Wharfedale Elysian 2 Speaker With Stands at Vinyl Sound Buffalo NY USA

The Elysian 2 is a 3-way standmount loudspeaker from Wharfedale (Huntingdon, England), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Part of Wharfedale's flagship ELYSIAN series, it pairs a 27x90mm AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter with a 6-inch coated fibre glass matrix midrange and an 8.5-inch (220mm) coated fibre glass matrix bass driver, delivering a frequency response of 35Hz to 22kHz (+/-3dB). Sensitivity is rated at 89dB (2.83V @ 1m) with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, compatible with 8-ohm amplifiers. The matched ELYSIAN 2 Speaker Stand is laser-cut from high-carbon stainless steel and hand-polished with six levels of piano lacquer depth, mirroring the cabinetry of the speaker itself.

AMT High-Frequency Driver and SLPP Bass Technology

The ELYSIAN 2 uses Wharfedale's specially engineered AMT (Air Motion Transformer) high-frequency driver, a radically different approach to moving air compared to conventional dome tweeters. A large, pleated, lightweight PET diaphragm is driven across its surface by rows of metallic strips immersed in a powerful magnetic field. The pleats contract and expand in response to the musical signal, squeezing air between them to form the desired waveform with far lower distortion and greater transient speed than a conventional piston-type driver. Paired with the AMT is Wharfedale's SLPP (Slot-Loaded Profiled Port), which vents the bass driver output at the base of the enclosure through a precision-shaped slot that equalises internal pressure to room pressure, reducing bass reflex distortion and making the speaker more forgiving of placement.

European-Manufactured Drivers and Piano-Lacquer Cabinet

The ELYSIAN 2's bass and midrange drivers are sourced from European manufacturers and use woven glass fibre matrix cones chosen for their combination of low mass and high rigidity, enabling excellent transient accuracy across the frequency range. The crossover network has been fine-tuned over hundreds of hours of listening tests using only the highest-grade acoustically transparent components, ensuring phase consistency across the driver outputs for a wide and stable listening window. The enclosure itself is built to furniture-grade standards, with handcrafted veneers enhanced by genuine piano-finish lacquers, hand-polished to six levels of depth. The matching ELYSIAN 2 stand is laser-cut from high-carbon stainless steel and receives the same piano lacquer treatment as the speaker's base plate, creating a cohesive visual and acoustic pairing.

Key Features

• AMT High-Frequency Driver: 27x90mm pleated PET diaphragm transducer delivering ultra-low distortion and extended high-frequency clarity well beyond conventional dome tweeters.
• 8.5-Inch European Bass Driver: Coated fibre glass matrix cone with low-distortion motor system capable of reaching down to 35Hz for full-range standmount performance.
• SLPP Bass Reflex Port: Slot-Loaded Profiled Port vents at the cabinet base, equalising pressure and reducing turbulence for clean, articulate low-frequency output.
• 6-Inch Midrange Driver: Dedicated coated fibre glass matrix midrange unit ensures seamless transition between bass and treble with natural vocal and instrumental reproduction.
• Piano-Lacquer Cabinet: Handcrafted real-wood veneers hand-polished to six levels of depth for a furniture-grade finish worthy of any listening room.
• Matched Laser-Cut Steel Stand: High-carbon stainless steel stand engineered specifically for the Elysian 2, isolating the speaker from floor vibration and resonance while matching the cabinet's piano finish.
• 3-Way Crossover Network: Phase-consistent crossover design fine-tuned over hundreds of listening hours using only highest-grade acoustically transparent components.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wharfedale Elysian 2?

The Wharfedale Elysian 2 is a 3-way standmount loudspeaker from Wharfedale's flagship ELYSIAN series, featuring a 27x90mm AMT tweeter, a 6-inch fibre glass matrix midrange driver, and an 8.5-inch bass driver, with a frequency response of 35Hz to 22kHz. It is paired with a purpose-built laser-cut high-carbon steel stand finished in the same piano lacquer as the speaker cabinet.

How does the Elysian 2 compare to the Focal Kanta No. 2?

The Elysian 2 and the Focal Kanta No. 2 both target the serious audiophile standmount market. The Kanta No. 2 uses Focal's proprietary Beryllium tweeter and Flax sandwich woofer for a notably forward and highly detailed presentation. The Elysian 2 takes a different approach with its AMT high-frequency transducer and European-manufactured glass fibre matrix drivers, offering a wider high-frequency dispersion pattern and a more relaxed but equally transparent soundstage. The Elysian 2's 3-way configuration with a dedicated midrange driver gives it a distinct midrange resolution advantage over conventional 2-way designs.

What amplifier power does the Elysian 2 need?

The Elysian 2 is rated at 89dB sensitivity and accepts between 25W and 250W of amplifier power, making it compatible with a wide range of amplifiers from modestly powered integrated amps to high-current separates. Its nominal 4-ohm impedance means an amplifier comfortable driving 4-ohm loads is preferred for the best dynamic performance.

What is an AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter?

An AMT tweeter uses a pleated, folded diaphragm rather than a conventional dome that moves as a piston. The folds accelerate air velocity at a ratio significantly higher than diaphragm movement, resulting in lower distortion, faster transient response, and a broader high-frequency dispersion. Wharfedale's 27x90mm AMT in the Elysian 2 uses a lightweight PET diaphragm material and an acoustically damped rear chamber for extended, naturally sweet high-frequency performance.

Is the Elysian 2 suitable for home cinema use?

Yes. The Elysian 2 can serve as the primary stereo pair in a home cinema system. Wharfedale produces a matching ELYSIAN C centre channel speaker and the ELYSIAN series is designed with consistent driver topology and crossover voicing across all models, ensuring coherent timbre matching in a multi-channel configuration.

Can the Elysian 2 be used without the dedicated stand?

While the Elysian 2 can be placed on a robust third-party stand or shelf, the purpose-built Elysian 2 stand is engineered specifically to raise the speaker to the correct listening height for seated listeners while isolating the cabinet from floor-borne vibration through a laser-cut stainless steel structure. The stand's piano-lacquer base plate is also matched visually to the speaker cabinet for a cohesive appearance.

Where can I buy the Wharfedale Elysian 2 in Buffalo, NY?

The Wharfedale Elysian 2 with stand is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Wharfedale dealer located in Buffalo, NY, USA. Vinyl Sound carries the full Wharfedale ELYSIAN series and can provide a dedicated listening demonstration to help you experience the Elysian 2 in a properly set-up listening environment before purchase.