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Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Polk RTi A3 Comparison

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Wharfedale EVO4.2

Passive Bookshelf | 54-22k Hz

Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Polk RTi A3

Passive Bookshelf | 50-26k Hz

Polk Audio RTi A3
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Wharfedale EVO4.2 Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Polk RTi A3 Polk RTi A3
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Wharfedale EVO4.2
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Polk RTi A3
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Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Polk RTi A3 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and RTi A3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk RTi A3 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 )

Polk RTi A3 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer
  • 50-26k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-150watts
  • Weight:7.26kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.7" x 8.4" x 14.0"( 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk RTi A3 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 Polk RTi A3
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk RTi A3 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 RTi A3 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 Polk RTi A3
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 RTi A3 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.

Frequency Response

EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the RTi A3 can go slightly deeper then 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

EVO4.2
RTi A3
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale EVO4.2
Polk RTi A3
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 RTi A3 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 RTi A3's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

EVO4.2
RTi A3
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 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the RTi A3.

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 RTi A3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

EVO4.2 has a bottom firing port whereas RTi A3 has a back and front 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 Polk RTi A3'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 Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) .

Polk RTi A3 is 35.6mm narrower and 80.3mm shorter than Wharfedale EVO4.2 but it is also 5.6mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk RTi A3 in scale.

Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Polk RTi A3 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk RTi A3 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 Polk RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2. The EVO4.2 requires 15% more surface area than the RTi A3 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 Polk RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 85% heavier than the RTi A3.

Here is a comparison of how EVO4.2 and RTi A3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale EVO4.2
Polk RTi A3
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 Polk RTi A3?

    Here are the items that come with the RTi A3:
  • 2 Cherry bookshelf speakers
  • 2 Self-tapping screws
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owner's Manual
  • Template
  • Online registration sheet
  • Polk Audio product brochure

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale EVO4.2 over Polk Audio RTi A3
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio RTi A3 over Wharfedale EVO4.2

    Max Input Power 150 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Low Frequency Response 50 Hz vs 54 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 26k Hz vs 22k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Mounting Bracket Yes vs No Allows mounting on walls
    Height 374mm vs 455mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 762cm2 vs 875cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 465USD vs 1199USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Wharfedale EVO4.2 vs Polk RTi A3 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale EVO4.2 Polk Audio RTi A3
    Brand Wharfedale Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-120 watts 20-150 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 4 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 54-22k Hz 50-26k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Kevlar Polymer composite
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Butyl rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.18x2.36" 1"
    Tweeter Type AMT (Ribbon) Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 2" No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2800Hz
    Firing Direction bottom back and front
    Physical Specs
    Height 455.0mm (17.9") 374.7mm (14.8")
    Width 250.0mm (9.8") 214.4mm (8.4")
    Depth 350.0mm (13.8") 355.6mm (14")
    Weight 13.40kg (29.5lbs) 7.26kg (16lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-veneer Real wood veneer
    Available Colors Walnut,Black,White Black, Cherry
    Mounting Bracket No Keyhole
    Recommended Stand Height 18-22" 24-31"
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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