In this review, we will be comparing QX-1 MKII and EVO5.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission QX-1 MKII and Wharfedale EVO5.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission QX-1 MKII | Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Composite fibre | 5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-24k Hz | 56-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.20kg / 13.6lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 7-11/16" x 10-1/4"
280.0 x 195.0 x 260.0mm | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission QX-1 MKII and Wharfedale EVO5.1 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* |
Mission QX-1 MKII |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both QX-1 MKII and EVO5.1 are 2-way speakers.
Mission QX-1 MKIIWharfedale EVO5.1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission QX-1 MKII |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
QX-1 MKII features a 1.5" Textile Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz. On the other hand, the EVO5.1 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
QX-1 MKII has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the QX-1 MKII can go slightly deeper then the EVO5.1's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
QX-1 MKII and EVO5.1 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the QX-1 MKII and the QX-1 MKII can provide this impedance level.
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.
QX-1 MKII and EVO5.1 have the same power range of 25-100 watts.
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
QX-1 MKII features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.1'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 Mission QX-1 MKII's and Wharfedale EVO5.1's external dimensions. Mission QX-1 MKII has external dimensions of 280.0 x 195.0 x 260.0mm (11 x 7-11/16 x 10-1/4inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm (13.4" × 8.7" × 12.8").
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 60mm taller and 65mm deeper than Mission QX-1 MKII.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 needs about 41% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 65mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 60mm taller.
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 Mission QX-1 MKII is approximately 507.0cm2 / 78.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is approximately 715.0cm2 / 110.8inch2. The QX-1 MKII requires 29% less surface area than the EVO5.1 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 Mission QX-1 MKII weighs 6.20kg / 13.6lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.1 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 29% heavier than the QX-1 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how QX-1 MKII and EVO5.1'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 EVO5.1?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
280mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
507cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission QX-1 MKII |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-24k Hz |
56-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fibre |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
6.20kg (13.6lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| 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 |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale EVO5.1 costs roughly 2x what Mission QX-1 MKII 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 (55Hz vs 56Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Mission QX-1 MKII is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Mission QX-1 MKII: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Mission QX-1 MKII is cheaper - $499 against $999, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Mission QX-1 MKII B Wharfedale EVO5.1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Mission QX-1 MKII has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Mission QX-1 MKII the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Mission QX-1 MKII is the easier speaker to get right.
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.