Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Cambridge SX-50 Comparison

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Wharfedale EVO4.2

Passive Bookshelf | 54-22k Hz

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Cambridge SX-50

Passive Bookshelf | 50-22k Hz

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Wharfedale EVO4.2

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Cambridge SX-50

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Wharfedale EVO4.2

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Cambridge SX-50

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Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Cambridge SX-50 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Cambridge Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Wharfedale EVO4.2	Cambridge SX-50
Brand	Wharfedale United Kingdom · founded 1932	Cambridge Audio United Kingdom · founded 1968
Design	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon)	1" Dome
Midrange	2"	—
Woofer	6.5" Kevlar	5.25" Treated paper
Frequency response	54-22k Hz	50-22k Hz
Sensitivity	88 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	25-120 watts	10-100 watts
Weight	13.40kg / 29.5lbs	3.00kg / 6.6lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	17.9" x 9.8" x 13.7" 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm	8.8" x 6.3" x 9.4" 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm

What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Cambridge SX-50 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 EVO4.2	Cambridge SX-50
Near-field	Poor	Average
Small Room	Average	Good
Mid-size Room	Good	Average
Large Room	Average	Poor
Very Large Room	Poor	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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO4.2 is a 3-way design whereas the SX-50 is a 2-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.

Wharfedale EVO4.2

Cambridge SX-50

TweeterMidrangeWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver	Wharfedale EVO4.2	Cambridge SX-50
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.18x2.36-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 2-inch	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

EVO4.2 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer.

Frequency Response

EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go slightly deeper then 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

EVO4.2

SX-50

Min

Average

Median

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

EVO4.2 and SX-50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO4.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the SX-50's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

EVO4.2

SX-50

Min

Average

Median

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 SX-50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 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.

Amplifier - change this

Distance

Playing as

Wharfedale EVO4.2

Cambridge SX-50

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

EVO4.2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SX-50 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

EVO4.2 has a bottom firing port whereas SX-50 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Cambridge SX-50 with its rear-firing port.

Cambridge SX-50 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 EVO4.2's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO4.2 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm (17.9 x 9.8 x 13.7inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm (8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch).

Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89mm wider, 230mm taller and 110mm deeper than Cambridge SX-50.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Cambridge SX-50 in scale.

Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Cambridge SX-50 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 EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm² / 135.6inch² and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm² / 59.9inch². The EVO4.2 requires 126% more surface area than the SX-50 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 EVO4.2 and Cambridge SX-50 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 EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 347% heavier than the SX-50.

Here is a comparison of how EVO4.2 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale EVO4.2

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO4.2:

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 Cambridge SX-50?

Here are the items that come with the SX-50:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
2 Grilles
8 Self-adhesive feet
2 Foam port inserts
Installation Guide

Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO4.2 over Cambridge Audio SX-50

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
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring	Yes vs No	Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio SX-50 over Wharfedale EVO4.2

Sensitivity	90 dB vs 88 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 54 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	225mm vs 455mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	386cm² vs 875cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	199USD vs 1199USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Cambridge SX-50 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Wharfedale EVO4.2	Cambridge Audio SX-50
Brand	Wharfedale	Cambridge Audio
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	25-120 watts	10-100 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	4 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	54-22k Hz	50-22k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Kevlar	Treated paper
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1.18x2.36"	1"
Tweeter Type	AMT (Ribbon)	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	2"	No
Firing Direction	bottom	rear
Physical Specs
Height	455.0mm (17.9")	225.0mm (8.9")
Width	250.0mm (9.8")	161.0mm (6.3")
Depth	350.0mm (13.8")	240.0mm (9.4")
Weight	13.40kg (29.5lbs)	3.00kg (6.6lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Wood-veneer	MDF/Woodgrain vinyl
Available Colors	Walnut,Black,White	Black
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	18-22"	28-31"
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

Verdict

These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale EVO4.2 costs roughly 6x what Cambridge SX-50 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	Cambridge SX-50 digs deeper - 50Hz against 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
Amplifier needs	B	Cambridge SX-50 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Headroom	evenly matched	Similar power handling (120W vs 100W).
Size	depends	Cambridge SX-50 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Expandability	A	Wharfedale EVO4.2: bi-amping. Wharfedale EVO4.2 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later.
Price	B	Cambridge SX-50 is cheaper - $199 against $1,199, about 83% less; arguably a different class.

A Wharfedale EVO4.2 B Cambridge SX-50
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?

Cambridge SX-50 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO4.2 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Cambridge SX-50 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO4.2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Cambridge SX-50 is the easier speaker to get right.

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.