In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.3 and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO4.3 | PSB Imagine X2T |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Kevlar | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 30-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 34-1/2" x 9-1/4" x 13-1/4"
877.0 x 235.0 x 337.0mm | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.3 and PSB Imagine X2T 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 EVO4.3 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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.
Drivers
Both EVO4.3 and Imagine X2T are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO4.3PSB Imagine X2T
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 EVO4.3 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
EVO4.3 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 2 x 5" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Imagine X2T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO4.3 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Imagine X2T can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.3's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
EVO4.3 and Imagine X2T have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO4.3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Imagine X2T's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X2T a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Imagine X2T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas EVO4.3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
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
Both EVO4.3 and Imagine X2T features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO4.3 has a bottom firing port whereas Imagine X2T has a front firing ports. PSB Imagine X2T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.3 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 EVO4.3's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO4.3 has external dimensions of 877.0 x 235.0 x 337.0mm (34-1/2 x 9-1/4 x 13-1/4inch) whereas PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm (40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.3 is 143mm shorter and 89mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 6mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and PSB Imagine X2T in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and PSB Imagine X2T 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 EVO4.3 is approximately 792.0cm2 / 122.8inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The EVO4.3 requires 19% less surface area than the Imagine X2T which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO4.3:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation pucks
- 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X2T?
Here are the items that come with the Imagine X2T:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card