An Overview of the Wharfedale Elysian 2R
The Wharfedale Elysian 2R is a rare thing in the loudspeaker world, a genuine flagship three way design that has been engineered to live on stands rather than the floor. It sits at the top of Wharfedale's Elysian R family, carrying forward the technology and voicing philosophy of the larger models while offering the room friendly footprint and pinpoint imaging that draws so many listeners to a standmount speaker. Sold as a matched pair, the 2R is aimed at the listener who wants serious scale and refinement without a full size tower dominating the room.
Design and Technology
What makes the Elysian 2R stand apart is that it is a true three way standmount rather than a scaled up two way. It centers on an 8.5 inch woofer paired with a dedicated midrange driver and a ribbon style high frequency unit, allowing each band to be handled by a driver optimized for its task. The midrange sits in its own acoustic environment so the woofer's energy does not muddy vocals and instrumental detail, while the high frequency unit reaches well beyond the range of human hearing for that open airy top end the Elysian series is known for.
The cabinet is a study in low resonance construction. Wharfedale uses a heavily braced, multi layer enclosure with gently curved sidewalls that reduce internal standing waves and control panel vibration. The result is a speaker that lets the drivers speak clearly without the box adding its own signature. Fit and finish are what you would expect from a flagship series, with real wood veneers and a build quality that feels reassuringly substantial in the hand.
Sound Character
The Elysian 2R has a sound that is best described as refined, full bodied, and remarkably composed. The dedicated midrange gives voices and acoustic instruments a natural presence and texture that many standmounts simply cannot match, and the ribbon style tweeter contributes a sweetness and extension in the treble that never turns harsh or fatiguing even during long listening sessions.
Bass from the 8.5 inch woofer is genuinely satisfying for a speaker of this size, with weight and definition that reward well recorded low end material. Imaging is a particular strength, with the standmount format allowing the soundstage to float free of the cabinets and present a stable, three dimensional picture between and around the speakers. This is a loudspeaker that rewards careful listening while remaining engaging for casual play.
Ideal Room and System
The Elysian 2R is happiest in a small to medium sized room where it can breathe without overloading the space. On good rigid stands, positioned a comfortable distance from the rear wall, it delivers that spacious holographic staging that standmounts do so well. Larger rooms are certainly possible, though listeners with a lot of cubic space to fill may want to consider the floorstanding members of the range discussed below.
Because it is a three way with real bass output, the 2R appreciates a source and amplifier that can match its resolving ability. Feed it a clean well recorded signal and it will reveal everything the recording has to offer.
Its Place in the Elysian R Range
The Elysian R series gives you a clear ladder to climb depending on your room and your goals. If you want the smaller, more compact bookshelf option, the Wharfedale Elysian 1R shares the family voicing in a smaller cabinet suited to more intimate spaces or nearfield setups.
Stepping up to the floorstanders, the Wharfedale Elysian 3R and the larger Wharfedale Elysian 4R deliver greater bass extension and the ability to energize bigger rooms, with the flagship 4R offering the fullest scale in the line. If you are building a home theater or multichannel system around the Elysian sound, the Wharfedale Elysian CR center channel voices seamlessly with the 2R for a matched front stage.
The 2R occupies a special niche as the standmount that keeps the three way flagship approach intact, making it the choice for listeners who value imaging and a compact footprint but refuse to give up midrange purity and bass authority.
Amplifier Pairing Thoughts
The Elysian 2R deserves an amplifier with grip and finesse. Its three way design and ribbon style tweeter reveal the character of whatever drives them, so the fun is in choosing an amplifier that suits your taste.
For listeners who love a smooth, richly musical integrated, the Luxman L-507Z Integrated Amplifier and its sibling the Luxman L-505Z Integrated Amplifier pair beautifully, bringing that refined Luxman voicing to the 2R's midrange. The Accuphase E-3000 Stereo Integrated Amplifier is another wonderful match for the listener who wants effortless control and a polished, detailed presentation.
If you prefer a more muscular, high current approach, the Yamaha A-S3200 Integrated Amplifier offers commanding drive and a lively, dynamic feel. For those building a separates system, the Matrix Audio MA-1 Flagship Class AB Power Amplifier and the Parasound JC5 Stereo Power Amp, also available in a limited silver finish, provide generous power with excellent control. For the listener who wants to go all the way, the Parasound JC1+ Monoblock amplifiers give the 2R more headroom and grip than it will ever demand, letting the speaker relax into effortless dynamics.
How the 2R Compares to Other Speakers We Carry
Choosing a loudspeaker is deeply personal, and the Elysian 2R sits among some wonderful alternatives depending on what you want from your system. If your heart is set on a floorstanding format, the Spendor D7.2 offers a beautifully natural, tuneful balance favored by listeners who prize long term musical ease. The Amphion Argon 3LX appeals to those who value controlled dispersion and precise imaging in real world rooms.
For listeners drawn to dynamic scale and effortless efficiency, the Klipsch Cornwall IV Heritage delivers a big, lively presentation with its horn loaded design, while the MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition brings a modern concentric driver approach and a bold sound. If ultimate resolution in a slim floorstanding form is your priority, the Gauder Akustik Arcona 60 MKII SD is worth an audition. Where the Elysian 2R distinguishes itself is in that combination of flagship three way engineering, standmount imaging, and the warm, refined Wharfedale voice, all in a format that suits smaller rooms and listeners who want their speakers up off the floor.
Come Listen for Yourself
The best way to understand what the Elysian 2R can do is to hear it in person. All Elite Audio is an authorized Wharfedale dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Our demonstration setup rotates and not every model is always on active display, so we invite you to reach out and contact us to arrange a listen. We are always glad to help you find the right speaker and amplifier combination for your room and your music.