In this review, we will be comparing AE109 MII and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Acoustic Energy and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE109 Mark II and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE109 Mark II and Wharfedale EVO4.4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE109 Mark II and Wharfedale EVO4.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE109 MII and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
AE109 Mark II |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.2-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AE109 MII features a 1" fabric dome with waveguide Tweeter , a 5.2" Midrange and 1 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 275Hz and 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the EVO4.4 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
AE109 MII has a frequency range of 41Hz - 26kHz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the AE109 MII can go slightly deeper then the EVO4.4's min frequency of 44Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE109 MII is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.4 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE109 MII can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AE109 MII has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the EVO4.4.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AE109 MII has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.4 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to AE109 Mark II with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE109 Mark II's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. AE109 Mark II has external dimensions of 860.0 x 165.0 x 250.0mm ( 33.9 x 6.5 x 9.8inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.4 has external dimensions of 1060.0 x 250.0 x 36.0mm ( 41.7 x 9.8 x 1.4inch) .
AE109 Mark II is 85mm narrower and 200mm shorter than Wharfedale EVO4.4 but it is also 214mm deeper.
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 AE109 Mark II is approximately 412.5cm2 / 63.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The AE109 MII requires 358% more surface area than the EVO4.4 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 AE109 Mark II weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the EVO4.4 60% heavier than the AE109 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE109 MII and EVO4.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.4?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.4:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed) 4 Spikes (pre-installed) 4 Isolation pucks 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
860mm
vs
1060mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
412cm2 (165x250mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Acoustic Energy AE109 Mark II |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
41Hz - 26kHz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.2" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5.2" |
2" |
Crossover Frequency |
275Hz and 2.5kHz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
860.0mm (33.9") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |