In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.2 and AE500, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and AE500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.2 | AE500 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" woven Kevlar | 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-24k Hz | 45Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.2 and AE500 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 EVO5.2 |
AE500 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO5.2 is a 3-way design whereas the AE500 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Wharfedale EVO5.2 AE500
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
AE500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
EVO5.2 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz and 4.3 kHz. On the other hand, the AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go slightly deeper then the AE500's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
EVO5.2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the AE500 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 EVO5.2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO5.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the AE500's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to AE500, 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.
EVO5.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas AE500 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the EVO5.2.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.2 has a bottom firing port whereas AE500 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to AE500 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 EVO5.2's and AE500's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 350.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4") whereas AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch).
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 187mm taller and 90mm deeper than AE500.
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 EVO5.2 is approximately 910.0cm2 / 141.1inch2 and base area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2. The EVO5.2 requires 89% more surface area than the AE500 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 EVO5.2 weighs 15.05kg / 33.1lbs and the AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the EVO5.2 88% heavier than the AE500.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.2 and AE500'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 EVO5.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
310mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
44-24k Hz |
45Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
carbon fibre cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
497.0mm (19.6") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
260.0mm (10.2") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
15.05kg (33.1lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.2 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 |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (44Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
AE500 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
AE500 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
A |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,299 against $1,499, about 13% less. |
A Wharfedale EVO5.2
B AE500
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: AE500 measures better, Wharfedale EVO5.2 costs about 13% 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. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.2 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and AE500 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO5.2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, AE500 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.