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Wharfedale D320 vs Wharfedale EVO4.2 Comparison

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Wharfedale D320

Passive Bookshelf | 56-20k Hz

Wharfedale D320
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Wharfedale EVO4.2

Passive Bookshelf | 54-22k Hz

Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Wharfedale D320 Wharfedale D320
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Wharfedale EVO4.2 Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Wharfedale D320
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Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Wharfedale D320 vs Wharfedale EVO4.2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D320 and EVO4.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D320 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:6.02kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"( 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm )

Wharfedale EVO4.2 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
  • 2" Midrange
  • 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
  • 2" Midrange
  • 54-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-120watts
  • Weight:13.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 455.0" x 9.8" x 13.7"( 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D320 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* Wharfedale D320 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale D320 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 D320 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 Wharfedale D320 Wharfedale EVO4.2
Driver Setup 2-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1.18x2.36-inch
Midrange - 1 x 2-inch
Woofer 1 x 5-inch 1 x 6.5-inch

D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar 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

D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the EVO4.2 can go slightly deeper then the D320's min frequency of 56Hz.

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

D320
EVO4.2
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D320
Wharfedale EVO4.2
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

D320 and EVO4.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the EVO4.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D320, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

D320
EVO4.2
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.

D320 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D320 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the EVO4.2.

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. D320 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D320 Terminals
Wharfedale D320's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both D320 and EVO4.2 have bottom firing ports.

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 Wharfedale D320's and Wharfedale EVO4.2's external dimensions. Wharfedale D320 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) 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 69mm wider, 134mm taller and 73mm deeper than Wharfedale D320.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 in scale.

Wharfedale D320 vs Wharfedale EVO4.2 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 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 Wharfedale D320 is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The D320 requires 43% less surface area than the EVO4.2 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:

Wharfedale D320 vs Wharfedale EVO4.2 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 Wharfedale D320 weighs 6.02kg / 13.2lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 123% heavier than the D320.

Here is a comparison of how D320 and EVO4.2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale D320
Wharfedale EVO4.2
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale D320?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of D320:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
  • 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
  • User-feets Manual
  • Installation Guide
  • 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

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale D320 over Wharfedale EVO4.2
    Height 321mm vs 455mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 501cm2 vs 875cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 249USD vs 1199USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO4.2 over Wharfedale D320

    Max Input Power 120 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    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
    Minimum Impedance 4 ohms vs 3.8 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 54 Hz vs 56 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 22k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Wharfedale D320 vs Wharfedale EVO4.2 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale D320 Wharfedale EVO4.2
    Brand Wharfedale Wharfedale
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-100 watts 25-120 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.8 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 56-20k Hz 54-22k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material Foamed Polyether Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1.18x2.36"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome AMT (Ribbon)
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 2"
    Firing Direction bottom bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 321.0mm (12.6") 455.0mm (17.9")
    Width 181.0mm (7.1") 250.0mm (9.8")
    Depth 277.0mm (10.9") 350.0mm (13.8")
    Weight 6.02kg (13.2lbs) 13.40kg (29.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Wood-veneer
    Available Colors Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut Walnut,Black,White
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 22-24" 18-22"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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