DALI Rubikore 2 vs Wharfedale EVO5.2 Comparison

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DALI Rubikore 2

Passive Bookshelf | 50-26k Hz

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Wharfedale EVO5.2

Passive Bookshelf | 44-24k Hz

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DALI Rubikore 2

Check price atAmazon›

Wharfedale EVO5.2

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DALI Rubikore 2

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Wharfedale EVO5.2

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DALI Rubikore 2 vs Wharfedale EVO5.2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Rubikore 2 and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Wharfedale.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of DALI Rubikore 2 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	DALI Rubikore 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	50-26k Hz	44-24k Hz
Sensitivity	87 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	4 ohms
Power range	40-150 watts	25-120 watts
Weight	—	15.05kg / 33.1lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	13.78" x 7.68" x 13.19" 350 x 195 x 335 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 Rubikore 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 Rubikore 2

Wharfedale 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 Rubikore 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

Rubikore 2 features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. 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

Rubikore 2 has a frequency range of 50-26k 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 Rubikore 2's min frequency of 50Hz.

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

Rubikore 2

EVO5.2

Min

Average

Median

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

Rubikore 2 and EVO5.2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Rubikore 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 Rubikore 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 Rubikore 2 and the Rubikore 2 can provide this impedance level.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Rubikore 2

EVO5.2

Min

Average

Median

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.

Rubikore 2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Rubikore 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.

Amplifier - change this

Distance

Playing as

DALI Rubikore 2

Wharfedale EVO5.2

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Rubikore 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 Rubikore 2's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. DALI Rubikore 2 has external dimensions of 350 x 195 x 335 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 65mm wider, 147mm taller and 56mm deeper than DALI Rubikore 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 56% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 56mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 147mm 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 Rubikore 2 is approximately 653.2cm² / 101.2inch² and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 1016.6cm² / 157.6inch². The Rubikore 2 requires 36% 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

Reasons to choose DALI Rubikore 2 over Wharfedale EVO5.2

Max Input Power	150 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
High Frequency Response	26k Hz vs 24k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring	Yes vs No	Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
Height	350mm vs 497mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	653cm² vs 1016cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO5.2 over DALI Rubikore 2

Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity	88 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Low Frequency Response	44 Hz vs 50 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Price per pair*	1799USD vs 4500USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

DALI Rubikore 2 vs Wharfedale EVO5.2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	DALI Rubikore 2	Wharfedale EVO5.2
Brand	DALI	Wharfedale
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	40-150 watts	25-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	4 ohms
Impedance	n/a	3.2 ohms
Frequency Response	50-26k Hz	44-24k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	Wood fibre	woven Kevlar
Woofer Surround Material	n/a	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1.14"	1.375"
Tweeter Type	Soft-Dome	AMT (Ribbon)
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	2"
Crossover Frequency	2800Hz	800 Hz and 4.3 kHz
Firing Direction	n/a	bottom
Physical Specs
Height	350.0mm (13.8")	497.0mm (19.6")
Width	195.0mm (7.7")	260.0mm (10.2")
Depth	335.0mm (13.2")	391.0mm (15.4")
Weight	n/a	15.05kg (33.1lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	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	Yes	No
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years

Verdict

These sit in different price classes - DALI Rubikore 2 costs roughly 2.5x 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 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
Amplifier needs	evenly matched	Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power.
Headroom	A	DALI Rubikore 2 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room.
Size	depends	DALI Rubikore 2 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Expandability	A	DALI Rubikore 2: bi-amping.
Price	B	Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,799 against $4,500, about 60% less; arguably a different class.

A DALI Rubikore 2 B Wharfedale EVO5.2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?

DALI Rubikore 2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 2.5x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale EVO5.2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the DALI Rubikore 2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Rubikore 2 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.