In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.4 and Prime Pinnacle, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.4 and SVS Prime Pinnacle first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.4 | SVS Prime Pinnacle |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar | 3 x 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-24k Hz | 29-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 31.27kg / 68.8lbs | 25.95kg / 57.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.5" x 11.9" x 15.4"
1028.0 x 302.0 x 391.0mm | 41" x 8" x 13-15/16"
1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.4 and SVS Prime Pinnacle 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 EVO5.4 |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
| 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 EVO5.4 and Prime Pinnacle are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.4SVS Prime Pinnacle
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 EVO5.4 |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
EVO5.4 features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.1 kHz and 4 kHz. On the other hand, the Prime Pinnacle features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
EVO5.4 has a frequency range of 42-24k Hz whereas Prime Pinnacle has a frequency range of 29-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Prime Pinnacle can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO5.4's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
EVO5.4 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Prime Pinnacle which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 EVO5.4 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO5.4 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Prime Pinnacle's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO5.4 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Pinnacle, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Prime Pinnacle can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.4 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Prime Pinnacle.
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
EVO5.4 features 5-Way post type posts and Prime Pinnacle has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO5.4's Binding post terminals
SVS Prime Pinnacle's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
EVO5.4 has a bottom firing port whereas Prime Pinnacle has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale EVO5.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to SVS Prime Pinnacle 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 EVO5.4's and SVS Prime Pinnacle's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.4 has external dimensions of 1028.0 x 302.0 x 391.0mm (40.5" × 11.9" × 15.4") whereas SVS Prime Pinnacle has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 204.0 x 355.0mm (41 x 8 x 13-15/16inch).
SVS Prime Pinnacle is 98mm narrower and 36mm less deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.4 but it is also 14mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.4 and SVS Prime Pinnacle in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.4 and SVS Prime Pinnacle 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 EVO5.4 is approximately 1180.8cm2 / 183.0inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Pinnacle is approximately 724.2cm2 / 112.3inch2. The EVO5.4 requires 63% more surface area than the Prime Pinnacle 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 EVO5.4 weighs 31.27kg / 68.8lbs and the SVS Prime Pinnacle weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs. This makes the EVO5.4 21% heavier than the Prime Pinnacle.
Here is a comparison of how EVO5.4 and Prime Pinnacle'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 EVO5.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.4:
- 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 SVS Prime Pinnacle?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Pinnacle:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
1028mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
724cm2
vs
1180cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2000USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale EVO5.4 |
SVS Prime Pinnacle |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-24k Hz |
29-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven Kevlar |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.375" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1.1 kHz and 4 kHz |
300Hz and 2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1028.0mm (40.5") |
1042.0mm (41") |
| Width |
302.0mm (11.9") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
31.27kg (68.8lbs) |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Grey. Black, White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale EVO5.4 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Prime Pinnacle digs deeper - 29Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale EVO5.4 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Prime Pinnacle is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | SVS Prime Pinnacle takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | SVS Prime Pinnacle is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO5.4 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. SVS Prime Pinnacle sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,199 vs $2,000 a pair). |
A Wharfedale EVO5.4 B SVS Prime Pinnacle
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?
SVS Prime Pinnacle has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale EVO5.4 the better fit for a mid-size room, and SVS Prime Pinnacle 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.