In this review, we will be comparing ZX-5 and EVO5.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Mission and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission ZX-5 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission ZX-5 | Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 5.25" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminium | 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-24k Hz | 42-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 31.20kg / 68.6lbs | 31.27kg / 68.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/2" x 10-7/16" x 16-1/4"
1155.0 x 265.0 x 412.0mm | 40.5" x 11.9" x 15.4"
1028.0 x 302.0 x 391.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission ZX-5 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 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* |
Mission ZX-5 |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both ZX-5 and EVO5.4 are 3-way speakers.
Mission ZX-5Wharfedale EVO5.4
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission ZX-5 |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
ZX-5 features a 1.5" Silk Ring Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 570Hz,2.5kHz. On the other hand, the EVO5.4 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.1 kHz and 4 kHz.
Frequency Response
ZX-5 has a frequency range of 36-24k Hz whereas EVO5.4 has a frequency range of 42-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the ZX-5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO5.4's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
ZX-5 and EVO5.4 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ZX-5 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the EVO5.4's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Mission ZX-5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO5.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 ZX-5 and the ZX-5 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
ZX-5 and EVO5.4 have the same power range of 30-200 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
ZX-5 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.4 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.4'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 ZX-5's and Wharfedale EVO5.4's external dimensions. Mission ZX-5 has external dimensions of 1155.0 x 265.0 x 412.0mm (45-1/2 x 10-7/16 x 16-1/4inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.4 has external dimensions of 1028.0 x 302.0 x 391.0mm (40.5" × 11.9" × 15.4").
Wharfedale EVO5.4 is 127mm shorter and 21mm less deeper than Mission ZX-5 but it is also 37mm wider.
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 EVO5.4 needs about 8% more floor or shelf area. Mission ZX-5 is 21mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Mission ZX-5 is 127mm 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 ZX-5 is approximately 1091.8cm2 / 169.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.4 is approximately 1180.8cm2 / 183.0inch2. The ZX-5 requires 8% less surface area than the EVO5.4 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 ZX-5 weighs 31.20kg / 68.6lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.4 weighs 31.27kg / 68.8lbs. This makes the EVO5.4 0% heavier than the ZX-5.
Here is a comparison of how ZX-5 and EVO5.4'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 Wharfedale EVO5.4?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.4:
- 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 |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1091cm2
vs
1180cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1028mm
vs
1155mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Mission ZX-5 |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-24k Hz |
42-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium |
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 |
5.25" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
570Hz,2.5kHz |
1.1 kHz and 4 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1155.0mm (45.5") |
1028.0mm (40.5") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Depth |
412.0mm (16.2") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Weight |
31.20kg (68.6lbs) |
31.27kg (68.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.4 is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Mission ZX-5 digs deeper - 36Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Mission ZX-5: bi-amping. Mission ZX-5 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,199 vs $2,199 a pair). |
A Mission ZX-5 B Wharfedale EVO5.4
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 ZX-5 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Mission ZX-5 the better fit for a very large room, and Wharfedale EVO5.4 for a mid-size room.
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.