In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation F2 and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation F2 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation F2 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 MartinLogan Foundation F2 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both MartinLogan Foundation F2 and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation F2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.5-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
MartinLogan Foundation F2 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter , a 5.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 330 Hz - 3600 Hz. 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
MartinLogan Foundation F2 has a frequency range of 36-23k Hz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the MartinLogan Foundation F2 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
MartinLogan Foundation F2
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation F2
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 F2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.4 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 MartinLogan Foundation F2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation F2 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the EVO4.4's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation F2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation F2
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
EVO4.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. MartinLogan Foundation F2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
MartinLogan Foundation F2 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 MartinLogan Foundation F2 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 F2's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. MartinLogan Foundation F2 has external dimensions of 1129.0 x 223.0 x 407.0mm ( 44-7/16inch x 8-3/4inch x 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 69mm shorter and 371mm less deeper than MartinLogan Foundation F2 but it is also 27mm wider.
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 F2 is approximately 907.6cm2 / 140.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation F2 requires 908% 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 MartinLogan Foundation F2 weighs 23.86kg / 52.5lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the EVO4.4 7% heavier than the MartinLogan Foundation F2.
Here is a comparison of how MartinLogan Foundation F2 and EVO4.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation F2
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
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
1060mm
vs
1129mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
907cm2 (223x407mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
MartinLogan Foundation F2 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
MartinLogan |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
36-23k Hz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5.5" |
2" |
Crossover Frequency |
330 Hz - 3600 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1129.0mm (44.4") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
223.0mm (8.8") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
407.0mm (16") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
23.86kg (52.5lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Satin White |
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 |