In this review, we will be comparing Epicon 2 and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Epicon 2 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Epicon 2 | Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.14" Soft-Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.20" x 8.43" x 14.41"
386 x 214 x 366 mm | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Epicon 2 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.
DALI Epicon 2Wharfedale 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 |
DALI Epicon 2 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Epicon 2 features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. 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
Epicon 2 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go slightly deeper then the Epicon 2's min frequency of 47Hz.
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
Epicon 2 and EVO5.2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Epicon 2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the EVO5.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Epicon 2, 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 Epicon 2 and the Epicon 2 can provide this impedance level.
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.
Epicon 2 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Epicon 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
Epicon 2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.2 has a Binding post which doesn't 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 DALI Epicon 2's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. DALI Epicon 2 has external dimensions of 386 x 214 x 366 mm () whereas Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4").
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 46mm wider, 111mm taller and 25mm deeper than DALI Epicon 2.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale EVO5.2 needs about 30% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 25mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 111mm taller.
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 DALI Epicon 2 is approximately 783.2cm2 / 121.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 1016.6cm2 / 157.6inch2. The Epicon 2 requires 23% less surface area than the EVO5.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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