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.
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 )
Sonus Lumina I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 4.75" paper cone Woofer
- 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Sonus Lumina I compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both EVO5.1 and Lumina I are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 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. 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.
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
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
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 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 an 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 loudspeakers1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 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 |
|