In this review, we will be comparing Emit 10 and EVO5.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Emit 10 and Wharfedale EVO5.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Emit 10 | Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" MSP | 5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-25k Hz | 56-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.40kg / 14.1lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-7/16" x 6-11/16" x 10-11/16"
290.0 x 170.0 x 272.0mm | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Emit 10 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* |
Dynaudio Emit 10 |
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.
Drivers
Both Emit 10 and EVO5.1 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Emit 10Wharfedale 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 |
Dynaudio Emit 10 |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Emit 10 features a 1.1" Cerotar Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3700 Hz. 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
Emit 10 has a frequency range of 64-25k Hz whereas EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the EVO5.1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Emit 10's min frequency of 64Hz.
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
Emit 10 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the EVO5.1 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 EVO5.1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Emit 10 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the EVO5.1's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Emit 10, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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
Emit 10 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Emit 10 has a rear firing port whereas EVO5.1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Dynaudio Emit 10 with its rear-firing port.
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 Dynaudio Emit 10's and Wharfedale EVO5.1's external dimensions. Dynaudio Emit 10 has external dimensions of 290.0 x 170.0 x 272.0mm (11-7/16 x 6-11/16 x 10-11/16inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm (13.4" × 8.7" × 12.8").
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 50mm taller and 53mm deeper than Dynaudio Emit 10.
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 EVO5.1 needs about 55% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 53mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 50mm 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 Dynaudio Emit 10 is approximately 462.4cm2 / 71.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is approximately 715.0cm2 / 110.8inch2. The Emit 10 requires 35% 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 Dynaudio Emit 10 weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.1 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 25% heavier than the Emit 10.
Here is a comparison of how Emit 10 and EVO5.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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 |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
290mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
462cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Dynaudio Emit 10 |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
64-25k Hz |
56-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3700 Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
290.0mm (11.4") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
272.0mm (10.7") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| 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 |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.1 is the newer design, against a 2021 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 64Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Dynaudio Emit 10 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Emit 10 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Emit 10 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Dynaudio Emit 10 is cheaper - $799 against $999, about 20% less. |
A Dynaudio Emit 10 B Wharfedale EVO5.1
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?
Dynaudio Emit 10 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 64Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Dynaudio Emit 10 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Emit 10 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.