Wharfedale Evo 4 2 Speakers Review 

Im late to tell you this, but yes the 4.4s can.

I hate budget subwoofers for that reason. I don't want to hear loud 60hz substituting for low bass. I hate bloated midbass.

Ricochet :) thanks!

Thanks Todd!

Velodyne sub below 500Hz? Joke! You mean below 50Hz. Correct?

@@exif6839 Yes, 50 Hz would be correct. "Fat finger"...

really? did you just want the box bass feel? what makes these better than the ever magical .7's? maggies are amazing sounding. i ask because i am upgrading my system and was looking at these and the .7's

@@mgaming7 Maggies aren't perfect and there is no low bass. Maggies don't slam or do loud. They don't focus point source like dynamics.

That's very kind of you - thanks.

Thanks Geoff!

Absolutely! Nice artwork too :)

these are concerns of yesteryear and not really relevant for newer amplifiers.

Well that'a very kind of you, Barney :) I did note the only real issue I ha with it and that was he occasional midrange bark. Nothing serious, though. I would avoid brighter solid state amps. At least, solid state is fine if positioned in a balanced, neutral mode. Valves/tubes are ideal too.

thank you for replying. look forward to your next review. hope you can review a good affordable preamp.

Weeellll, like a lot of English words and terms ,I think you can go either way on that. Looking at dictionary definitions, when describing a build up, specifically, the word 'crescendo' is normally following a modifier of some sort (i.e. the word 'rose' as in 'rose to a crescendo' to be defined as "a gradually increasing sound"). When the word is isolated on its own its often used as a substitute for 'climax'. Even the Oxford Dictionary can be read both ways (i.e. for my climax definition the Dictionary offers crescendo as, "...the loudest *point* (my emphasis) reached in a gradually increasing sound")

@@TheAudiophileMan Yes, you're right. Hands up. I was thinking only of the musical meaning.

That sort of thing 'depends' and so I try to help users on an individual level to get under their system skin, if you see what I mean. Hence, that's why the Comments are a useful feedback system. Also I try my best to keep my videos as trim as I can. Again, I can address other information here so the video and Comments work together on my channel.

I'll make a note, Mike.

@@TheAudiophileMan thank Paul, great channel btw

Thanks for subscribing! And yes, you should be fine there.

The Audiophile Man, thanks a lot sir

Thanks Harry! The Evos are larger for one, they offer more bass, a larger soundstage, bigger presence in your room but they cost more too and you need stands to hold them which, unless you already have such items, will add to the budget.

@@TheAudiophileMan thanks for your reply, i think the evo 4.2's are going to be too big for my room. Im interested in the evo 4.1's they look really nice, have you listened to them?

Afraid not, Harry. Sorry.

Yep, I have very similar "problems" to your room and they work just fine.

It depends on your chosen amplifier. And many potential speaker buyers on this channel ask me, on a regular basis, if Speakers A will run ok connected to Amp B. Hence, running EVOs off a triode valve amp pushing 20W is a no-no, for example. An Audiolab 6000A presents no issues, though.

@@TheAudiophileMan Yes....that may very well be the case......Don't get me wrong I have a center and a pair of lintons from wharfedale on order.........But I feel if it's important enough to mention the sensitivity of a speaker it's also equally important enough to use the actual numbers on the company's website.You know how sensitive us customers can be ;-)

Yes, this is a comparatively sensitive speaker - for its size - which does help and it performs well in its price range.

It’s going to be challenging to find the correct stand I assume. 24 inch maybe?

I talked about this with one of my Group members on Facebook (you're welcome to join, incidentally) and he said, "Hi Paul, I received an email today from Wharfedale, there are dedicated stands for the Evo speakers @ £199, available to order through dealers." Hope that helps a bit.

He's asking what stands you used. You did have them set up in your space. Right?

@@roscoejones4515 I doubt he has much of the stuff he reviews in his actual home. Hence the product images rather than actual videos of him reviewing them.

Thank you. The Brio is pretty neutral so it should convey the essence of the EVOs personality 'as is'.

i was able to drive them with a pioneer sx 450 you should have no problems.

Use a tube CD player and play jazz and classical CDs whose master tape was recorded by a tube open reel (like those stereo recordings from 1955 to late 60's by rca, Riverside, verve and EMI) and CDs are not grainy anymore. Tube amplification also helps, as is choice of tubes. Mullard, Gec and Western electric tubes for the most musical sounds.

@@2mikelim Thanks for the tip.

If the bass is too boomy then firstly, look elsewhere as to why that might be - then work from that point. You might end up at a pair of 4.2 speakers, sure. But to begin, look elsewhere and find that issue. Is it the room size? Something else going on in your HiFi chain? Etc.

