In this review, we will be comparing C7ES-3 XD2 and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Harbeth and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 | Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" RADIAL | 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.20kg / 29lbs | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 20-1/2" x 10-11/16" x 12"
520.0 x 272.0 x 305.0mm | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 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* |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that C7ES-3 XD2 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.
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2Wharfedale 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 |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
C7ES-3 XD2 features a 1" Ferrofluid-cooled dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" RADIAL 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
C7ES-3 XD2 has a frequency range of 45-20k 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 C7ES-3 XD2's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
C7ES-3 XD2 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. C7ES-3 XD2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the EVO5.2's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
C7ES-3 XD2 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 C7ES-3 XD2.
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
C7ES-3 XD2 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
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 Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 has external dimensions of 520.0 x 272.0 x 305.0mm (20-1/2 x 10-11/16 x 12inch) 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 12mm narrower and 23mm shorter than Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 but it is also 45mm deeper.
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 Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is approximately 829.6cm2 / 128.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2. The C7ES-3 XD2 requires 9% less surface area than the EVO5.2 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 Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.2 weighs 15.05kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the EVO5.2 14% heavier than the C7ES-3 XD2.
Here is a comparison of how C7ES-3 XD2 and EVO5.2'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 EVO5.2?
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
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
829cm2
vs
910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
497mm
vs
520mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
5290USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Brand |
Harbeth |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
RADIAL |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
520.0mm (20.5") |
497.0mm (19.6") |
| Width |
272.0mm (10.7") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
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 |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 costs roughly 4.1x 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 |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (45Hz vs 44Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
A |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,299 against $5,290, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2
B Wharfedale EVO5.2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 75% more. 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 Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO5.2 for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale EVO5.2 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.