Interviewing Wharfedale flagship Elysian 4 speaker designer Peter Comeau.
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- #hifi #speakers #audiophile #stereo #audioreviews
I asked Peter Comeau from Wharfedale a few questions on their Elysian 4 flagship speaker.
www.wharfedale...
We talk about how it compares to Focal speakers, what gives these speakers an emotional connection with the listener, some of the design goals and much more.
I will be working on the Wharfedale Elysian 4 review this weekend! The video was recorded by Zoom so my face keeps popping up whenever I make a noise. I did not have a camera so zoom use my profile photo instead.
Love the interview!
@@scottyo64 Thanks! It was actually not plan, it was supposed to be just a short chat but the call went on almost an hour! Lucky I recorded it.
How do you compare the Wharfedale to other brands of speakers say like Gershman's you prefer them over the gershman's??
Yes I've got some of those 70s Wharfedale speakers I have to refurbish 12-inch woofer 6 inch mid-range I think not 8-inch this guy easy to contact I'll pick his brains about the crossover might need refoaming as well haven't checked for years, I think the tweeters need to be upgraded as well anybody suggest anything could go with those ribbons I suppose
What's the size of the woofers on the speakers 8-inch or 10-inch
awesome cant wait to hear your impressions
Brilliant interview, Thomas! Wharfedale has really benefited by having this man involved in their goal.
GREAT GREAT INTERVIEW! Talk about a designer/engineer “talking in English”. Love love love the Brits and everything UK AUDIO!!!
Ah I asked to simplify things so I can understand. The whole interview has parts that are more technical.
That was a fantastic talk. Peter is very eloquent and enjoyable to listen to. I would love to hear the whole interview. Well done.
@@ThomasAndStereo Great job again, Thomas- I’m sure people are going to be naturally curious about Wharfedale EVO’s comparisons to this guy. I’m sure they’re “not in same league” as the Elysian’s....
@@ThomasAndStereo
I'd enjoy all the technical bits... even in un-edited, raw form.
@@FOH3663 Me too, the relationship between the technical and the emotional is a big part of what makes audio fascinating to me.
Fantastic interview. He talks a lot of sense, particularly around the mission being for speakers to simply sound musical. The very fact that you can listen to these all day without fatigue says to me that they are absolutely superb. They will be on my short list.
Great interview Thomas. It's this type of people that pull us into this hobby. They have THE knowledge and they like to share it with you. They tell you how to "look" at sound, what to look for, to use your ears first and foremost rather than diving in too much in specs/graphs. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Couldn't agree more!
Yes, excellent interview in every way! 👍😀
I recently bought my first pair of Focals, the Aria 906, and they are the first and only speakers I have owned that gave me that real emotional connection. I can listen to them for unlimited amounts of time without fatigue. I forget my system exists almost straight away and get lost in the music. Maybe one day I will have something even better, but for now they are just perfect to my ears.
Wow, fascinating interview... I would love to hear him compare his new Aura speakers to the Elysians...
Absolutely superb interview, not overselling or overpitched! I personally love all the British Brands.
Fascinating interview. What a wealth of knowledge. Thanks Thomas.
Hi Thomas, 1st time commenting. I have been a focal dealer and installer for more than 10 years. I love the utopias and flax material that they use. He did mention a very good point, I cant spend alot of time with the focals. I love the detail but I would prefer SEAS or scanspeak on a daily basis because they are much smoother even with sacrificing a little detail🙂 and to everyone else YES. THIS IS MY SUBJECTIVE TASTE. SO NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE.🙂
Thanks, I am a Focal fan too and it is all subjective. We all have different taste and there is no right or wrong.
Yes thomas that is perfectly right and we should not argue about it and just celebrate the music and journey to get there.
@@freone111 what do you think of the diablo stand mount?
Thomas, Great interview. If you think there is more to learn from hearing the whole interview, please upload it. Also, consider doing more with speaker and equipment designers and engineers if you can arrange them.
Well, it is more technical the stuff I edit out but maybe I will later on.
Good old Wharfedale, my local company. Now I'm in an unexpected long term partnership with China too and a long way from Wharfedale ( the area). Great interview and lovely to hear Gilbert Brigg's name. Easy to see how despite the global branding they still have that identity that I remember of great sound for the money. Peter opened up to you, because you listened with respect. More interviews please.
Thanks, hopefully I will do more.
The Elysian 4 flagship speakers look sweet, I can see myself sipping whiskey listening to them.
I have done just that!
Yup, it is that kind of speaker, just enjoy with a glass of wine.
Peter designed my Quad S-1s and they're absolutely incredible. I believe between Peter, John Westlake and Rob Watts some of the best hifi gear ever has been created. Very talented designers
Hi Thomas , thanks for all tour hard work reviewing and doing interviews. I have always been a fan of Peter's work and sold a lot of the Heybrook brand back when I was in retail in the UK. One of the things that stands out for me in this interview is that you (like so may hifi buffs) use hifi terminology to describe a musical performance and I think this is why Peter keeps coming back to using musical terminology to describe how he finalised the design of the speakers and how he listens to them and others. I believe that if more people followed Peters method of assesing hi-fi then there would be a lot more folk happy with their systems.
When I started in the retail hifi industry I had a number of friends in the Scottish National Orchestra , mostly musicians and one condcutor. The conductor who was also a hifi buff told me to be very careful taking advice on sound from musicians as they all tend to be listening for their own instruments and consequently often have systems that are skewed to highlight what they hear at a performance :)
Peter would have been a great youtube audio reviewer. Somebody who has technical knowledge and listening skills. It is something we always look for in good audio reviewers.
Love this video...we should have more like this one...It gives us, hifi-enthusiast, more insight in the philosophy of a design/brand and what it wants to stand for. Specially now when 'the market'is moving towards online shopping and real auditioning in a local store becomes harder and harder to do. This combined with good reviews (also backup with what they stand for and what they prefer/like) will help a lot
Thanks, yeah I like to understand the philosophy of the designer.
Great stuff Thomas. Can't wait for this review. I spotted these in your room a few reviews back! Super interview, by the way :)
My first speakers as a lad were Wharfedale Diamond IVs.
Nice, glad you enjoyed it.
This designer is one smart individual!🤓 He really hit the nail on the head regarding the difference from his product for example Focal!😎 The higher end JBL product lines also know something about what he mentions in the interview! Especially Revel Brand products!🤪 Sonus Farber also knows a little bit about not giving you listening fatigue after a couple hours!
Yeah, I hope people don't take it in a wrong way but rather just a simple conversation between 2 audiophiles. I am a big fan of Focal so I know its strength and weakness.
Congratulation for interview. I have Elysian 4 y this material is historic for all fans like me thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
great interview! conclusion, if there was ever any doubt.. please listen to dynamic performances, dynamic music...jazz, classical, old rock, world music... music that has space to breath, that allows for nuances to show and shine. it is great when peter talks about old jazz and listening to dave brubeck! yes! find the joy of real music. music that also allows to listen to the space where it was recorded. otherwise, there really is no point in having fantastic speakers and amps, cd players, turntables and cables and dacs. if the music is way too compressed, like 95 % of present pop and rap is, and that is what you like... you might as well listen to it on your computer or your phone.
Best interwiev perhaps ever in HiFi aspect..... Thx for this upload.
Fall in love with the look of the speaker - so elegant and gorgeous! Look forward to the review!!!
I too grew up listening enjoying wharfedales and I'm now 70 yrs old, even today they impress me with their warmth, smoothness and affordability. I can only dream what these Elysians would sound like, sublime I am sure.
I am sure they will show it sound the world at audio shows, go check them out!
I agree with Mr Comeau 100%.
Would love to listen to this par of magnificant speakers. Too bad budget and roomsize is not there.
There is the 'bookshelf' version but still really expensive.