That room size sounds fine to me Andreas - I wouldn't focus to closely on the AMT. It does the job, integrates well into the overall design and adds delicacy to the soundstage.

The AMT works well, I would say. There's a lot of surface area in this tweeter and its dispersion is impressive.

@@TheAudiophileMan Thank you!

The Audiolab 6000A offers the tonal balance that will display them nicely.

The Audiophile Man Thank you very much for the advice I will look into it.

Oh lord there not Available on Amazon at the moment

Would these go well with the Rega Brio R.

My experience of the Triangles have been fleeting so take this advice with a pinch of salt. I'd say that the bass on the latter is focused and nippy but the EVOs offers more impressive, epic lows. Also the treble can be slightly edgy on the Triangles.

@@TheAudiophileMan Dziękuję bardzo za odpowiedz i przepraszam że piszę w swoim ojczystym języku ale jestem już trochę starszym człowiekiem i trudno mi znaleźć opcję pisania w Twoim języku . Rozumiem że w moim pokoju 16 metrów kwadratowych mogę zaryzykować z EVO 4.2 i ,, bas nie rozniesie ,, mi pomieszczenia hahaha a z połączenia Audiolab A6000 z EVO 4.2 powinienem być zadowolony , dodam że słucham różnej muzy od M.Jaree - Madonna itp.do rodzimych polskich wykonawców . Dziękuję jeszcze raz i powodzenia . Pozdrawiam Andrzej.

​@@andrzej8128Witam Rodaka! Bardzo mało jest w internecie o tych kolumnach w polskim języku. Też planuje zakup EVO 4. 2 , do nagłośnienia mam również 16 m 2. Ciekawy jestem czy używasz już te głośniki i jakie są Twoje wrażenie?

Hi Richard - in technical terms? Fine. For that quality of amp, though, I'd be looking for higher-end speakers.

@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks for reaching out. I would like to pair Dali Rubicon 8 speakers with this PrimaLuna Evo 400i amplifier or use Hegel H590 Integrated amplifier? Do you think that these are a good combination? Thanks.

That's not something I've ever heard of, Nicholas. The finish is also of high quality and, to me, looks sufficiently protected to wear well over time. Haven't lived with them for many years to prove that, of course, so that's my considered guesstimate.

@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks, Paul.

Yes, it is a true phase plug.

I have the HiVi DIY 3.1s with the "perfectionist crossover" and to me they sound amazing! I'd love to see these two compared side by side

There's a reference list in the description but recommended amps depend on your budget.

@@TheAudiophileMan having a list of your reference amps doesn’t tell us what you thought of the pairings. Understanding the characteristics and specs of the amps that paired well might lead us to predict what kind of amp profile in general might go well (or badly), which would help with short listing. You’re correct that any recommendation for any one person will depend on their budget, and as it’s not possible to predict the budgets of everyone reading this comment, then how about recommending amps for different price brackets? If it’s not something you did in this review, then perhaps something to consider in your review methodology in future?

That depends on you - both are excellent but both offer their own personalities and I go into those in some depth in the videos. I offer all of my thoughts in those videos so I'd advise watching both to enable you to come to a decision.

I didn't see review samples available at the time to do an actual review although I think one or two people did grab a set. I did hear good things about the 11.3 floor standing variants, though.

Many thanks for your kind words. Onto your other point. OK, so I compare the 4.2s to Speaker X in the video. And you’ve never heard Speaker X in action either. And so that doesn’t help. And then you're back to square one. So then what? This channel is a little different in its approach, when compared to other hi-fi channels out there. Why? Because I recognise that you’re unique. Your hi-fi requirements are unique to you, your ears are unique, your listening room is unique, chances are that your hi-fi system is unlike many others, you have your own musical tastes…and on and on. So for me to only rely on a video and nothing else to provide buying advice to you, a unique individual, would be the height of hubris. My ego just isn’t that big. It’s big…just not *that* big :) So I don’t do business like that. You weren’t to know this, of course, but that’s why we’re having this conversation. My ‘videos’ are basically in three parts. Firstly, the video itself draws upon my 30+ years (and counting) as a full time, professional journalist. It draws upon the experience I have of hundreds of hi-fi components. Secondly, you need to look at the Description box if you have these sorts of queries. There, I list my entire Reference System. That’s the kit I used do the actual review. That might answer your question right there. Finally and most importantly, you need to use the Comments section. As you’re doing right now. The video is a taster, an introduction, it opens the door. It’s not supposed to provide all of the answers. How and why can you base an important buying decision on a 10 minute (or so) video? No-one should do that. I wouldn’t. So, if the video whets your appetite but you have other questions, then you and I need to have a conversation to address that. You need to use my expertise to further your own knowledge. Of course, I should be just one part of larger research project that you need to do before you buy because you need to be super confident before you reach into your wallet but that’s what this channel is all about. Finally? Yes I realise that my videos need improvements and I need to show more hi-fi hardware in the video itself, me operating it, etc but I’m not full time on this channel. I do this work in between other commitments. With luck, that will change in the future.

