In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Wharfedale. Wharfedale EVO4.C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the EVO4.1 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.C and Wharfedale EVO4.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
EVO4.C and EVO4.1 are members of Wharfedale's EVO series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale EVO Series History
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.C and Wharfedale EVO4.1 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO4.C and Wharfedale EVO4.1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO4.C is a 3-way design whereas the EVO4.1 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.C |
Wharfedale EVO4.1 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
30 x 60mm-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
EVO4.C features a 30 x 60mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz and 3900HZ. On the other hand, the EVO4.1 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
EVO4.C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas EVO4.1 has a frequency range of 64-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the EVO4.C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO4.1's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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.C and EVO4.1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO4.C sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the EVO4.1's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the EVO4.C.
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.C and EVO4.1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO4.C has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO4.C 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.C's and Wharfedale EVO4.1's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO4.C has external dimensions of 253.0 x 751.0 x 389.0mm ( 9-15/16 x 29-9/16 x 15-5/16inch) whereas Wharfedale EVO4.1 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 210.0 x 295.0mm ( 13.1 x 8.2 x 11.6inch) .
Wharfedale EVO4.1 is 541mm narrower and 94mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.C but it is also 82mm taller.
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.C is approximately 2921.4cm2 / 452.8inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.1 is approximately 619.5cm2 / 96.0inch2. The EVO4.C requires 372% more surface area than the EVO4.1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO4.C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs (pre-installed)2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white cloth glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.1?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual