In this review, we will be comparing R4s Surround and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Perlisten and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten R4s Surround and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten R4s Surround | Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-32k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50 - 200W RMS SPL Capability @1m(100-20kHz) 109.5dB peak <3% - 2nd, 3rd Harmonics Certification THX Certified Ultra (Surround) watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.50kg / 20.9lbs | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.88" x 9.06" x 6.81"
378.0 x 230.1 x 173.0mm | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten R4s Surround and Wharfedale EVO5.2 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* |
Perlisten R4s Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both R4s Surround and EVO5.2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Perlisten R4s Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R4s Surround features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the EVO5.2 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz and 4.3 kHz.
Frequency Response
R4s Surround has a frequency range of 48-32k Hz whereas EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go slightly deeper then the R4s Surround's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
R4s Surround and EVO5.2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R4s Surround sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the EVO5.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Perlisten R4s Surround, 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 R4s Surround and the R4s Surround 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.
EVO5.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas R4s Surround has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 120 watts less than the EVO5.2.
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
R4s Surround features Binding post type posts and EVO5.2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.2'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 Perlisten R4s Surround's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. Perlisten R4s Surround has external dimensions of 378.0 x 230.1 x 173.0mm (14.88 x 9.06 x 6.81inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4").
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 29.9mm wider, 119mm taller and 177mm deeper than Perlisten R4s Surround.
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 Perlisten R4s Surround is approximately 398.1cm2 / 61.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2. The R4s Surround requires 56% less surface area than the EVO5.2 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 Perlisten R4s Surround weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.2 weighs 15.05kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the EVO5.2 58% heavier than the R4s Surround.
Here is a comparison of how R4s Surround and EVO5.2'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 EVO5.2?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
378mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
398cm2
vs
910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
4390USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Perlisten R4s Surround |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50 - 200W RMS SPL Capability @1m(100-20kHz) 109.5dB peak <3% - 2nd, 3rd Harmonics Certification THX Certified Ultra (Surround) watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-32k Hz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
378.0mm (14.9") |
497.0mm (19.6") |
| Width |
230.1mm (9.1") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
173.0mm (6.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
15.05kg (33.1lbs) |
| 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 |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Perlisten R4s Surround costs roughly 3.4x what Wharfedale EVO5.2 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 |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 digs deeper - 44Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size |
depends |
Perlisten R4s Surround is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
B |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,299 against $4,390, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A Perlisten R4s Surround
B Wharfedale EVO5.2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Wharfedale EVO5.2 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 Perlisten R4s Surround the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO5.2 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Perlisten R4s Surround 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.