In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and Reva 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale Reva 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 1 | Wharfedale Reva 2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber | 5" Woven Glass Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-20k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 20-80 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 14-1/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-13/16"
358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm |
|---|
Reva 1 and Reva 2 are members of Wharfedale's Reva series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Reva Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale Reva 2 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 |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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 Reva 2 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 1Wharfedale Reva 2
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 |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas Reva 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Reva 2 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 Reva 2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
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.
Reva 2 can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Reva 2.
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
Both Reva 1 and Reva 2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Reva 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Reva 1 and Reva 2 have bottom firing ports.
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 Wharfedale Reva 2'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 Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm (14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch).
Wharfedale Reva 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 40mm taller and 41mm deeper than Wharfedale Reva 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale Reva 2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2. The Reva 1 requires 24% less surface area than the Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Reva 2 39% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 and Reva 2'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 Wharfedale Reva 2?
Here are the items that come with the Reva 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
 Height |
318mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
655cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
20-80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-20k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Woven Glass Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
Wood composite laminate |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-30" |
24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Wharfedale's Reva series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Reva 2 digs deeper - 48Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale Reva 2 takes more power (80W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1 is easier to place; Wharfedale Reva 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping; Wharfedale Reva 2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Reva 1 is cheaper - $799 against $999, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale Reva 1 B Wharfedale Reva 2
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Reva 2 measures better, Wharfedale Reva 1 costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Reva 2 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.