In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.1 and Lumina I, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.1 | Sonus Lumina I |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1.15" high definition DAD |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" woven Kevlar | 4.75" paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-24k Hz | 65-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.4" x 8.7" x 12.8"
340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm | 11" x 5.8" x 8.4"
280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I 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 |
Sonus Lumina I |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both EVO5.1 and Lumina I are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.1Sonus Lumina I
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 |
Sonus Lumina I |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.75-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 Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.1 has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz whereas Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k 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 Lumina I's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 and Lumina I have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO5.1 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Lumina I's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the EVO5.1 and the EVO5.1 can provide this impedance level.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though EVO5.1 is rated 25-100 watts and Lumina I 30-100 watts.
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
Lumina I 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
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.1 has a bottom firing port whereas Lumina I has a front firing ports. Sonus Lumina I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale EVO5.1 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 Sonus Lumina I'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 Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm (11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch).
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72mm wider, 60mm taller and 72mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I Size and External Dimensions
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 Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm2 / 48.9inch2. The EVO5.1 requires 99% more surface area than the Lumina I which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I on a Media Console
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 Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the EVO5.1 82% heavier than the Lumina I.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.1 and Lumina I'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 Sonus Lumina I?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina I:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
280mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
315cm2
vs
627cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 |
Sonus Faber Lumina I |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-24k Hz |
65-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
148.0mm (5.8") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
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 |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.1 is the newer design, against a 2020 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 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
Sonus Lumina I is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
Sonus Lumina I is cheaper - $899 against $999, about 10% less. |
A Wharfedale EVO5.1
B Sonus Lumina I
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale EVO5.1 measures better, Sonus Lumina I costs about 10% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus Lumina I much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sonus Lumina I is the easier speaker to get right.
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.