In this review, we will be comparing Lumina I and EVO4.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina I | Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.75" paper cone | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-24k Hz | 64-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 5.8" x 8.4"
280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm | 13.1" x 8.2" x 11.6"
335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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* |
Sonus Lumina I |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Lumina I and EVO4.1 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina IWharfedale EVO4.1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina I |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas EVO4.1 has a frequency range of 64-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the EVO4.1 can go slightly deeper then the Lumina I's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
Lumina I is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the EVO4.1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina I can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina I sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the EVO4.1's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Lumina I is rated 30-100 watts and EVO4.1 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
Both Lumina I and EVO4.1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale EVO4.1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina I has a front firing port whereas EVO4.1 has a bottom firing ports. Sonus Lumina I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.1 with its rear-firing port.
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 Sonus Lumina I's and Wharfedale EVO4.1's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm (11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.1 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm (13.1 x 8.2 x 11.6inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 55mm taller and 82mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm2 / 48.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2. The Lumina I requires 49% less surface area than the EVO4.1 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 on a Media Console
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 Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.1 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the EVO4.1 77% heavier than the Lumina I.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina I and EVO4.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina I:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.1?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
280mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
315cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina I |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-24k Hz |
64-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
148.0mm (5.8") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
213.0mm (8.4") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 64Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Sonus Lumina I is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping; Wharfedale EVO4.1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is cheaper - $799 against $899, about 11% less. |
A Sonus Lumina I B Wharfedale EVO4.1
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?
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Sonus Lumina I if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO4.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sonus Lumina I is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale EVO4.1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.