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.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 56-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:8.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 8.7" x 12.8"( 340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm )
Paradigm 100B Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer
- 68-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-130watts
- Weight:5.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Paradigm 100B 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
Both EVO5.1 and Premier 100B are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
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. 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.
EVO5.1 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO5.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Premier 100B.
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
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
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 EVO5.1's and Paradigm 100B's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm ( 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 38mm deeper than Paradigm 100B.
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 627.0cm2 / 97.2inch2 and base area of the Paradigm 100B is approximately 424.8cm2 / 65.8inch2. The EVO5.1 requires 48% more surface area than the Premier 100B which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.