@Meeno Do My 905, 836v, 926, and 936 that I have owned, yes. My Kanta and Sopra 2 that I have owned, no. However, it does not matter because if I take my friend for example who owns Quad, he would. I hope that we can all understand that people have different tastes and I learn very early because I have met a lot of audiophiles. As such, it is ok to respect each other's opinions. There is no 'best' speaker, but there is the 'right' speaker for everyone.
Dear Thomas and Peter Comeau,
Today I will receive Elysian 4 colour Walnut Piano Finish. I hope will enjoy it for years. Thank's a lot for your review, Thomas, and for your desain, Peter Comeau. 🙏🙏
The shop has sent the Elysian 4,😁 now it is time to enjoy it. 🙏🙏
Did you at least audition it before buying? Also, you do have the room to accommodate it right?
Great interview Thomas! Really nice to hear from someone with so much history behind him.
Thomas you hit this one out of the park. And here is my opinion why. You didn't just babble-on with him about wharfedale speakers. You talked about other speaker manufacturers and opened him up. You have done something I've never seen a HiFi review or do. It would be awesome if you could do this with let's say Andrew Jones or maybe let's say focal audio.
Thanks, yeah it felt more like a casual chat than an actual interview for me.
Thomas - Fantastic interview. Mr. Comeau echoed a lot of things Herb Reichert said in his review of the Linton Heritage speakers. If he was with Mission in the 80's did he design the great 700 LE speakers? They are one of my favorites.
We still didn't get to hear anything material about the design of these seakers which intrigue me. Peter gave nothing away and this becomes a philisophical discussion.
I remember when starting out as a loudspeaker engineer myself, sitting down to an informal meeting with Peter with another industry associate. He was gentleman and very encouraging in discussion.
Reading between the lines he has used a crossover topology which minimises polar field differences at crossover which might imply low order crossovers or careful selection of drivers which have closely matched polar response at crossover plus careful attention to phase accuracy. This would minimise obvious attention on any individual driver over the frequency range. It can be done with 2nd order slopes too by limiting each driver to its most efficient operating area. Efficiency needs size and minimising crossover losses.
I'm a great believer in large capacity speakers and wider baffle widths for improved timbrel accuracy...music sounding more like music. Also very careful attention to the mids between 1 and 5 khz being kept under control...not raised to sound forward nir recessed to sound laid back but essentially well balanced at louder outputs. I design my own to behave in this way.
Must get a listen to these wharfedales.
Great interview! Great to hear a designer who wants to bring back,
large high efficiency drivers! Finally!
Too bad the Elysian are out of my price range, will definitely
Look at what else Wharfedale offers.
I wonder how the EVO series compare.
Thomas & Stereo I would be interested in Evo with 8-10” drivers.
When you go hi-end speakers, you just get both musicality but with the detail, just like your friend's Raidho D3. When possible Thomas try speakers with Accuton drivers (Marten, Tidal), detail but yet soo emotional, the diamond tweeters are also magical.
I support this suggestion with Accuton drivers. My favorites with them are/is Gauder Akustik (German brand), Marten was good as well.
I kept waiting for your portrait to turn into a speaker grill/matching grills ! 🤣🤣 J/K, This was well done and very informative. TY Thomas.
Thanks! Haha.
Thanks Thomas! I really enjoyed seeing and hearing the person behind the speaker. More of this please :)
Thanks, hopefully I get to do this more often.
What an amazing interview and guest. Great questions Thomas!.
I really enjoyed this interview. I would love to hang out with Peter and listen to some tunes on these speakers as he described doing with his friends. Sounds like a great time.
Helping a friend empty the basement of an old home, I was surprised to find an immaculate pair of Wharfedale MELTON II large monitors. My friend said, "Pitch 'em!" Yet, being an audiophile, I could not. Having too many loudspeakers at home, I gave them to my non-audiophile, but, music loving brother. Two months later, he calls me gushing about them, non-stop. Mind you, he's an EMT and not the "gushing" type. He now admits that my "stereo piles" are worth the time, money, and efforts. Great interview, Thomas. Current HiFi speakers: Lentek S4
Cool, let me read up on the Melton II and Lentek.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks, Thomas. Check out the Lentek S 4.
Changed my enjoyment of recorded music, by happenstance!
Long-time subscriber, great content. Sean's description of the Gershman Studio II just about nails how I believe the S4 sounds. Set them next to a pair of B&W Matrix 801's and all the salesman kept asking, "Where's all that deep, tight bass coming from?" The "listening within" midrange presentation is so natural and revelatory.
Always liked low powered SE tube amplifiers and efficient speakers, glad there is a strong advocacy for this. Great interview Thomas.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Dear Thomas, thank you for talking to him about other brands speakers, too.
Yeah, it was not meant to be an interview originally but a normal chat so that is why I had no problem talking about anything.
Wonderful interview, and some great insight on how music should be portrayed. Thanks Thomas!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm seriously considering these speakers and it's design is a huge part of it. It has the beauty of the high end sonus fabers at an affordable price.
Yup, the finishing is really amazing.
Loved this interview and brought me back to wanting these musical speakers. Thank you 🙏
Yeah, these are very musical.
I cant wait for this review! I am in the market for a new set of speakers soon and these are top of the list!
Did you get a chance to listen to it?
Thanks Thomas, great interview! Just enjoy the music... That's what it ALL about!!!
I have the Evo 4.2's, and spend many hours, just listening and enjoying! Loved your comment about "turning out the lights, and listening"!
I can "hear" what Peter references in his comments about Dave Brubeck, on my Evo 4.2's. A suggestion for your listening on these BEAUTIFUL Eylsian's (Not compatible with my listening room - 😢) - Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Recovery Blues!
Just close your eyes, and be taken away!
Nice, I most likely will eventually try out the Evo 4.2 also.
That is a very respectful philosophy they followed. One down side could be that a sizable quality cabinet costs a lot.
Hi Thomas, maybe you should consider reviewing the Elysian 2 or Evo4 series. And please bring this man back for a similar interview, he's a treasure!
The cut-backs to Thomas' headshot make this a surreal experience.
Lol. My headshot is Zoom inserting it in when I acknowledge Peter. I did not have my webcam so it used my profile picture.
Great interview, well done Thomas!
I do like the apprach Peter has to the design phase letting the last month be by ears mostly.
I am not sure i like the part of the interview where you bring up your fondness of Focal speakers although Peter handled that well. Bringing up other manufacturers products i think will put some on the defence.
An interview like this i belive would be better if the product being tested stand out on it’s merrits, good or bad.
All together, great to hear about the design of this fine speaker.
I would love to have a listen.
I'm very interested in Elysian 2 + C for my Home Theatre setup. I saw the Robertson review and he confirm that the sound is amazing. But the problem in a home theatre setting where that the High Gloss finish were reflecting a lot of light from the TV lowering the Visual enjoyment of movies. I can also see a lot of reflections on the speakers in this video. My question is if there is a possibility to custom order a satin finish instead of high gloss?
I've read many of Peter's articles in HiFi News, but it's great to hear him speak. There's so much commonsense spoken here.
I think Peter would like some of my posts about listening to music. Unfortunately I'm a nobody....
Share with us! I did not know Peter is famous!
Awwww, you're a somebody to me! :)
If music were simply the ability to analyse sounds as faithfully as possible as they are recorded at the source, then all the pleasures experienced by music lovers in the past have been illusions, and all our present pleasures are lies.
Indeed, what is comparable between the listening "systems" of 50 or 100 years ago and the best electronic tools of today?
And what is comparable between our most analytical current hifi systems and those that could theoretically be designed in 50 or 100 years?
Proof is made that music is above all a story of emotion, because through the senses of the body, music speaks directly to the soul...
Quality interview m8 , enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this interview, fantastic job Thomas
Glad you enjoyed it, it was not planned and I thought it was interesting enough for me to share.
@@ThomasAndStereo Too bad even the smaller Elysian is too big for my room
5:10 - 5:45 exactly my experience with and thoughts on Focal speakers, too! 👏🏼
Individual driver cabinets at this price point. I love the look, like a yacht! My end games are these, 100fs by paradigm or evoke 50s
Thank you for this Thomas
Everything Peter said I am 100 % just like that, I like to feel my music. He's the first designer I've heard say to let the sound draw you in to the music vs having it blasted at you. Those speakers are beautiful, wish I could hear them in person. Good vid, at first I didnt pick up on your face being flashed on screen for separating the cuts.... lol Got it.
Trying to focus on what Peter was saying about his speaker.
P.S. Room looks great.
Thxs Thomas
Hopefully one day at an audio show.
I did listen on RUclips but its never like the real thing. On RUclips they sound great... 👍
@@Musicman369 Ah my face flashing is simply the way Zoom was recording, everytime I acknowledge him, zoom changes to my screen but because I don't have a camera, it uses my profile picture.
No problem made alittle famous I guess.
Lol What's your first impression of them.
8.5 woofers I thought he stated 9s, but depends on the woofer material I guess since its fiberglass it must sound softer then my klipschs.
Focals highs must sound more like Klipschs...
Id love a pair of heybrook HB2 speakers...this is the guy who designed them.i love this channel.
Hi, Thomas, in Canada we have some really good speaker brands too (Totem, PSB, Paradigm, etc.). Could you please make a similar interview with one of them, like with the genious Paul Barton and his still relatively new flagship Imagine line (comparing to his precious flagship Synchrony line). That would be awesome, thanks.
Ohh my GOD !! I struggled with the Audiolab6000a review/PTH until AAV/Jam industries was nice enough to give me almost 3 months with it 😃 'British 'sound " Thanks Thomas those are Beast !!! You need my Sansui G 8000 for this one ! Thank Thomas !!!!!!!!i"m not kidding the Sansui is a beast !!! Pop the hood/trunk coming soon Sansui made some of the best audio transformers on the market back in the day !
Sansui would be nice to try. JAM? They are actually 40 mins away from me, I been there twice and actually know someone who is related to the owner.
@@ThomasAndStereo Jam Industries is a division of American Audio and Video Such a awesome company Thomas !
Joe is super cool his the Director of marketing, I have talked to Joe about when you said you'd maybe in the future be interested 😃 remb cdt6000 hehe
And i love me Sansui lots of high end shops in Japan pair the Sansui G with the likes of JBL 4434 4411 the big blue boys and some JBL Kendrick modified !
Peter mentioned that he wanted to “eclipse the Opus line “
And create something new and special
That speaker line (Opus) has been discontinued for at least 7years now
That means then the Opus 2 line has been there best speaker line for at least 12 years......
To me, it's the sound quality matched with the appearance of the speakers.
These are stunning looking speakers.
Speakers that can dive into the 30hz zone must be worth serious thinking about...
I also know you get what you pay for in most cases...
At 10 grand a set, sadly, way out of my price range!
It's a terrible situation for someone like me, retired, on a mega pension, will never be able to afford speakers of this quality...
I am a music lover, old school hifi enthusiast , but I constantly miss out on what I'm looking for simply because of money!
The weird thing is, I constantly punish myself by watching vids like this!
At 67 I don't yearn for much, but really miss out on the opportunity of owning quality of this standard...
Lifes a bitch, true words ... lol
Frank... UK...
Well the good thing today with budget gear, you can get amazing performance. Way better than what it used to be. Sure, there is a difference but...
@@ThomasAndStereo
Well said. With careful auditioning and planning, I believe it is possible to get 80-90% of the performance for much less, particularly if you don’t need high volumes and lots of low bass
Yes to higher efficiency, his comment on speakers being too laid back or forward is true to my ear. I owned a pair of IMF’S back in the 70’s , a great speaker , but a bit soft. I am a big fan of a internal powered sub with eq below 150 hz, the ability to dial in the bass is fantastic as each room is so different. Shame these did not take that route. Thanks for the video.😷
I wonder if the highs and lows are powered by 2 different amp, will they integrated perfectly? Rel also uses the signal from the amp to achieve excellent integration. If it is not, then the speaker might have a harder time to disappear. I have no idea, just thinking out loud.
