Wharfedale EVO 4.1 Review (Speaker)

[jackdanyal]

Just curious how someone could judge a speaker because of these kinds of measurements. We need to consider the room size, position, ability to hear, likings, microphone, etc. so many factors.

 

[Beave]

Just curious how someone could judge a speaker because of these kinds of measurements. We need to consider the room size, position, ability to hear, likings, microphone, etc. so many factors.

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

 

[Gray]

Hello, I found a partial disassembly video of the EVO4.2

Maybe somebody could shed a light and opinion on the used components?
They use plastic baskets for the woofer, which isn't necessarily a bad thing I guess.

 

[jtatknox]

A little different approach to this one, without a score, but a strong argument at the source.

I have read about every review and opinion before auditioning and getting the Evo 4.2 last year. Just because I was searching for something that would not need a replacement for a long while.

A strong signal is that the Evo 4.2 is based on a clear design philosophy. They apparently overcame a challenge with the AMT tweeter and the crossover by adding the midrange dome. The 4.2 got lyrical reviews and picked up prizes along the way. Worth a note is that this idea extends to the 4.3 and 4.4 floorstanders as well as they all have the midrange dome. So 3/4th of the current Evo range is based on the same philosophy.

Given this above, the 4.1 comes in as an odd duckling, as the woofer now also does the midrange handling throwing the whole idea behind the 4.2 to 4.4 range overboard. I get it that a bookshelf of a small format can't have a midrange dome. But at the same time it is a different kind of "thing" in the series.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think the 4.1 is a lousy loudspeaker. Quite the contrary. It is a beautiful bookshelf loudspeaker and has its right to exist, might become a collectors item and I might even enjoy it. But I like ideas behind products and this headscratcher makes that I dropped the 4.1 as a choice for a second setup in the master bedroom. Here I went for the Denton 85th Anniversary edition.

It's a shame that the 4.1 is only speaker from this series that I can find spinorama data on and it's not representative of the rest of the series.

 

[tw 2022]

It's a shame that the 4.1 is only speaker from this series that I can find spinorama data on and it's not representative of the rest of the series.

agreed , the 4.2 needs to be measured considering how good the other 3 way books from wd measure...

 

[Musicofchance]

You MUST have something wrong then, as I can not really see anyone agreeing with your statement.
I mean, give the steps you did to come to this conclusion?

The 12.2 is very highly regarded and no one mentions distortion at all.
What application are you using them in etc.....some details please?

One moment, please...

This chap did find distortion. And he used measuring equipment.

Ive been dissapointed with these too, i really wanted to like them with theyre look and build, although the design to me is flawed with the port being the same size as the 12.1's. They sound so restricted at louder volumes, boxy with a bloated bass.
However like someone has mentioned, ill try blocking the ports but failing that i cant see a reason to keep them.

Has anyone elses opinions changed on these since posting on this thread?

My set up is an audiolab 6000A with the IOTAX PA3 using CD's mainly with the CDT6000

Cheers

 

[uh2]

One moment, please...

This chap did find distortion. And he used measuring equipment.

Ive been dissapointed with these too, i really wanted to like them with theyre look and build, although the design to me is flawed with the port being the same size as the 12.1's. They sound so restricted at louder volumes, boxy with a bloated bass.
However like someone has mentioned, ill try blocking the ports but failing that i cant see a reason to keep them.

Has anyone elses opinions changed on these since posting on this thread?

My set up is an audiolab 6000A with the IOTAX PA3 using CD's mainly with the CDT6000

Cheers

Extrememly disappointed, especially after hearing a pair of GoldenEars for the first time a couple of months ago. Before then I thought, maybe it's me.

No, these speakers LOOK the part, but they're mediocre at best, am I'm no expert. I choose poorly.

 

[beagleman]

One moment, please...

This chap did find distortion. And he used measuring equipment.

Ive been dissapointed with these too, i really wanted to like them with theyre look and build, although the design to me is flawed with the port being the same size as the 12.1's. They sound so restricted at louder volumes, boxy with a bloated bass.
However like someone has mentioned, ill try blocking the ports but failing that i cant see a reason to keep them.

Has anyone elses opinions changed on these since posting on this thread?

My set up is an audiolab 6000A with the IOTAX PA3 using CD's mainly with the CDT6000

Cheers

I will of course not challenge your subjective opinion, as I have not heard them in person. But mainly was basing it on my 12.1s sounding close to "great" overall, of course within the limits of their size etc....(A 5" small woofer etc)

Just I guess fail to see how they could hit a homerun with one model, and the next larger model (12.2) would be close to horrible, when they use the same exact tweeter, same designer and voicing and so on.

My "Smaller" version of the 12.1 will play moderately loud without distortion, but at quite loud volumes of course they are somewhat limited overall, as all speakers that size tend to be.

The guy in the review you linked to also said, this:

"even Wharfedale itself with the EVO 4.1 – who, for a little more money, have an option that really performs better.