@@TheAudiophileMan, sure, that's a no brainer. I'm talking about referring to subjectively more popular speakers like the Klipsch RP600, the Buchardt S400, the LS50s. My intent is not win this conversation, it's to help you win more fans, which is about, a "stable reference point" that more people can relate with you, when you do comparisons.

And I appreciate your help - it's great that you care enough to write. That said, some or all of your list will remain unknown to many other viewers. For this reason and others (i.e. video length, etc) I'd have to swing around again to my original reply.

@@TheAudiophileMan Btw, I've just bought the evo 4.2, 30 mins ago. That's after watching your video. First exposure was Thabarma, second audiofool, then you. Getting an audition for speakers is outdated. so far, my buying strategy has been improving. it's based on reviewers like you. And my suggestion is, well, is my suggestion. No one has to take it seriously. I'm NOT an audiophile. I love music, and I want my system to make me feel it. That's it. So far no single system does well for all kinds of music. So, I have 4 systems at home. And i'm budget conscious. Thanks for answering and sharing your experience. No one said you have a big ego, who did? You can only do a job well, when you don't have an ego, because then you are malleable.

I would disagree with you again - but in a wholly complimentary way :) I think you are an audiophile. You love music and you want to hear it in the best way you possibly can. Proved by your speaker acquisition, I'd say. And good on you! And again, thank you for your kind words and your participation on this channel Much appreciated indeed.

They should work fine together, sure.

@Otie Jason Your taste maybe:)

You can find a host of opinions in the video, Adrian.

The MLs are a much smaller speaker so you lose bass presence and that epic presentation of the EVO speakers.

I haven't compared the two directly and the 606s are very nice. I'd say that the EVOs present a superior tonal balance those and bass heft for your rock albums.

@@TheAudiophileMan i switched out my polk audio s20's earlier, i plugged in my klipsch rb 61 II, have the eagles hell froze over cd's in,, sounds damn good

@@TheAudiophileMan thank-you for getting back to me, we've heard b&w's before, i'm 99% positive i'll get a pair when i decide to buy a new set,,

I also have a pair of 606's. I absolutely love their sound but would like to see a comparison.

That depends on your budget.

@@TheAudiophileMan I bought the Leak 130 -- fingers crossed

Only briefly and not in a proper review environment but I hear good things about the design.

That's easy: 1/1000th of a meter. Well, what's a meter you may ask. That's easy: “The meter is the length equal to 1 650 763.73 wavelengths in a vacuum of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the levels 2p10 and5d5 of the krypton 86 atom.” You may say that's old definition but here is the latest one : The current definition of the meter was reworded in 2019: “The metre, symbol m, is the SI unit of length. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the speed of light in a vacuum c to be 299792458 when expressed in the unit m⋅s−1, where the second is defined in terms of the caesium frequency ΔνCs.” Now, what is an inch ?

In general terms, I've not sound tested them. I've heard good things about them though.

Yep - should be fine.

@@TheAudiophileMan thanks for your help

They work very well.

@@TheAudiophileMan Awesome, some reviewers were saying the female vocals were a bit compressed

That would mean that the upper mids were compressed as you can't really isolate a female vocal from other upper midrange frequencies. I wouldn't say that at all. I can only surmise that, because the tonal balance is pretty even (and bass has a large role in the overall presentation) the introduction of a more confidant and solid upper mid approach is surprising some listeners. I wouldn't be concerned, though.

@@TheAudiophileMan great. one more question, will this be a good match with a good class D amp?

That depends on the amp, I'm afraid.

I haven't properly tested them, only heard them as hifi shows, etc. From memory...I did think that they sounded dynamic but a bit edgy in the upper mids.

@@TheAudiophileMan thank you for quick response can I use evo4 as floorstanding speaker

I would recommend a stand of some sort.

Depends on how low...you wanna go. The KEFs (we are talking KEFs, right?) offer excellent sound and are clean in the upper frequencies but the EVOs are tonally better balanced and provide a larger, grander sound presentation. The EVOs are physically larger though which might not suite your room or might trigger your partner/wife/girlfriend/cat. So bear that in mind.

Fiddldle with positioning... Try to pair with neutral DAC.

..explain ..?

Well, I've been called many things...

how do you like them a year later?