In this review, we will be comparing EVO5.C and EVO4.C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Wharfedale
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale EVO5.C and Wharfedale EVO4.C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale EVO5.C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 2 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 56-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:12.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 188.0" x 20.5" x 12"( 188 x 520 x 265.0mm )
Wharfedale EVO4.C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 30 x 60mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter
- 2" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar cone Woofer
- 2" Midrange
- 48-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:15.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 253.0" x 29-9/16" x 15-5/16"( 253.0 x 751.0 x 389.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale EVO5.C and Wharfedale EVO4.C 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 |
Wharfedale EVO4.C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale EVO5.C and Wharfedale EVO4.C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that EVO5.C is a 2-way design whereas the EVO4.C is a 3-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.
| Driver |
Wharfedale EVO5.C |
Wharfedale EVO4.C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.375-inch
|
30 x 60mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 EVO4.C features a 30 x 60mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz and 3900HZ.
Frequency Response
EVO5.C has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz whereas EVO4.C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the EVO4.C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the EVO5.C's min frequency of 56Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. 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 EVO4.C 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.C can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. EVO5.C sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the EVO4.C's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.C 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
EVO5.C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas EVO5.C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the EVO4.C.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
EVO4.C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. EVO5.C has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale EVO4.C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both EVO5.C and EVO4.C 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Wharfedale EVO4.C's external dimensions. Wharfedale EVO5.C has external dimensions of 188 x 520 x 265.0mm ( 7.4" × 20.5" × 12.0") whereas Wharfedale EVO4.C has external dimensions of 253.0 x 751.0 x 389.0mm ( 9-15/16 x 29-9/16 x 15-5/16inch) .
Wharfedale EVO4.C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 231mm wider, 65mm taller and 124mm deeper than Wharfedale EVO5.C.
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 1378.0cm2 / 213.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale EVO4.C is approximately 2921.4cm2 / 452.8inch2. The EVO5.C requires 53% less surface area than the EVO4.C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.