And that’s a shame, because we have the feeling that this speaker can play much better with minimal modifications. More about that in the next section with the measurements."

Honestly have to call into question their "review", as The EVO 4.1 measured quite a bit worse than the similar sized Diamond 12.1 which Erin and Amir reviewed and found quite decent sounding.

IF anything my 12.1s do NOT sound bright at all. I mean they were ALL voiced by Karl Heinz Fink, so I would assume quite "Similar sounding" overall.
Not trying to sound like a Wharfedale fanboy, but just confused how 2 very similar models could sound drastically different??

Have you read the 12.1 reviews by Erin and Amir?

 

[thewas]

IF anything my 12.1s do NOT sound bright at all.

It seems that depends a lot also on personal preference, habituation and listening room, as I find mine quite bright so I am not surprised if he and that Dutch reviewers found the 12.2 bright (which can be seen also in their measurements).
Here I did a quick analysis on mine:

Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review (Speaker)

As some might remember in my recent review of them I liked them a lot but also criticised mainly their elevated treble for my room and taste which I could easily correct with EQ though. Looking at them and my measurements I thought this might be a rare case were the usually audiophoolian...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[beagleman]

agreed , the 4.2 needs to be measured considering how good the other 3 way books from wd measure...

Danny over at G-R measured the Evo 4.4 and it was quite decent response wise.

 

[beagleman]

It seems that depends a lot also on personal preference, habituation and listening room, as I find mine quite bright so I am not surprised if he and that Dutch reviewers found the 12.2 bright (which can be seen also in their measurements).
Here I did a quick analysis on mine:

Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review (Speaker)

As some might remember in my recent review of them I liked them a lot but also criticised mainly their elevated treble for my room and taste which I could easily correct with EQ though. Looking at them and my measurements I thought this might be a rare case were the usually audiophoolian...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I can agree with personal preference to some degree and also room, so maybe what some are hearing.

I have a carpeted floor and no walls in close proximity to mine, and they have a very "Neutral" not bright nor dull sound overall.

 

[AJM1981]

Just a little notification. If I remember well; The Diamond 11 series was on the market when the Denton 85th anniversary edition came out. 'Then' the Diamond 12 series followed after. The 12.2 would have corrected some of the 11.2 attention points. Now I have never see any shootout between the Denton 85th and the Diamond 12.2 and I really wonder how they are toe to toe as comparable formats.

Little background
For a second setup I havw owned the Diamond 11.2 (sold it) and the Diamond 12.0 (my dad uses them now) almost at the same time. Both replaced by the Denton 85th.

The 11.2 was a fine model, great optical design, similar to the Evo series. Always a little pitying about the fact that I sold them. I think the bass got a minor negative notification in a review, but it never drew my attention. The later owned Diamond 12.0 was a star of the series along with the 12.2 according to another review. Always wondered about the fact if they had actually created a Denton “clone” with the 12.2 But I have never been really in an opportunity to compare them.

 

[Musicofchance]

Just a little notification. If I remember well; The Diamond 11 series was on the market when the Denton 85th anniversary edition came out. 'Then' the Diamond 12 series followed after. The 12.2 would have corrected some of the 11.2 attention points. Now I have never see any shootout between the Denton 85th and the Diamond 12.2 and I really wonder how they are toe to toe as comparable formats.

Little background
For a second setup I havw owned the Diamond 11.2 (sold it) and the Diamond 12.0 (my dad uses them now) almost at the same time. Both replaced by the Denton 85th.

The 11.2 was a fine model, great optical design, similar to the Evo series. Always a little pitying about the fact that I sold them. I think the bass got a minor negative notification in a review, but it never drew my attention. The later owned Diamond 12.0 was a star of the series along with the 12.2 according to another review. Always wondered about the fact if they had actually created a Denton “clone” with the 12.2 But I have never been really in an opportunity to compare them.

HI. How are you getting on with the Denton 85's? Im tempted but keep seeing the odd review mentioning theyre 'bright'. Theres even a forum that has a thread in tweaking tgem using a resistor on the rear terminals.
My amp is an Audiolab 6000A combined with the Iotavx PA3. A neutral sound which may combat this possible issue but good to hear your thoughts.

 

[dfuller]

Maybe somebody could shed a light and opinion on the used components?

Most of them look just fine - I'm not fond of the idea of that ferrous core inductor used above the LF region (if it's in series with the mid as part of the LPF), but otherwise no issues to note.

They use plastic baskets for the woofer, which isn't necessarily a bad thing I guess.

Not necessarily - plastic is definitely more fragile, but given it's both non-magnetic and non-conductive (and probably effectively non-resonant), it plays no role in the behavior of the driver. I have heard of steel baskets changing the magnetic field somewhat, though how relevant that is to any actual audible characteristics I don't know.

 

[Architectorus]

Do you have a review for 4.4?

