acoustic Design Peter Comeau, ELYSIAN R takes everything audiophiles have admired about the Elysian series, warmth, intimacy, freedom from listening fatigue, and an uncoloured "British sound," and pushes it further still. The result is a loudspeaker that retains the unmistakable ELYSIAN character while delivering greater precision, refinement, and realism, finely finished enough to be worthy of placement in the finest homes and galleries.     The AMT, Advanced The Air Motion Transformer (AMT) high-frequency driver used across the ELYSIAN R range offers a fundamentally different approach from a conventional dome tweeter. Its large, pleated diaphragm, now made from an ultra-lightweight PET material, is driven evenly across its surface by a precisely controlled magnetic system, moving air with exceptional speed and accuracy. A newly added acoustically damped rear chamber absorbs the back wave from the diaphragm, delivering even more spell-bindingly clear and sweetly extended high frequencies. The result is remarkably low distortion, outstanding detail retrieval, and an open, extended top end that remains smooth, refined, and free from harshness or fatigue.   Midrange, Refined Except for the entry-level ELYSIAN 1R, every model in the range is matched with a dedicated 150mm (6") woven glass fibre matrix midrange driver, chosen for its ideal combination of low mass and high strength. A high plasticity coat provides damping to suppress high-frequency resonance, paired with a low-damping, foamed rubber-like surround. Drive energy comes from a 25mm, two-layer voice coil fitted with an aluminium ring to control eddy currents and reduce distortion, mounted to a die-cast aluminium basket with ventilation windows for improved transient response. A specially shaped central phase plug linearises the output across a wide bandwidth, even well off-axis, for exceptionally natural sound throughout the room. With ELYSIAN R, you will hear astonishingly realistic reproduction of voices and instruments. Vocalists and musicians appear to be present in the room with you. Deeper Bass, Tighter Control The woofer cones are the same low mass yet stiff glass fibre matrix material as the midrange driver, terminated with a highly flexible rubber surround and driven by a specially developed low-distortion motor system on a die-cast aluminium chassis. The most advanced version of Wharfedale's unique port system – the Slot-Loaded Profiled Port (SLPP) – vents the woofers. As with all other bass port designs, the woofer's rear radiation is not wasted but vented into the room. But that is where the similarities end. The bass energy in the enclosure is under high pressure. In conventional port designs, air turbulence occurs when the bass waves abruptly exit into the low-pressure room. This turbulence wastes bass and often causes annoying "chuffing" or "popping" sounds, sometimes referred to as port noise. In the SLPP system, both ends of the port tube are flared with a semi-parabolic flange to linearise airflow through the tube. The low-frequency energy is then vented to a slot at the speaker's base, specially profiled to equalize the high internal pressure to the room's low pressure. The result is an entirely natural recreation of bass instruments' fundamental notes presented with authority and articulation, without port-induced distortion and noise. The bass units and SLPP bass reflex system provide the massive foundation on which the rest of the musical performance sits, letting you feel as well as hear the full impact of thunderous low-frequency information. The 220mm (8.5") bass units, one in ELYSIAN 2R and two in ELYSIAN 4R, reach down below 28Hz in-room. In ELYSIAN 3R, the dual 180mm (7") bass units stretch down to 35Hz. A Cleaner Signal Path Combining the drivers' outputs is an advanced computer-modelled crossover that has been developed over hundreds of hours of listening tests, fine-tuned to make sure that the blend between the drive units is seamless. Of particular note is the phase consistency between the drivers, allowing the power response to be highly linear and consistent throughout your listening room. ELYSIAN R crossovers use silicon-iron cored coils for bass, air-core coils for midrange and treble, and polypropylene capacitors throughout the signal path, mounted on a newly designed direct-path PCB for the shortest possible signal route and coupled to the drive units with LC-OFC high-purity copper cabling, ensuring that you hear all the musical detail with nothing held back. You'll hear the full body of instruments like cello and bass guitar without straining to enjoy the complete dynamics of the musical recital.   New Finishes, Proven Foundation One can't help but notice that ELYSIAN R is attractive. That beauty is more than skin deep. Underneath the finish lies a multi-layer enclosure composed of layers of different wood products sandwiched together, built under Wharfedale's Panel Resonance Optimization System (PROS). The dissimilar resonance characteristic of each material serves to cancel the other's resonance for vibration and colouration-free performance, and inhibits the leakage of unwanted sound energy from inside the cabinet that would otherwise interfere with the forward output of the drive units. ELYSIAN R maintains the same exemplary cabinet structure as the original series, now offered with the options of luxurious, contemporary matte paint finishes or a handcrafted, exotic walnut veneer finished with a piano gloss, hand-polished to six levels of depth. As with the original ELYSIAN, pairs are matched so the veneer pattern is consistent for both speakers.   Built to Stand Floorstanding models are supported by height-adjustable metal spikes for rock-solid stability on any floor. For the standmount models, ELYSIAN 1R, 2R, and the ELYSIAN CR centre channel, Wharfedale offers matching stands built from high carbon steel tube columns and top plate with hardened high carbon steel base spikes, sized to raise each speaker to the ideal height for seated listeners. Effortless Dynamics With sensitivity ranging up to 92dB depending on model, ELYSIAN R loudspeakers may be driven by modestly powered amplifiers to reveal the music's full dynamic range without strain or distortion. You will enjoy the wide dynamic range and visceral impact of a live performance. Not Just an Evolution ELYSIAN R offers indulgence in design, technology, materials, aesthetics, and performance. A thorough and no-compromise approach has led the Wharfedale design team to build on the benchmark set by the original ELYSIAN series, delivering musical reproduction that will proudly challenge the world's finest loudspeakers.