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Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Jamo S 803 Comparison

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Wharfedale EVO4.2

Passive Bookshelf | 54-22k Hz

Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Jamo S 803

Passive Bookshelf | 57-26k Hz

Jamo S 803
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Wharfedale EVO4.2 Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Jamo S 803 Jamo S 803
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Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Jamo S 803
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Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Jamo S 803 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and S 803, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Jamo S 803 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 )

Jamo S 803 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
  • 57-26k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 80watts
  • Weight:5.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 353.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"( 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Jamo S 803 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 Jamo S 803
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 Jamo S 803 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO4.2 is a 3-way design whereas the S 803 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 Jamo S 803
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-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 S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer .

Frequency Response

EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the EVO4.2 can go slightly deeper then the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.

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

EVO4.2
S 803
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale EVO4.2
Jamo S 803
Min
Average
Max

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 and S 803 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 S 803's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 803, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

EVO4.2
S 803
Min
Average
Max

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 S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 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

EVO4.2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 803 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Jamo S 803Post Terminals
Jamo S 803's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

EVO4.2 has a bottom firing port whereas S 803 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2 with its rear-firing port.

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 Jamo S 803'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 Jamo S 803 has external dimensions of 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm ( 13.8 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) .

Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 102mm taller and 98mm deeper than Jamo S 803.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Jamo S 803 in scale.

Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Jamo S 803 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Jamo S 803 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 Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The EVO4.2 requires 82% more surface area than the S 803 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 Jamo S 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 148% heavier than the S 803.

Here is a comparison of how EVO4.2 and S 803's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale EVO4.2
Jamo S 803
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 Jamo S 803?

    Here are the items that come with the S 803:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • User Manual
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO4.2 over Jamo S 803
    Max Input Power 120 watts vs 80 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 54 Hz vs 57 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose Jamo S 803 over Wharfedale EVO4.2

    High Frequency Response 26k Hz vs 22k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 353mm vs 455mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 481cm2 vs 875cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 229USD vs 1199USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Jamo S 803 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale EVO4.2 Jamo S 803
    Brand Wharfedale Jamo
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-120 watts up to 80 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 4 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 54-22k Hz 57-26k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5"
    Woofer Composition Kevlar Aluminized Polyfiber
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.18x2.36" 1"
    Tweeter Type AMT (Ribbon) Soft-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 2" No
    Firing Direction bottom front
    Physical Specs
    Height 455.0mm (17.9") 353.0mm (13.9")
    Width 250.0mm (9.8") 191.0mm (7.5")
    Depth 350.0mm (13.8") 252.0mm (9.9")
    Weight 13.40kg (29.5lbs) 5.40kg (11.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-veneer MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Walnut,Black,White Walnut, Black, White
    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

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