In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation B2 and EVO4.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Foundation B2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer
- 42-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 5ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:5.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 381.0" x 7-3/4" x 9-1/2"( 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO4.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 64-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:7.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 335.0" x 8.2" x 11.6"( 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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* |
MartinLogan Foundation B2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 and EVO4.1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation B2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-1/2-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
MartinLogan Foundation B2 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3800Hz. On the other hand, the EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz whereas EVO4.1 has a frequency range of 64-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the MartinLogan Foundation B2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.1's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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
MartinLogan Foundation B2 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation B2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the EVO4.1's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation B2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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.
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
EVO4.1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation B2's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale EVO4.1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MartinLogan Foundation B2 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2's and Wharfedale EVO4.1's external dimensions. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has external dimensions of 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm ( 15inch x 7-3/4inch x 9-1/2inch ) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.1 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm ( 13.1 x 8.2 x 11.6inch) .
MartinLogan Foundation B2 is 13mm narrower and 53mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.1 but it is also 46mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 is approximately 476.7cm2 / 73.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation B2 requires 23% less surface area than the EVO4.1 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 on a Media Console