In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . Polk Audio Monitor XT60 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the EVO4.2 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT60 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT60 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk XT60 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that XT60 is a 2-way design whereas the EVO4.2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Polk XT60 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the EVO4.2 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.2's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
XT60 and EVO4.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the EVO4.2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, 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.
XT60 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the XT60.
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
EVO4.2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT60 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Polk XT60's and Wharfedale EVO4.2's external dimensions. Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm ( 36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.2 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm ( 17.9 x 9.8 x 13.7inch) .
Polk XT60 is 19mm narrower and 97mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.2 but it is also 474mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT60 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT60 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 Size and External Dimensions
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 Polk XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The XT60 requires 33% less surface area than the EVO4.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk XT60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.2?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual