In this review, we will be comparing EVO4.CS and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO4.CS and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO4.CS and Polk R400 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.CS and Polk R400 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both EVO4.CS and R400 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale EVO4.CS |
Polk R400 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
30 x 60mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO4.CS features a 30 x 60mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter and 2 x 5" woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO4.CS has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go slightly deeper then the EVO4.CS's min frequency of 50Hz.
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.CS and R400 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.CS can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO4.CS has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the R400.
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.CS features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R400 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both EVO4.CS and R400 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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.CS's and Polk R400's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO4.CS has external dimensions of 186.0 x 586.0 x 312.0mm ( 7-5/16 x 23-1/16 x 12-1/4inch) whereas Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) .
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 32mm wider, 13mm taller and 60mm deeper than Wharfedale EVO4.CS.
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.CS is approximately 1828.3cm2 / 283.4inch2 and base area of the Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The EVO4.CS requires 20% less surface area than the R400 which gives it a small advantage 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.CS weighs 11.62kg / 25.6lbs and the Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 28% heavier than the EVO4.CS.
Here is a comparison of how EVO4.CS and R400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO4.CS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO4.CS:
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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
Minimum Impedance |
4.4 ohms
vs
4.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
186mm
vs
199mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1828cm2 (586x312mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Wharfedale EVO4.CS |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4.4 ohms |
4.1 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-22k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar cone |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
30 x 60mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
186.0mm (7.3") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
Width |
586.0mm (23.1") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
Weight |
11.62kg (25.6lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
White, Walnut, Black |
Black, Walnut |
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 |