In this review, we will be comparing Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and EVO5.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Aperion and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Wharfedale EVO5.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround | Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" | 5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-30k Hz | 56-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 Watts watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.90kg / 13lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12" x 9.5" x 5.4"
304.8 x 241.3 x 137.2mm | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Wharfedale EVO5.1 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* |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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
Both Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and EVO5.1 are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar SurroundWharfedale EVO5.1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround features a 1" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the EVO5.1 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround has a frequency range of 60-30k Hz whereas EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the EVO5.1 can go slightly deeper then the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
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
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and EVO5.1 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the EVO5.1's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO5.1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
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.
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround.
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.
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround features Binding post type posts and EVO5.1 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.1'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 Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround's and Wharfedale EVO5.1's external dimensions. Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround has external dimensions of 304.8 x 241.3 x 137.2mm (12 x 9.5 x 5.4inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm (13.4" × 8.7" × 12.8").
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is 35.2mm shorter and 147.8mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.1 but it is also 21.3mm 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 Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is approximately 331.1cm2 / 51.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is approximately 627.0cm2 / 97.2inch2. The Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround requires 47% less surface area than the EVO5.1 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 Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.1 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 36% heavier than the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround.
Here is a comparison of how Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and EVO5.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.1?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
304mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
331cm2
vs
627cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
949USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 Watts watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-30k Hz |
56-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
304.8mm (12") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
241.3mm (9.5") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
137.2mm (5.4") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.1 is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 digs deeper - 56Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.1 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 |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($949 vs $999 a pair). |
A Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
B Wharfedale EVO5.1
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?
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is the easier speaker to get right.
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.