In this review, we will be comparing Studio 690 and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 690 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Studio 690 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 JBL Studio 690 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Studio 690 is a 2-way design whereas the EVO4.4 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 |
JBL Studio 690 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Studio 690 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer . 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
Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Studio 690 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.4's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
Studio 690 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.4 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 690 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the EVO4.4's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 690 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.
Studio 690 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 Studio 690.
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
Both Studio 690 and EVO4.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Studio 690 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.4 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL Studio 690 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 JBL Studio 690's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. JBL Studio 690 has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm ( 43-1/8-inch x 11-3/4-inch x 15-1/16-inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.4 has external dimensions of 1060.0 x 250.0 x 36.0mm ( 41.7 x 9.8 x 1.4inch) .
JBL Studio 690 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 36mm taller and 347mm deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Studio 690 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 JBL Studio 690 is approximately 1145.2cm2 / 177.5inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The Studio 690 requires 1,172% 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 JBL Studio 690 weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the Studio 690 15% heavier than the EVO4.4.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 690 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 JBL Studio 690?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 690:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot-pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
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 |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
1498USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
1060mm
vs
1096mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
1145cm2 (299x383mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
JBL Studio 690 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
JBL |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
PolyPlas |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
383.0mm (15.1") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
29.45kg (64.8lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Wood, Dark Wood |
Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |