In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.1 and Premier 100B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Paradigm 100B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.1 | Paradigm 100B |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" woven Kevlar | 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-24k Hz | 68-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 5.86kg / 12.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 325.0mm | 11-3/16" x 6-3/4" x 9-11/16"
285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Paradigm 100B 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 |
Paradigm 100B |
| 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.
Drivers
Both EVO5.1 and Premier 100B are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.1Paradigm 100B
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 |
Paradigm 100B |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-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 Premier 100B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz whereas Premier 100B has a frequency range of 68-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the EVO5.1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 100B's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 Premier 100B 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 Premier 100B's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Paradigm 100B 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.
Premier 100B can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Premier 100B.
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
EVO5.1 features Posts type posts and Premier 100B has a Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.1's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.1 has a bottom firing port whereas Premier 100B 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 Paradigm 100B 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 Paradigm 100B'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 Paradigm 100B has external dimensions of 285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm (11-3/16 x 6-3/4 x 9-11/16inch).
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 48mm wider, 55mm taller and 78mm deeper than Paradigm 100B.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 needs about 68% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 78mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale EVO5.1 is 55mm 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 Paradigm 100B is approximately 424.8cm2 / 65.8inch2. The EVO5.1 requires 68% more surface area than the Premier 100B 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 Paradigm 100B weighs 5.86kg / 12.9lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 37% heavier than the Premier 100B.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.1 and Premier 100B'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
What's in the Box of Paradigm 100B?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 100B:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
285mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
424cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
Paradigm Premier 100B |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
15-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-24k Hz |
68-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
325.0mm (12.8") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
5.86kg (12.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
28-32" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.1 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale EVO5.1 digs deeper - 56Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Paradigm 100B is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Paradigm 100B is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Paradigm 100B takes more power (130W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm 100B is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Paradigm 100B sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Paradigm 100B is cheaper - $800 against $999, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale EVO5.1 B Paradigm 100B
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?
Paradigm 100B is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Wharfedale EVO5.1 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm 100B much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Paradigm 100B for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.