In this review, we will be comparing SONIK 3 and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK 3 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
DALI SONIK 3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 7" Wood fiber Woofer
- 47-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:6.42kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 351.0" x 7-7/8" x 12-1/16"( 351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO5.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 44-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:15.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 497.0" x 10.2" x 15.4"( 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI SONIK 3 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SONIK 3 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.
| Driver |
DALI SONIK 3 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SONIK 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fiber Woofer . 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
SONIK 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k 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 SONIK 3's min frequency of 47Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
SONIK 3 is a 6 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. SONIK 3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the EVO5.2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 3, 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. 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.
SONIK 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the SONIK 3.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SONIK 3 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SONIK 3 has a rear firing port whereas EVO5.2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI SONIK 3 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 DALI SONIK 3's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. DALI SONIK 3 has external dimensions of 351.0 x 201.0 x 307.0mm ( 13-13/16inch x 7-7/8inch x 12-1/16inch ) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm ( 19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4") .
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 146mm taller and 43mm deeper than DALI SONIK 3.
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 SONIK 3 is approximately 617.1cm2 / 95.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2. The SONIK 3 requires 32% less surface area than the EVO5.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.