In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.1 and Theva No1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Focal Theva No1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.1 | Focal Theva No1 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" woven Kevlar | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-24k Hz | 58-28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 6.82kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-3/8" x 10-1/4"
391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Focal Theva No1 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 EVO5.1 |
Focal Theva No1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
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Drivers
Both EVO5.1 and Theva No1 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.1Focal Theva No1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
Focal Theva No1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO5.1 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Theva No1 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000 Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz whereas Theva No1 has a frequency range of 58-28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the EVO5.1 can go slightly deeper then the Theva No1's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
EVO5.1 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Theva No1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 EVO5.1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO5.1 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Theva No1's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Theva No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO5.1, 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.
Theva No1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Theva No1.
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
Theva No1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.1's Binding post terminals
Focal Theva No1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.1 has a bottom firing port whereas Theva No1 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Theva No1 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 EVO5.1's and Focal Theva No1's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm (13.4" × 8.7" × 12.8") whereas Focal Theva No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm (153/8 x 83/8 x 101/4).
Focal Theva No1 is 7mm narrower and 64mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.1 but it is also 51mm 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 EVO5.1 is approximately 715.0cm2 / 110.8inch2 and base area of the Focal Theva No1 is approximately 555.9cm2 / 86.2inch2. The EVO5.1 requires 29% more surface area than the Theva No1 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 EVO5.1 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Focal Theva No1 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 17% heavier than the Theva No1.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.1 and Theva No1'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 EVO5.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
340mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
555cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
998USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
Focal Theva No1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-24k Hz |
58-28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
3000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
325.0mm (12.8") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (56Hz vs 58Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Theva No1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Theva No1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Focal Theva No1: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($999 vs $998 a pair). |
A Wharfedale EVO5.1 B Focal Theva No1
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?
Focal Theva No1 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Focal Theva No1 for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Theva No1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.