In this review, we will be comparing Olympica I and EVO5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Olympica I and Wharfedale EVO5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Olympica I | Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Paper | 6.5" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-40k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-250 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.00kg / 24.2lbs | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-9/16" x 8-1/4" x 14-9/16"
370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus faber Olympica I 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* |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Olympica I is a 2-way design whereas the EVO5.2 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.
Sonus faber Olympica IWharfedale EVO5.2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Olympica I features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300 Hz. 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
Olympica I has a frequency range of 57-40k Hz whereas EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Olympica I's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
Olympica I and EVO5.2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Olympica I sensitivity is rated at 87 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 Sonus faber Olympica I, 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 Olympica I and the Olympica I 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.
Olympica I can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Olympica I.
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
Olympica I features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.2 has a Binding post which doesn't 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 Sonus faber Olympica I's and Wharfedale EVO5.2's external dimensions. Sonus faber Olympica I has external dimensions of 370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm (14-9/16 x 8-1/4 x 14-9/16inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4").
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 127mm taller and 21mm deeper than Sonus faber Olympica I.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale EVO5.2 needs about 31% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 21mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.2 is 127mm taller.
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 faber Olympica I is approximately 777.0cm2 / 120.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO5.2 is approximately 1016.6cm2 / 157.6inch2. The Olympica I requires 24% 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 Sonus faber Olympica I weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the Wharfedale EVO5.2 weighs 15.05kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the EVO5.2 37% heavier than the Olympica I.
Here is a comparison of how Olympica I 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
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
370mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
777cm2
vs
1016cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1799USD
vs
6500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-250 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-40k Hz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.375" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300 Hz |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
497.0mm (19.6") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus faber Olympica I costs roughly 3.6x 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 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus faber Olympica I takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sonus faber Olympica I is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus faber Olympica I: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,799 against $6,500, about 72% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus faber Olympica I B Wharfedale EVO5.2
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?
Sonus faber Olympica I is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.6x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale EVO5.2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Sonus faber Olympica I appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus faber Olympica I the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO5.2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.