A British Hi-Fi Great Just Gave Audiophiles a New Reason to Get Excited

After six years, the heritage audio maker has introduced a new flagship range of audiophile loudspeakers.

Three Wharfedale speakers in black matte, wood finish, and glossy black finishes, each with two circular drivers.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published 2 hours ago

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Wharfedale has been busy.

In the last few months, the legendary British audio maker has introduced two new loudspeakers to its famed Heritage series: a pair of passive bookshelf speakers, the Denton 1S, and a center channel speaker, the Heritage Centre.

And while Wharfedale might be best known for its Heritage series (which consists of reimagined versions of its classic loudspeakers from the 1960s and 1970s), those are not its flagship loudspeakers. Since its 2020 introduction, that title has gone to its Elysian range.

Now, six years later, the company has introduced what it’s calling a “refined evolution” of its flagship loudspeaker range.

Wharfedale Elysian R range

Set of six wooden speakers with black drivers and stands, arranged on a reflective gray surface. — Wharfedale’s new flagship loudspeaker range consists of five models (*from left to right)*: Elysian 1R, Elysian 2R, Elysian CR, Elysian 3R and Elysian 4R.

The all-new Elysian R is the company’s new flagship range of loudspeakers. Wharfedale claims that it builds on the foundations of the previous Elysian range, but each Elysian R loudspeaker features “refined driver technology, improved crossover execution, further-optimized cabinet construction, and a new contemporary finish palette.”

Like its predecessors, the Elysian R range consists of five loudspeaker models: two standmounts, two floorstanding and a center channel. And thus can be configured in stereo or home theater setups.

Pair of wooden bookshelf speakers on black stands flanking a wooden audio rack with silver stereo components. — The Elysian 1R is the most compact standmount loudspeaker in the new range.

Gray Wharfedale speaker on a matching stand in a sunlit room with wooden floor and a blue glass table. — The Elysian 1R in the Lunar Grey finish.

Refined drivers

The most significant upgrade across all five loudspeaker models is the latest generation of its AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, which Wharfedale describes as far more efficient and precise than traditional dome tweeters. According to the brand, this next AMT tweeter “has been further developed for greater openness, speed and resolution.”

The midrange and bass drivers have been refined across the line, too. And the crossover network has been reworked with high-grade components and newly designed circuit boards.

Wharfedale claims the result is a loudspeaker range that feels immediately familiar as Elysian, yet is “more resolved, more transparent and more technically complete.”

Three tall floor-standing speakers with four drivers each, in matte gray, wood finish, and glossy black finishes. — Each loudspeaker in the Elysian R range comes in three finishes: Lunar Grey, High-Gloss Walnut and Matte Black.

Modern living room with wooden floor, large floor-standing speakers, built-in wooden shelves, and a round marble coffee table. — The Elysian 4R is the flagship floorstanding models in the new range.

Modern finishes

Aesthetically, each loudspeaker in the Elysian R range retains a similar design to the previous models, but Wharfedale says that each has been reworked to have a “cleaner and more architectural visual identity.”

Finish-wise, the previous black and white piano lacquer finishes have been replaced by new Matte Black and Lunar Grey options. They will be available in the same Walnut High Gloss finish as before.

Set of six black high-end speakers of varying sizes on metal stands, arranged in a row on a reflective surface. — The Elysian R range is shown in the new Matte Black finish.

Availability and pricing

All five models in Wharfedale’s Elysian R loudspeaker range will be available this month.

The two standmount models, the two-way Elyisan 1R and three-way Elyisan 1R, will cost $5,995/pair and $8,495/pair, respectively.

The two three-way floorstanding models, the Elyisan 3R and flagship Elyisan 4R, will cost $9,995/pair and $11,995/pair, respectively.

And the center channel, the Elysian CR, will cost $5,995.

Glossy light brown wooden bookshelf speaker with black drivers and a square base.

Wharfedale Elysian R Series

Starts at $5,995

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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