In this review, we will be comparing R7 and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R7 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF R7 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-250watts
- Weight:31.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1113.0" x 8" x 15-5/16"( 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO4.4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 44-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:25.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1060.0" x 9.8" x 1.4"( 1060.0 x 250.0 x 36.0mm )
What size room are the KEF R7 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:
| Listening Environment* |
KEF R7 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R7 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
Both R7 and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R7 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. 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
R7 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 R7'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
R7 and EVO4.4 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R7 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the EVO4.4's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.4 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R7, 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.
R7 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 R7.
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 R7 and EVO4.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale EVO4.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R7 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 KEF R7 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 KEF R7's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) 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 53mm shorter and 353mm less deeper than KEF R7 but it is also 50mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R7 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R7 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 Size and External Dimensions
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 KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The R7 requires 764% 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 KEF R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the R7 23% heavier than the EVO4.4.
Here is a comparison of how R7 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 KEF R7?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R7:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discs4 Screws4 WashersWrenchHex-keyUser ManualWarranty Information
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 |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1060mm
vs
1113mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
90cm2
vs
778cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R7 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-250 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 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 |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
389.0mm (15.3") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
| Weight |
31.40kg (69.1lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
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 |