@@ThomasAndStereo , yes , my Vandersteen 5 use the power amp out to drive the subs, there is a 6 dB filter at 100hz before the power amp . 11 bands of eq with an adjustment for Q . This sounds much better than line out to a sub. Rel makes a fine sub, wish they has eq.
@@ThomasAndStereo regarding subs, I have tried both line level and power amp direct to sub, in a hi Rez system it is easy to hear . So Rel and Vandersteen are doing it right, I think the new PS audio speaker is doing the same , but wit dsp in the bass only.
Great interview, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have been using the Wharfedale Diamond ranges for 20 years. My loudspeaker brand of choice. Plus NAD amplification.
Edward, you are so right ! I also have my Wharfedale's (OPUS 2 3) "running" on a NAD amplifier. I have had several Yamaha's, but what a difference with the NAD. They now sound like they should - what a joy to listen to them now!
@@frankvancalster678 Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 bookshelf speakers driven by a Yamaha AVR for me. I have only had this combination for less than 6 months and I bought my Yamaha AVR used and it didn't come with the YPAO room optimization mike that is used to set the speakers properly. Can you define a bit more what you mean by your speakers sounding as they should with the NAD amp?
A slight dip in the 2500-3500Hz area will pull back the vocal and the sound will be less fatiguing over time. Just happened to find this out by playing with the 2. order lowpass filter in my 2 way speaker.
Tubes... what draws us in and keeps us listening ...it's that instability...That warm instability 😊
Its so hard to pinpoint it. Tubes warmth, what is it? How do we explain it to someone who has never heard it?
My first Hifi speaker was Wharfedale Diamond 8.1, bought after i did a first freelance project as a student:) Replaced many speakers since then but maybe i should go back and check what Whatfedale has to offer these days:) EVO and Elysian are getting same great reviews!
Those Elysian 4 speakers are monsters. Not sure if I've seen bigger speakers in the same price point. I would think that you would need a very sizeable room for those.
Nice! Something to chew on before the review! Thanks Thomas for the content.
Hi Thomas. Very interesting interview and totally agree with Peter about how speakers should draw you into the music. I haven't found the right set-up yet but working on it. I want a grand piano to be in my living room. Sadly these Elysian's are too large for my room and too expensive for me, as they could be what I'm searching for. Thanks for sharing this video. 😊
Maybe the Evo with a sub?
@@ThomasAndStereo my room is 16' X 12' ish so I'm hoping the Elysian 2's may be more suitable or the Evo 4.4's. it depends on how far out from the back wall I need to place them.
@@steverees1936 Yeah, I am guessing it should be ok, might need bass traps.
@Chris hi Chris, sounds like I've a fair bit of work to do, but that's the fun in having an interest in hifi. Thanks for the info.
Now. this guy makes sense.
Intermittent Thomas pictures are totally unnecessary. Totally agree about the Focal speakers, I am an ex-importer/distributor and have heard all the major Focal models and I know there are several of us from the audio world that just do not understand the Focal voicing, I actually describe them as being painful. It’s very subjective I know but would love to hear these new Wharfedale’s.
My photo is Zoom inserting it in when I acknowledge Peter. I did not have my webcam so it used my profile picture.
Lovely conversation 👌
Really enjoyed the discussion
Thanks ! My first interview!
You did it like a pro
I've got a much-loved pair of wharfedale Jade 3's. They make some lovely speakers. I also understand the love of Focal. I have a pair of chorus 702's
Yup, I have like so many Focal speakers and I really like them too.
I agree on the efficiency importance and radiation surface , prefer even above 95db/w .....knowing that 90db is only 1% reference efficiency, you need 115db/w tot get around 50% efficiency...most speakers i hear compress dynamics ...
