In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Wharfedale EVO5.C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Studio 690 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.C and JBL Studio 690 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale EVO5.C | JBL Studio 690 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) | 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" woven Kevlar | 2 x 8" PolyPlas |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-24k Hz | 36-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.55kg / 27.6lbs | 29.45kg / 64.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.4" x 20.5" x 12"
188.0 x 520.0 x 305.0mm | 43-1/8" x 11-3/4" x 15-1/16"
1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.C and JBL Studio 690 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.C |
JBL Studio 690 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| 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.C and Studio 690 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5.CJBL Studio 690
TweeterWoofer
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.C |
JBL Studio 690 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
EVO5.C features a 1.375" SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the Studio 690 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer.
Frequency Response
EVO5.C has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz whereas Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Studio 690 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO5.C's min frequency of 56Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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.C is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Studio 690 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.C can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO5.C sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Studio 690's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 690 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO5.C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Studio 690 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas EVO5.C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Studio 690.
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
Studio 690 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.C has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL Studio 690's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both EVO5.C and Studio 690 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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.C's and JBL Studio 690's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.C has external dimensions of 188.0 x 520.0 x 305.0mm (7.4" × 20.5" × 12.0") whereas JBL Studio 690 has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm (43-1/8-inch x 11-3/4-inch x 15-1/16-inch).
Wharfedale EVO5.C is 908mm shorter and 78mm less deeper than JBL Studio 690 but it is also 221mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.C and JBL Studio 690 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.C and JBL Studio 690 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.C is approximately 1586.0cm2 / 245.8inch2 and base area of the JBL Studio 690 is approximately 1145.2cm2 / 177.5inch2. The EVO5.C requires 38% more surface area than the Studio 690 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.C:
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 690?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 690:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Washers
- 4 Locking-collars
- 4 Foot-pads
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card