In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO4.2 | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Kevlar | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-22k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.40kg / 29.5lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.9" x 9.8" x 13.7"
455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm | 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 EVO4.2 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 EVO4.2 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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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 Aria 906 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 EVO4.2Focal Aria 906
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 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
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 6.5-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 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
EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the EVO4.2 can go slightly deeper then the Aria 906's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
EVO4.2 and Aria 906 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 Aria 906's is at 89.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2, 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.
EVO4.2 and Aria 906 have the same power range of 25-120 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
EVO4.2 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.
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO4.2 has a bottom firing port whereas Aria 906 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 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 EVO4.2's and Focal Aria 906'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 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 EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 64mm taller and 62mm deeper than Focal Aria 906.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Focal Aria 906 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The EVO4.2 requires 33% more surface area than the Aria 906 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 55% heavier than the Aria 906.
Here is a comparison of how EVO4.2 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 EVO4.2?
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 Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
54 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
391mm
vs
455mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2
vs
875cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-22k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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 |
2" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
455.0mm (17.9") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
13.40kg (29.5lbs) |
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 |
18-22" |
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 1.8x what Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 (54Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Focal Aria 906 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. |
| Price |
A |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is cheaper - $1,199 against $2,198, about 45% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale EVO4.2
B Focal Aria 906
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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. 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, Focal Aria 906 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Aria 906 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.