Hi Thomas, great interview, thank you! I just discovered these speakers and will look for an opportunity to give them a listen. Question for you: for someone looking for a middle ground between a Maggie 1.7 for soundstage and something clean and fast / dynamic like a Dynaudio, are these a good option? I find Revel f226be too brutally revealing (ruins the enjoyment in many recordings) and heard some $4k Vandersteens with a large woofer and while they sounded big, they were too muddy and warm for me (on a good class AB amp). ATC SMC40 for mids and and Esotar 3 equipped Dynaudio are my reference points but the low sensitivity of all of them are definitely a concern for low volume listening and amplifier wise.
Well the issue I see here is you mentioned muddy bass. If you are used to small drivers and want tight bass, then Elysian 4 might not be fast enough for you.
@@ThomasAndStereo Not what I was hoping to hear but thank you for responding.
Hello Thomas and greetings form sunny Malta ! this is a great video and shows class by wharfedale and yourself to be able to interview the designer, so interesting and full of insight information, I have a query though for a room of 12 by 12 feet do you think these would be an overkill.....? then maybe the elysian 2 would be more suitable ?
I think the Elysian 2 might be better.
IMF speakers were extremely special..esp the mentioned TLS 80s
Good point.
Not necessarily the model 80s, but I've been interested in the biggest versions.
The big narrow baffle, point source, W-M-T-M-W, with flanking LF drives were truly a technological tour de force.
Like probably everyone interested in audio, I loved their white paper shop drawings with cross sections and exploded views ... just straight up loudspeaker porn.
I've always wondered how good a fresh set of the big 4-way Reference TDLs or IMFs would sound ... properly powered and well set up.
I know they weren't sensitive at all ... compromises... Hoffman's Iron Law is a bitch!
Awesome. Thanks
Thomas before you conclude the Elysian speakers review please ask Wharfedale about Elysian drive failure rates. I had a woofer just start buzzing at less than 6 months of use and i believe this is just bad QC for a $9 k speaker. Nobody any talks about speaker reliability.
Are you talking about the Elysian or another Wharfedale speaker? To anwser these kind of question, someone will need to look into their repair data over a specific period of time. I have a degree in statistics so when I look at questions like these, I need actual company data for that. Forsure, there is failure but is it high failure rate? I did have another company told me they had to shut down a while because of quality control issues. Elysian would be too new to be able to extract any conclusive data at this point in my opinion. I personally suggest you email or call them to have a serious discussion on that if it is a concern, they might tell you the failure rate is only 1 percent for your line, data for me is specific and in this case, specific to the line.
Elysian 4 with bad woofer. Customer support is great but I worry about drives being less than reliable after my warranty
Your channel is great thanks
I have AR, JBL AND dynaco speakers from the 1970s that work and a 6 month old Elysian that does not
Man, that really is too bad. How do you find the sound? What do you like about it and what are you using to drive them. I am asking hoping to get your take before I make the video. Originally I thought it was a warm sounding speaker but the more I listen, the more I feel it's neutral.
Thomas & Stereo they need to be slightly louder than other speakers to sound good as I find them somewhat boring at lower levels but I had JBL HORN speakers previously. They have great neutral sound and sound stage when volume is slightly higher. Used tube amplifiers class d ps audio and Macintosh integrated
I'm curious about the sentence "listen fatigue is not exist for this speakers". What about a final review for Wharfedale Airedale Heritage?
Yeah, top end of these speaker are very smooth so you will not get listening fatigue with it. Wow, Heritage is over $30k!
Awesome interview!
Thanks, I should do more!
I don't know how they sound... but they look AMAZING!!!!!! Sonus Faber level!!
Even my wife said they look amazing and she never cares about my speaker.
Don't know how they sound but they sure look good.
Yup, my wife was impressed.
