In this review, we will be comparing Comete Ez and EVO4.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Esprit Comete Ez and Wharfedale EVO4.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Esprit Comete Ez | Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Fibreglass | 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-22k Hz | 54-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.30kg / 20.5lbs | 13.40kg / 29.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/4"
400.0 x 200.0 x 324.0mm | 17.9" x 9.8" x 13.7"
455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Esprit Comete Ez 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Triangle Esprit Comete Ez |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Comete Ez 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.
Triangle Esprit Comete EzWharfedale EVO4.2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Esprit Comete Ez |
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
|
Comete Ez features a 1" Titanium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fibreglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3500Hz. 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
Comete Ez has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz whereas EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the Comete Ez can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.2's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Comete Ez and EVO4.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Comete Ez sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the EVO4.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Triangle Esprit Comete Ez a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2, 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.
EVO4.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Comete Ez has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the EVO4.2.
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.
Triangle Esprit Comete Ez
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Comete Ez and EVO4.2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Comete Ez has a front firing port whereas EVO4.2 has a bottom firing ports. Triangle Esprit Comete Ez's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 Triangle Esprit Comete Ez's and Wharfedale EVO4.2's external dimensions. Triangle Esprit Comete Ez has external dimensions of 400.0 x 200.0 x 324.0mm (15-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/4inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.2 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm (17.9 x 9.8 x 13.7inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 55mm taller and 26mm deeper than Triangle Esprit Comete Ez.
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 EVO4.2 needs about 35% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO4.2 is 26mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO4.2 is 55mm 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 Triangle Esprit Comete Ez is approximately 648.0cm2 / 100.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The Comete Ez requires 26% less surface area than the EVO4.2 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 Triangle Esprit Comete Ez weighs 9.30kg / 20.5lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 44% heavier than the Comete Ez.
Here is a comparison of how Comete Ez and EVO4.2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Triangle Esprit Comete Ez
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
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
49 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
400mm
vs
455mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
648cm2
vs
875cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| General |
Triangle Esprit Comete Ez |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-130 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
49-22k Hz |
54-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibreglass |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
3500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
400.0mm (15.7") |
455.0mm (17.9") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
324.0mm (12.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
9.30kg (20.5lbs) |
13.40kg (29.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Triangle Esprit Comete Ez is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Triangle Esprit Comete Ez digs deeper - 49Hz against 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale EVO4.2 takes more power (120W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Triangle Esprit Comete Ez is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Triangle Esprit Comete Ez: bi-amping; Wharfedale EVO4.2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Triangle Esprit Comete Ez is cheaper - $899 against $1,199, about 25% less. |
A Triangle Esprit Comete Ez B Wharfedale EVO4.2
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Triangle Esprit Comete Ez the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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.