Wharfedale EVO5.1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Wharfedale. It features a 1.375" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5" woven Kevlar Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 56-24k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. Wharfedale EVO5.1 has an MSRP of 999$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Speaker Structure
Wharfedale replaced the older EVO4.1 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
Compare Wharfedale EVO5.1 vs Wharfedale EVO4.1
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Lifestyle
Wharfedale's EVO5 Series of Loudspeakers
EVO5.1 is a member of Wharfedale's EVO5 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Wharfedale EVO5 Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Wharfedale EVO5.1 Speaker
Wharfedale EVO5.1 has a Frequency response range of 56-24k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 25-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 56 Hz, EVO5.1 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Wharfedale EVO5.1, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $1000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how EVO5.1's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale EVO5.1's woven Kevlar Woofer
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 3 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Wharfedale EVO5.1's 56Hz:
Wharfedale EVO5.1's SilentWeave cotton and felt damping fiber AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Wharfedale EVO5.1?
The Crossover frequency of the EVO5.1 is set to 2700Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Wharfedale EVO5.1's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.4 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Wharfedale EVO5.1 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 87 dB, Wharfedale EVO5.1 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.
Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale EVO5.1
Even though the nominal impedance of the EVO5.1 is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 3.4 ohms Wharfedale EVO5.1 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Wharfedale EVO5.1:
Input Type
EVO5.1 features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Back View
Wharfedale EVO5.1's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale EVO5.1 External Dimensions and Weight
Wharfedale EVO5.1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 13.4" × 8.7" × 12.8" (340.0 x 220.0 x 285.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Wharfedale EVO5.1 is approximately 627.0cm2 / 97.2inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Wharfedale EVO5.1, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Wharfedale EVO5.1 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe Wharfedale EVO5.1 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how EVO5.1's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
Wharfedale EVO5.1 on a Stand
How does the Wharfedale EVO5.1 compare to the Wharfedale EVO5.2?
One of the natural alternative to the Wharfedale EVO5.1 is the EVO5.2 which is located one step higher in Wharfedale's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Wharfedale EVO5.1 and Wharfedale EVO5.2 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Wharfedale EVO5.1 vs EVO5.2 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Wharfedale EVO5.1 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood-veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
Wharfedale EVO5.1 comes with
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is a bottom-firing port speaker
Available colors
Wharfedale EVO5.1 is available in Walnut, Grey. Black and White.
Wall Mounting
EVO5.1 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Speaker Stands
Wharfedale sells a dedicated speaker stand for the EVO5.1 with a model name
Wharfedale EVO5.1 Stands. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
Does the Wharfedale EVO5.1 come with a Grille?
EVO5.1 comes with magnetic grilles in black color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the EVO5.1 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
Wharfedale EVO5.1 with Grille
What's in the Box of Wharfedale EVO5.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of EVO5.1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale EVO5.1.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Wharfedale EVO5.1, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Wharfedale EVO5.1
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale EVO5.1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Wharfedale EVO5.1
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.