In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.1 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.1 and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO4.1 | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Kevlar | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-22k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.1" x 8.2" x 11.6"
335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.1 and Focal Aria 906 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 EVO4.1 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| 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
Both EVO4.1 and Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO4.1Focal Aria 906
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 EVO4.1 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO4.1 has a frequency range of 64-22k Hz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Aria 906 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.1's min frequency of 64Hz.
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
EVO4.1 and Aria 906 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO4.1 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Aria 906's is at 89.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 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.
Aria 906 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas EVO4.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Aria 906.
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
EVO4.1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 906 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO4.1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO4.1 has a bottom firing port whereas Aria 906 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Aria 906 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 EVO4.1's and Focal Aria 906's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO4.1 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm (13.1 x 8.2 x 11.6inch) whereas Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is 18mm narrower and 56mm shorter than Focal Aria 906 but it is also 7mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.1 and Focal Aria 906 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.1 and Focal Aria 906 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 EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The EVO4.1 requires 6% less surface area than the Aria 906 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.1 and Focal Aria 906 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 EVO4.1 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Aria 906 11% heavier than the EVO4.1.
Here is a comparison of how EVO4.1 and Aria 906'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 EVO4.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO4.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
335mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
619cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
64-22k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.18x2.36" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
295.0mm (11.6") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,White |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Aria 906 costs roughly 2.8x what Wharfedale EVO4.1 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 | B | Focal Aria 906 digs deeper - 55Hz against 64Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale EVO4.1: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale EVO4.1 is cheaper - $799 against $2,198, about 64% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale EVO4.1 B Focal Aria 906
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?
Focal Aria 906 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 2.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale EVO4.1 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Focal Aria 906 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 64Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale EVO4.1 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO4.1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Focal Aria 906 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.