In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.3 and Q7 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.3 and KEF Q7 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.3 | KEF Q7 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) | 0.75" Hard dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" woven Kevlar | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-24k Hz | 46-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | Up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 21.55kg / 47.4lbs | 18.45kg / 40.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36.7" x 10.5" x 12.8"
933.0 x 266.0 x 325.0mm | 39.4" x 12.5" x 12.4"
1001 x 317 x 315 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.3 and KEF Q7 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 EVO5.3 |
KEF Q7 Meta |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
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 EVO5.3 and Q7 Meta are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.3KEF Q7 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 EVO5.3 |
KEF Q7 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO5.3 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 2 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 825 Hz and 4 kHz. On the other hand, the Q7 Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 440 Hz, 2.3 kHz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.3 has a frequency range of 46-24k Hz whereas Q7 Meta has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
EVO5.3 and Q7 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. EVO5.3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Q7 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q7 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 EVO5.3 and the EVO5.3 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Q7 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q7 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
EVO5.3 features Binding Post type posts and Q7 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.3's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.3 has a bottom firing port whereas Q7 Meta has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.3's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q7 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 EVO5.3's and KEF Q7 Meta's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.3 has external dimensions of 933.0 x 266.0 x 325.0mm (36.7" × 10.5" × 12.8") whereas KEF Q7 Meta has external dimensions of 1001 x 317 x 315 mm (39.4 x 12.5 x 12.4 in.).
Wharfedale EVO5.3 is 51mm narrower and 68mm shorter than KEF Q7 Meta but it is also 10mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF Q7 Meta needs about 16% more floor or shelf area. KEF Q7 Meta is 68mm taller.
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 EVO5.3 is approximately 864.5cm2 / 134.0inch2 and base area of the KEF Q7 Meta is approximately 998.6cm2 / 154.8inch2. The EVO5.3 requires 13% less surface area than the Q7 Meta which gives it a small advantage 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 EVO5.3 weighs 21.55kg / 47.4lbs and the KEF Q7 Meta weighs 18.45kg / 40.6lbs. This makes the EVO5.3 17% heavier than the Q7 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.3 and Q7 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.3:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation pucks
- 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of KEF Q7 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q7 Meta:
- Q7 Meta
- Magnetic grilles
- Plinth and rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.5 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
933mm
vs
1001mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
864cm2
vs
998cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
vs
1899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.3 |
KEF Q7 Meta |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
Up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-24k Hz |
46-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
825 Hz and 4 kHz |
440 Hz, 2.3 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
933.0mm (36.7") |
1001.0mm (39.4") |
| Width |
266.0mm (10.5") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
325.0mm (12.8") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
21.55kg (47.4lbs) |
18.45kg (40.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (46Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q7 Meta takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF Q7 Meta sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,899 vs $1,800 a pair). |
A Wharfedale EVO5.3 B KEF Q7 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 Q7 Meta has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.3 the better fit for a mid-size room, and KEF Q7 Meta for a very large room.
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.