On m en avais parlé en1979 marque prometteuse.et toujours la😌
Elysian has outstanding build quality
Please review some of the other offerings from International Audio Group (IAG) that are on the market. Theres literally no good video reviews of the Quad Artera Pre, Audiolab 8300XP and Audiolab 8300MB telling anything about how they compare to other products, and a description of what they sound like :) Artera Pre for instance is affordable and has balanced in and out, but I could barely find out anything about it before I purchased.
I would be interested in checking out Quad actually.
Hi Thomas, pls do review of Legacy Focus SE. I'm interested to buy but read good review but forum indicate irregular opinions of every other 3-4 owners gave 5 stars with 2 stars. Highly irregular. Or pls help suggest best Speaker range $9K-15K. Thnk much
Wharfedale left an obvious hole in their Elysian lineup between the 2 and 4 models. That is, a 3 model floorstander designed for medium-sized rooms. Comeau acknowledges that this beautiful Elysian 4 giant is intended more for larger-sized rooms. I have to think they know about the missing product because they implied in their numbering convention that there is a place for a 3.
Fret not, you have the 1 2 3 and 4 now.
My first speakers,non Japanese, we're the diamond 3 bought in Singapore cause they were not available in mauritius hooked to rotel ra820bX2 .I had real sound . remember dark sound of the moon! I just love wharfedale. Unfortunately the elysian s are too expensive. I wish all you lucky owners many years of good listening.
For me the perfect Hi-Fi speakers would be those who present the details as studio monitors,but are twice as warm and twice as easier to listen for long period of time.
Hi! Can you share what is your short list (brand/model) are the closest to your ideal speaker? Thank you for sharing. Regards.
@@oliverolonan2556 I have JBL Studio 530,Epos ES14 and Spendor SP1.Those are classic old speakers which i like a lot and for me they are perfect.But for yourself you have to check personally,but i am sure %95 will like my speakers.
@@beslemeto With your list, yes now I understand why. I share your goal in the audio journey. Your speakers are excellent and reputable speakers. Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated.
@@oliverolonan2556 And you?What ones you own?
@@beslemeto Currently, a Magnepan 1.6 and Proac Tablette.
Hello Thomas, great, great interview. A center speaker would be wonderful with the Elysian 2. Any chance for that?
Yes an Elysian centre channel is in development.
Can the be used in a 25m2 room? And with a 30w tube amp
Hi Thomas. What do you think is a good amp/preamp/dac match for the Elysian 4 speakers? Maybe the Lumin? How about a tube pre-amp? Source bright/neutral/dark etc?
The sound changes a bit depending what you pair it with. My final setup was Burson Conductor 3 + Audio Research LS25 + Lumin AMP. With the Cayin CS100 and EL34, it was lean sounding but that is because of the AMP. It is quite versatile and I think because I like sharp, I tried pairing with shaper sounding gear but eventually went back to a more neutral setup to go with it.
@@ThomasAndStereo That does sound like a very interesting system! Thanks for you channel and feedback! :)
i agree focal are very analytical and its awesome
Yup, your Kanta 2 are amazing.
Full disclosure....I am the Wharfedale rep for Canada. I have been working in HiFi for most of my life and seen all manner of interview and review. I was wondering what kind of video this would be, and was delighted with the outcome. Thomas had the chance not just to share his impressions, but to hear the how and why behind them, as explained by our designer. Should you have any questions about Wharfedale, feel free to reach out to me, rich@zidelmarketing.com. I look forward to the review.
Rich Zidel I live in Vancouver BC,is that where you are located as well? I would most welcome hearing you speak or better yet meet you to hear what you have to say in regards to what might be upcoming,discontinued,used equipment, etc in the Wharfedale sphere. I am a huge fan of the Wharfefdale brand as well as a few of the others encompassing the "British sound". Mission,Kef,Bowers & Wilkens et el.
Moi même je possède des wharfedale Evo 4.2 et gens suis entièrement satisfait se sont des enceintes de très grande qualité acoustique
Your mhmmms are an emotional connection with me right now. I can't stop laughing its amazing
Hahaha. I know.
Whatever happened to Robin Marshall? Genius designer of Epos speakers