In this review, we will be comparing Chora 826-D and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 826-D and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Chora 826-D and Wharfedale EVO4.4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Chora 826-D and Wharfedale EVO4.4 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
Both Chora 826-D and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Chora 826-D |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Chora 826-D features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the EVO4.4 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Chora 826-D has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO4.4 can go slightly deeper then the Chora 826-D's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Chora 826-D and EVO4.4 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chora 826-D sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the EVO4.4's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Chora 826-D a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Chora 826-D can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.4 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Chora 826-D.
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
EVO4.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chora 826-D has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chora 826-D has a front firing port whereas EVO4.4 has a bottom firing ports. Focal Chora 826-D's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.4 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 Focal Chora 826-D's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. Focal Chora 826-D has external dimensions of 1053.0 x 305.0 x 420.0mm ( 41-7/16 x 12 x 16-1/2inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.4 has external dimensions of 1060.0 x 250.0 x 36.0mm ( 41.7 x 9.8 x 1.4inch) .
Wharfedale EVO4.4 is 55mm narrower and 384mm less deeper than Focal Chora 826-D but it is also 7mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chora 826-D and Wharfedale EVO4.4 in scale.
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 Focal Chora 826-D is approximately 1281.0cm2 / 198.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The Chora 826-D requires 1,323% more surface area than the EVO4.4 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Focal Chora 826-D weighs 22.20kg / 48.8lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the EVO4.4 15% heavier than the Chora 826-D.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 826-D and EVO4.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Chora 826-D?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chora 826-D:
Dolby-Atmos enabled floorstanding loudspeakerBase4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Screws4 WashersHex-key2 GrillesUser manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.4?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.4:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed) 4 Spikes (pre-installed) 4 Isolation pucks 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5-1/8
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
1053mm
vs
1060mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
2.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
1281cm2 (305x420mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
2998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Focal Chora 826-D |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
Focal |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
40-250 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
2" |
Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1053.0mm (41.5") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
305.0mm (12") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
22.20kg (48.8lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |