In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.2 and TSi100, 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 TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO4.2 | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Kevlar | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-22k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.40kg / 29.5lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.9" x 9.8" x 13.7"
455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk TSi100 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 TSi100 |
| 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 TSi100 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 EVO4.2Polk TSi100
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 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
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 TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the EVO4.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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 TSi100 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 TSi100's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 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 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas TSi100 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
EVO4.2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO4.2 has a bottom firing port whereas TSi100 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 Polk TSi100 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 Polk TSi100'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 TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72.2mm wider, 175.6mm taller and 91mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk TSi100 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.2 and Polk TSi100 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 TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The EVO4.2 requires 90% more surface area than the TSi100 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 Polk TSi100 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 Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 196% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how EVO4.2 and TSi100'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 Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 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 |
|
Low Frequency Response |
54 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
279mm
vs
455mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
460cm2
vs
875cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
54-22k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Organic Fiber |
| 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 |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
455.0mm (17.9") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
13.40kg (29.5lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,White |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
16-30" |
| 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 - Wharfedale EVO4.2 costs roughly 8x what Polk TSi100 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 | A | Wharfedale EVO4.2 digs deeper - 54Hz against 61Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Polk TSi100 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 | B | Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $1,199, about 88% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale EVO4.2 B Polk TSi100
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale EVO4.2 measures better, Polk TSi100 costs about about 8x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 61Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi100 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO4.2 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Polk TSi100 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.