In this review, we will be comparing 800F and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Paradigm and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 800F and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Paradigm 800F 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 Paradigm 800F 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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Drivers
Both 800F and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Paradigm 800F |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
800F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer . 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
800F has a frequency range of 43-25k Hz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the 800F can go slightly deeper then 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
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
800F and EVO4.4 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 800F sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the EVO4.4's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Paradigm 800F a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.4, 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.
800F 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 800F.
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 800F and EVO4.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
800F 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 Paradigm 800F 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 Paradigm 800F's and Wharfedale EVO4.4's external dimensions. Paradigm 800F has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 235.0 x 353.0mm ( 42-1/8 x 9-1/4 x 13-7/8inch) 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 10mm shorter and 317mm less deeper than Paradigm 800F but it is also 15mm 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 Paradigm 800F is approximately 829.6cm2 / 128.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The 800F requires 822% 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 Paradigm 800F weighs 24.27kg / 53.4lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the EVO4.4 5% heavier than the 800F.
Here is a comparison of how 800F 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 Paradigm 800F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 800F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
Grille
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
4 Hex-nuts
2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions
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 |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
43 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1060mm
vs
1070mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
829cm2 (235x353mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Paradigm Premier 800F |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
Paradigm |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
15-250 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
43-25k Hz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
2" |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1070.0mm (42.1") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
235.0mm (9.3") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
24.27kg (53.4lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
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 |