In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.2 and Reference 1 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and KEF Reference 1 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.2 | KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" aluminium dome with MAT |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" woven Kevlar | 6.5" aluminium cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-24k Hz | 45-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.05kg / 33.1lbs | 18.20kg / 40lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.6" x 10.2" x 15.4"
497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm | 17.3" x 8.1" x 16.6"
440 x 205 x 422 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.2 and KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 EVO5.2 and Reference 1 Meta are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.2KEF Reference 1 Meta
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 |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.2 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO5.2 can go slightly deeper then the Reference 1 Meta'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 and Reference 1 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO5.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Reference 1 Meta's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, 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 EVO5.2 and the EVO5.2 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.
Reference 1 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Reference 1 Meta.
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
Reference 1 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.2's Binding post terminals
KEF Reference 1 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.2 has a bottom firing port whereas Reference 1 Meta 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.2 has external dimensions of 497.0 x 260.0 x 391.0mm (19.6" × 10.2" × 15.4") whereas KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm (17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6).
KEF Reference 1 Meta is 55mm narrower and 57mm shorter than Wharfedale EVO5.2 but it is also 31mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and KEF Reference 1 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.2 and KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 EVO5.2 is approximately 1016.6cm2 / 157.6inch2 and base area of the KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2. The EVO5.2 requires 18% more surface area than the Reference 1 Meta 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 21% heavier than the EVO5.2.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.2 and Reference 1 Meta'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
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1799USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
440mm
vs
497mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
865cm2
vs
1016cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.2 |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-24k Hz |
45-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
aluminium cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
aluminium dome with MAT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
800 Hz and 4.3 kHz |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
497.0mm (19.6") |
440.0mm (17.3") |
| Width |
260.0mm (10.2") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
422.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
15.05kg (33.1lbs) |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF Reference 1 Meta costs roughly 5x what Wharfedale EVO5.2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (44Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale EVO5.2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Reference 1 Meta takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF Reference 1 Meta is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF Reference 1 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale EVO5.2 is cheaper - $1,799 against $9,000, about 80% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale EVO5.2 B KEF Reference 1 Meta
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?
KEF Reference 1 Meta is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 5x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale EVO5.2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KEF Reference 1 Meta appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.2 the better fit for a small room, and KEF Reference 1 Meta for a large room and a very large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale EVO5.2 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.