Wharfedale adds Elysian 3 floorstander to flagship line

Wharfedale has added a fourth loudspeaker to its flagship Elysian line. The Elysian 3 joins the  floorstanding Elysian 4 and stand mounting Elysian 2, which debuted in 2020, and the standmount  Elysian 1, which followed in 2021.

Both the Elysian 4 and Elysian 2 are substantial speakers, three-way designs with wide baffles and  deep cabinets, gifted with luxuriously piano lacquered wood. The more compact Elysian 1 is also the only Elysian model sporting a two-way  driver configuration rather than three-way. 

The new Elysian 3 fits in between. It's a floorstander with a three-way, four-driver design, mirroring the Elysian 4 but comes in a more easy to accommodate size. Measuring 105x26x29cm (HxWxD), the Elysian 3 is 11 per cent shorter than its big  brother and a third less wide and deep.

The newcomer features a 27x90mm AMT (Air Motion Transformer) treble driver, a 150mm midrange unit and two 180mm bass drivers. 

AMT (Air Motion Transformer) drivers have a radically different way of moving air to produce high frequency sound, using a large, pleated, lightweight diaphragm driven across its surface by rows of metallic strips immersed in a magnetic field. The pleats in the diaphragm contract and expand under the influence of the musical drive, squeezing the air between them to form the desired waveform. 

The Elysian 3’s 150mm midrange driver is the same as that in the Elysian 4 and Elysian 2, and is renowned for its refinement - “Vocalists seem to be present in the room with the listener – simply close your eyes and listen to the  palpable presence of singers in the acoustic space,” says the company.

A pair of 180mm bass drivers incorporate glass fibre matrix cones to match the midrange unit, terminated with a highly flexible rubber surround and driven by a specially developed low-distortion motor system. 

The cabinet itself has been designed to enhance the acoustic output of the drivers and double as a piece of furniture. Handcrafted veneers are enhanced by true piano finish lacquers, hand-polished to six levels of depth.

Speaking about the development of the Elysian 3, Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter  Comeau, said: “The Elysian Series was conceived as a flagship loudspeaker range worthy of the  illustrious Wharfedale name, encapsulating the innovation and ingenuity with which it has been  associated for close to 100 years. Wharfedale speakers are not only highly accomplished; they also deliver excellent value for money, and the Elysian Series is no exception.” 

He adds: “The Elysian 3 takes the highly acclaimed Elysian 4, the pinnacle of Wharfedale’s range, and reduces  its footprint to a size that some will find easier to accommodate. The holistic and uncompromising approach to  every element of the loudspeaker system – the drivers, the crossover, the cabinet – allows the Elysian 3 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 or a  rock band, these speakers bring the thrill and excitement of the performance to your listening room.” 

The Wharfedale Elysian 3 will be available from July in a choice of black, white or walnut, hand-finished in  high-gloss piano lacquer. It’s priced at £5,999 per pair.