In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and TSi200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Polk TSi200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 1 | Polk TSi200 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber | 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-20k Hz | 50-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 7.71kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm | 15.4" x 8.0" x 11.7"
392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 and Polk TSi200 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 Reva 1 |
Polk TSi200 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reva 1 and TSi200 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 1Polk TSi200
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 Reva 1 |
Polk TSi200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the TSi200 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the TSi200 can go slightly deeper then the Reva 1's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Reva 1 and TSi200 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reva 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the TSi200's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk TSi200 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
TSi200 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 90 watts less than the TSi200.
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
Reva 1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi200 has a Pair of 5-way binding posts - Gold-plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas TSi200 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk TSi200 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 Reva 1's and Polk TSi200's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm (12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas Polk TSi200 has external dimensions of 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm (15.4 x 8.0 x 11.7inch).
Polk TSi200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 29.2mm wider, 74.1mm taller and 13.5mm deeper than Wharfedale Reva 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Polk TSi200 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Polk TSi200 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi200 is approximately 606.6cm2 / 94.0inch2. The Reva 1 requires 18% less surface area than the TSi200 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Polk TSi200 on a Media Console
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 Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the Polk TSi200 weighs 7.71kg / 17lbs. This makes the TSi200 37% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 and TSi200'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 Reva 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Polk TSi200?
Here are the items that come with the TSi200:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
318mm
vs
392mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
606cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
279USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
Polk Audio TSi200 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-20k Hz |
50-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
392.1mm (15.4") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
203.2mm (8") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
298.5mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
7.71kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-30" |
16-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 2.9x what Polk TSi200 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 (52Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk TSi200 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Polk TSi200 takes more power (150W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1 is easier to place; Polk TSi200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping. Polk TSi200 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi200 is cheaper - $279 against $799, about 65% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 1 B Polk TSi200
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?
Polk TSi200 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Wharfedale Reva 1 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk TSi200 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Polk TSi200 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale Reva 1 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.