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Sonus Lumina I vs Wharfedale EVO4.1 Comparison

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Sonus Lumina I

Passive Bookshelf | 65-24k Hz

Sonus Faber Lumina I
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Wharfedale EVO4.1

Passive Bookshelf | 64-22k Hz

Wharfedale EVO4.1
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Sonus Lumina I Sonus Lumina I
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Wharfedale EVO4.1 Wharfedale EVO4.1
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Sonus Lumina I
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Wharfedale EVO4.1
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Sonus Lumina I vs Wharfedale EVO4.1 Speaker Comparison

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.

Sonus Lumina I Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
  • 4.75" paper cone Woofer
  • 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:30-100watts
  • Weight:4.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 5.8" x 8.4"( 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm )

Wharfedale EVO4.1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
  • 5" Kevlar Woofer
  • 64-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:7.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 335.0" 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina I and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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

Both Lumina I and EVO4.1 are 2-way speakers.

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.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Lumina I
EVO4.1
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Lumina I
Wharfedale EVO4.1
Min
Average
Max

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

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

Lumina I
EVO4.1
Min
Average
Max

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.

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 Lumina I and EVO4.1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Sonus Lumina I Terminals
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Wharfedale EVO4.1 Terminals
Wharfedale EVO4.1's 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

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 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.

Sonus Lumina I vs Wharfedale EVO4.1 Size Comparison - Front View
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 an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Sonus Lumina I vs Wharfedale EVO4.1 Size Comparison on a Media Console
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
Sonus Lumina I
Wharfedale EVO4.1
Min
Average
Max

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

  • Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Lumina I over Wharfedale EVO4.1
    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

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO4.1 over Sonus Faber Lumina I

    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)
    Sonus Lumina I vs Wharfedale EVO4.1 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

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