In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale EVO4.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 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 )
ELAC Carina BS243.4 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:6.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"( 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO4.2 is a 3-way design whereas the Carina BS243.4 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.
| Driver |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|
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 Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.2's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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
EVO4.2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO4.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, 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. 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.
EVO4.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina BS243.4 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
Both EVO4.2 and Carina BS243.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both EVO4.2 and Carina BS243.4 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 EVO4.2's and ELAC Carina BS243.4'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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 134mm taller and 103mm deeper than ELAC Carina BS243.4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The EVO4.2 requires 73% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.