In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.3 and EVO5.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Wharfedale
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale EVO4.3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 48-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 877.0" x 9-1/4" x 13-1/4"( 877.0 x 235.0 x 337.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO5.4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 42-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:31.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1028.0" x 11.9" x 15.4"( 1028.0 x 302.0 x 350.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.3 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 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 |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO4.3 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 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
Both EVO4.3 and EVO5.4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale EVO4.3 |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
1.375-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 EVO5.4 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.1 kHz and 4 kHz.
Frequency Response
EVO4.3 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas EVO5.4 has a frequency range of 42-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the EVO5.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.3's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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
EVO4.3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the EVO5.4 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the EVO5.4 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO4.3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the EVO5.4's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.4 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. 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.
EVO4.3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the EVO5.4.
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
EVO4.3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.4 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.4's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both EVO4.3 and EVO5.4 have bottom 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 EVO4.3's and Wharfedale EVO5.4'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 Wharfedale EVO5.4 has external dimensions of 1028.0 x 302.0 x 350.0mm ( 40.5" × 11.9" × 15.4") .
Wharfedale EVO5.4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 67mm wider, 151mm taller and 13mm deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO4.3 and Wharfedale EVO5.4 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 Wharfedale EVO5.4 is approximately 1057.0cm2 / 163.8inch2. The EVO4.3 requires 25% less surface area than the EVO5.4 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 loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)4 Spikes (pre-installed)4 Isolation pucks2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)Pair of white cloth glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.4?
Here are the items that come with the EVO5.4:
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