Wharfedale has updated its popular series of loudspeakers – the EVO 5 range replaces the EVO 4, which used technology developed for the flagship Elysian models, offering further improvements to the drivers, updated larger cabinets and crossovers for hi-fi sound, while avoiding a significant increase in price. The new Wharfedale EVO 5 series includes five models: two bookshelf speakers (EVO 5.1 and EVO 5.2), two floorstanding options (EVO 5.3 and 5.4) and a home cinema centre channel (EVO 5.C).
As before, both floorstanding models and the larger of the two bookshelf models feature a three-way design with dedicated midrange dome drivers. While the driver configuration is the same as the EVO 4, the new speakers are slightly larger, which has allowed for larger cabinets, improved drivers and new crossovers. The Wharfedale EVO 5 speakers have a more contemporary design. The walnut veneer remains, while the white and black variants now feature a super-smooth, high-quality matte finish. There’s also a new matte option: Lunar Grey.
Unlike many loudspeaker manufacturers, Wharfedale designs and manufactures almost all components in-house. This allows for complete freedom to create loudspeakers and full control over key elements such as drivers, improving from generation to generation. All five Wharfedale EVO 5 models include an improved AMT (Air Motion Transformer) high-frequency driver. Compared to traditional dome tweeters, Wharfedale’s AMT drivers provide lower distortion, as well as superior speed and accuracy, the manufacturer claims.
The AMT driver developed for the EVO 5 is larger than the one in the EVO 4 – 35x70mm versus 30x60mm, which further improves efficiency and dispersion. It also features a new sound-absorbing material, SilentWeave, developed for the EVO 5 series, made of cotton and felt – it serves to reduce reflections of sound waves inside the speaker. A new acoustic damping frame called ResoFrame made of elastomer is used in both the AMT and all drivers, and it further reduces mechanical resonances and smooths out the response, especially in the important lower part of the high-frequency range. These acoustic improvements to the AMT unit minimize unwanted coloration of the sound, providing extended high frequencies without harshness and a cleaner, more natural sound signature.
To match the new AMT HF driver, the midrange driver has been further refined. Used in the three-way EVO 5.2, EVO 5.3 and EVO 5.4 models, it incorporates the same 50mm dome driver. The soft fabric dome with a damped coating provides a linear response from 800 Hz to 5 kHz. Improvements such as the ResoFrame acoustic damping frame inside the driver faceplate and SilentWeave material reduce resonances and reflections of sound waves, providing a smoother response and improved clarity. The wide dispersion angle of the midrange dome and AMT combination ensures that listeners hear all the musical details, regardless of their position.
The EVO 5 series bass drivers use the advanced motor system developed for the flagship Elysian models, combined with an advanced Kevlar cone – 130 mm or 150 mm depending on the model. The driver is capable of producing powerful bass and natural low frequencies in the midrange. In addition to the ResoFrame acoustic damping frame, the EVO 5 bass drivers (or bass-midrange drivers in the case of the two-way EVO 5.1 and 5.C models) are enhanced with a new ResoSeal – an elastomer damping ring at the rear of the cone. This further optimizes the lower midrange, making vocals richer, more natural and emotionally captivating. The crossover network has been redesigned through computer modeling and real-world listening tests.
The Wharfedale EVO 5, like the premium Aura and Elysian series, as well as its predecessor EVO 4, uses an acoustic design with a so-called “slot load” – SLPP (Slot Loaded Profiled Port). This is a bass port system designed to improve the quality of low frequencies and minimize acoustic distortion. It is based on the original idea of Gilbert Briggs, the founder of Wharfedale, who ran the company from 1932 to 1964. The bass reflex pipes are built into the bottom of the cabinet and have an outlet in the gap between the cabinet and the supporting platform of the speaker system. This design helps to eliminate turbulence and overtones of the outgoing air, and also reduces distortion in the high-frequency and low-frequency bands, which can be present in traditional bass reflex systems.
However, whereas the EVO 4 speakers had ports that bleed air in two directions, the redesigned EVO 5 series is a three-way system that bleeds air to the left, right and rear. This optimises airflow distribution, further improving bass. Additionally, because air is distributed evenly around the room, the speakers are less demanding in terms of placement than many traditional ported designs. The Wharfedale EVO 5 cabinets are constructed from a multi-density wood sandwich, designed to reduce panel resonance. At the base of each EVO 5 speaker is a wood and metal plinth. This contains SLPP ventilation, adding structural rigidity and helping to isolate the speakers from external resonance.
The Wharfedale Evo 5.2 speakers are a three-way configuration and, despite being quite affordable, boast a superb finish and thoughtful design. Although the model has the status of a bookshelf speaker, in fact, the Wharfedale Evo 5.2 needs to be installed on special stands or, at least, massive furniture cabinets. When developing the speakers, like all models of the series, some technical solutions were used, previously used in the high-end Elysian line. Wharfedale Evo 5.2 are equipped with a proprietary ribbon tweeter AMT, which has a flat characteristic across the entire range of operating frequencies and an extended directivity pattern. A special tweeter frame serves to eliminate distortions caused by re-reflection of sound waves. The midrange speaker in the Wharfedale Evo 5.2 has a soft dome on a suspension of medium rigidity, which eliminated unwanted resonances and made the sound of vocals and acoustic instruments as natural as possible.
The low-frequency speaker in the Wharfedale Evo 5.2 is quite large for a model of this class. It has a diameter of 150 mm and is equipped with a Kevlar diffuser with a fixed phase plug. The diffuser is fixed on a semicircular rubber suspension, which ensures its linear movement with a large amplitude. A powerful magnetic system, a lightweight voice coil of an increased diameter are installed in the woofer, and it is mounted on a cast anti-resonance basket. The woofer works in tandem with a slotted phase inverter located at the bottom of the speaker. The port provides the output of acoustic waves not only forward, but also to the sides, due to which an even distribution of bass in the room is achieved. Wharfedale Evo 5.2 are not demanding in terms of the choice of installation location, although it is still not recommended to place the speakers in the corners.
The sloping side panels of the case, as well as the fact that its front panel is wider than the back, provide for the damping of resonances and vibrations that can color the sound. The model uses two pairs of screw terminals to connect to the amplifier.
Wharfedale EVO 5.2 Specifications
- General Description 3-way bookshelf speaker
- 6.5″ (150mm) woofer Black woven Kevlar cone
- 2″ (50mm) midrange Soft dome
- 35 x 70mm AMT tweeter
- Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) 88dB
- Recommended amplifier power 25-120W
- Peak SPL 105dB
- Nominal impedance 4 ohms (8 ohm compatible)
- Minimum impedance 3.2 ohms
- Frequency response (+/-3dB) 44Hz – 24kHz
- Bass extension (-6dB) 38Hz
- Crossover frequency 800Hz, 4.3kHz
- Cabinet volume (litres) 27.2L
- Dimensions (mm)
- Height (on plinth) 497 mm
- Width 260 mm
- Depth (with grate + terminal) (350 + 40) mm
- Net weight 15.0 kg/pcs
