In this review, we will be comparing SCM19 and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ATC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM19 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM19 | Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.98" | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-22k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75 to 300 Watts watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.80kg / 39.2lbs | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.24" x 10.43" x 11.81"
438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ATC SCM19 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SCM19 is a 2-way design whereas the EVO5.2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
ATC SCM19Wharfedale EVO5.2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.98-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SCM19 features a 0.98" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the EVO5.2 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz and 4.3 kHz.
Frequency Response
SCM19 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SCM19's min frequency of 54Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SCM19 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the EVO5.2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the EVO5.2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SCM19 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the EVO5.2's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC SCM19, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
EVO5.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas SCM19 has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 120 watts less than the EVO5.2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SCM19 features Binding post type posts and EVO5.2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.2's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ATC SCM19's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. ATC SCM19 has external dimensions of 438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm (17.24 x 10.43 x 11.81inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4").
ATC SCM19 is 59mm shorter and 50mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.2 but it is also 5mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ATC SCM19 is approximately 795.0cm2 / 123.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2. The SCM19 requires 13% less surface area than the EVO5.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ATC SCM19 weighs 17.80kg / 39.2lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.2 weighs 15.05kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the SCM19 18% heavier than the EVO5.2.
Here is a comparison of how SCM19 and EVO5.2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.2?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
438mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
795cm2
vs
910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.91 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
3749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Brand |
ATC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
75 to 300 Watts watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-22k Hz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.98" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.5kHz |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
438.0mm (17.2") |
497.0mm (19.6") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
17.80kg (39.2lbs) |
15.05kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ATC SCM19 costs roughly 2.9x what Wharfedale EVO5.2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 digs deeper - 44Hz against 54Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
ATC SCM19 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size |
depends |
ATC SCM19 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,299 against $3,749, about 65% less; arguably a different class. |
A ATC SCM19
B Wharfedale EVO5.2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Wharfedale EVO5.2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate ATC SCM19 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO5.2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.