In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.1 and EVO4.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.1 and Wharfedale EVO4.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 12.1 | Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Mica-infused polypropylene | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 64-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.2" x 7.0" x 10.9"
312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm | 13.1" x 8.2" x 11.6"
335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 12.1 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* |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
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 Diamond 12.1 and EVO4.1 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 12.1Wharfedale 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 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Diamond 12.1 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.1 has a frequency range of 65-20k 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 Diamond 12.1'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
Diamond 12.1 and EVO4.1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the EVO4.1's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 12.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.1, 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 Diamond 12.1 is rated 20-100 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 Diamond 12.1 and EVO4.1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO4.1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 12.1 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale 12.1 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 Wharfedale 12.1's and Wharfedale EVO4.1's external dimensions. Wharfedale 12.1 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (12.2 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) 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 30mm wider, 23mm taller and 17mm deeper than Wharfedale 12.1.
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 12.1 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2. The Diamond 12.1 requires 19% less surface area than the EVO4.1 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 Wharfedale 12.1 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.1 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the EVO4.1 15% heavier than the Diamond 12.1.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.1 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 Wharfedale 12.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
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
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
312mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
64-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.0mm (12.3") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale EVO4.1 costs roughly 1.8x what Wharfedale 12.1 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 64Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale 12.1 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale 12.1: bi-amping; Wharfedale EVO4.1: bi-amping. Wharfedale 12.1 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale 12.1 is cheaper - $449 against $799, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale 12.1 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $350 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.