WLM Ella MK2 Purifi Monitor – Compact Loudspeakers in Solid-Wood Cabinets

Austrian manufacturer Wiener Lautsprecher Manufaktur has updated its compact Ella loudspeaker, introducing the second-generation WLM Ella MK2 Purifi Monitor. The new model features a bass/midrange driver from Danish company PURIFI, a cabinet made from natural solid wood, and a traditional passive design intended for use with a separate amplifier.

The loudspeaker cabinets are manufactured from solid wood and undergo additional treatment designed to suppress unwanted enclosure resonances. According to WLM, the high structural rigidity helps reduce colouration and allows the drivers to operate under more stable conditions. The model will be available in three natural finishes: ash, cherry, and walnut.

The key change compared with the previous version is the new PURIFI bass/midrange driver. According to the manufacturer, it offers low distortion, improved cone control, and the ability to maintain accurate reproduction under significant loads. This should result in tighter bass, expressive midrange reproduction, and confident dynamics even at high volume levels.

The high-frequency range is handled by a two-inch cone tweeter with a paper diaphragm. A paper cone is also used in the main driver, which, according to the designers, contributes to a coherent and natural sound character. The specified frequency response of the WLM Ella MK2 Purifi Monitor extends from 45 Hz to 20 kHz at –3 dB. For a loudspeaker of this size, a lower limit of 45 Hz suggests sufficiently substantial and full-bodied bass reproduction.

The passive crossover uses a highly minimalist topology and is assembled from carefully selected components. Mundorf capacitors are employed in the crossover, while the internal wiring is made with Cardas cable. Connection to the amplifier is provided by substantial terminals machined from solid metal blanks. The minimal number of components in the signal path is intended to reduce electrical losses and preserve the phase coherence of the drivers.

Each loudspeaker measures 41 × 20 × 34 cm and weighs 8 kg. Despite its monitor format, the model is not intended solely for near-field listening. The manufacturer positions the Ella MK2 Purifi Monitor as a compact alternative to floorstanding loudspeakers for relatively small rooms where strong macrodynamics, a convincing sense of scale, and high power-handling capability are required.

As a recommended partner, the company names its own WLM Josef S amplifier. However, the passive design does not restrict owners in their choice of electronics and allows them to select a third-party amplifier according to the characteristics of the system and listening room. The recommended retail price of the WLM Ella MK2 Purifi Monitor loudspeakers in the European market is €9,800 per pair.