 

[panblue43]

Csak egy kis értesítés. Ha jól emlékszem; A Diamond 11 sorozat a piacon volt, amikor megjelent a Denton 85. évfordulós kiadása. „Aztán” a Diamond 12 sorozat következett. A 12.2 a 11.2 figyelempont egy részét javította volna. Most még soha nem láttam lövöldözést a Denton 85th és a Diamond 12.2 között, és nagyon kíváncsi vagyok, hogy ezek mennyire összehasonlítható formátumok.

Kis háttér
A második beállításhoz szinte egyszerre volt nálam a Diamond 11.2 (eladtam) és a Diamond 12.0 (apám használja most). Mindkettőt a Denton 85. váltotta fel.

A 11.2 remek modell volt, nagyszerű optikai kialakítással, hasonlóan az Evo sorozathoz. Mindig egy kicsit sajnálom, hogy eladtam őket. Azt hiszem, a basszus kapott egy kisebb negatív értesítést egy értékelésben, de soha nem hívta fel a figyelmemet. A későbbi tulajdonban lévő Diamond 12.0 a sorozat sztárja volt a 12.2 mellett egy másik értékelés szerint. Mindig is azon töprengtem, vajon valóban létrehoztak-e egy Denton „klónt” a 12.2-vel, de soha nem volt igazán alkalmam összehasonlítani őket.

Translated by mod. Please post in English going forward.

Just a little notice. If I remember correctly; The Diamond 11 series was on the market when Denton's 85th Anniversary Edition was released. "Then" came the Diamond 12 series. 12.2 would have fixed some of the 11.2 caveats. Now, I've never seen a Denton 85th vs Diamond 12.2 shoot and I'm very curious to see how comparable these formats are.



Small background

For the second setup, I had the Diamond 11.2 (I sold it) and the Diamond 12.0 (my dad uses it now) almost at the same time. Both were replaced by the Denton 85.



The 11.2 was a great model with a great optical design, similar to the Evo series. I always regret selling them a little. I think the bass got a minor negative notice in a review, but it never came to my attention. The later owned Diamond 12.0 was the star of the series along with the 12.2 according to another review. I've always wondered if they actually made a Denton "clone" with the 12.2, but never really had a chance to compare them.

Hi!

I really like wharfedales, I've been collecting them since the mach 3 type.

My favorites were modus one and diamond 11.2 in terms of sound and pleasant bass as well as a wide "sweet spot".

I also regret selling the 11.2, even my wife loved them, but at the same time I had the opportunity to test them with the Polk es20s, which surpassed the diamonds in a few points.

Now I have wharfedale fever again but nothing new under the sun... 

The 12.2 didn't come, the evo 4.1 is small, I didn't like the 4.2 because of the controllability mentioned...but I want a wharfedale...probably I have to wait..??!!!

 

[Architectorus]

Ничего не понятно, но очень интересно!

Translation:

I don't understand anything, but it's very interesting!

 

[AJM1981]

Translated by mod. Please post in English going forward.

Just a little notice. If I remember correctly; The Diamond 11 series was on the market when Denton's 85th Anniversary Edition was released. "Then" came the Diamond 12 series. 12.2 would have fixed some of the 11.2 caveats. Now, I've never seen a Denton 85th vs Diamond 12.2 shoot and I'm very curious to see how comparable these formats are.

I don't speak the language you're citing. My comment has been posted in English. I think there was an active translating service in your browser.

About your question. Have you considered the Lintons or perhaps the new Denton 3 way system?

HI. How are you getting on with the Denton 85's? Im tempted but keep seeing the odd review mentioning theyre 'bright'. Theres even a forum that has a thread in tweaking tgem using a resistor on the rear terminals.
My amp is an Audiolab 6000A combined with the Iotavx PA3. A neutral sound which may combat this possible issue but good to hear your thoughts.

The problem about the review(s) mentioned is that they take the older Denton 80th anniversary edition as a key marker to compare the new 85th to. The 80th sounded a bit warmer as the tweeter was a bit laid back whereas the 85th is a bit more forward in its treble presentation than the 80th, which I personally prefer.

The reviewer even went as far as to place a resistor to the binding posts in order to make the newer model sound like the 80th. Bit biased.

 

[panblue43]

I don't speak the language you're citing. My comment has been posted in English. I think there was an active translating service in your browser.

About your question. Have you considered the Lintons or perhaps the new Denton 3 way system?


The problem about the review(s) mentioned is that they take the older Denton 80th anniversary edition as a key marker to compare the new 85th to. The 80th sounded a bit warmer as the tweeter was a bit laid back whereas the 85th is a bit more forward in its treble presentation than the 80th, which I personally prefer.

The reviewer even went as far as to place a resistor to the binding posts in order to make the newer model sound like the 80th. Bit biased.

Hello!
Sorry,yes the translator is allways active,now typing in english.
I would like to get the evo 4.2s (now still have a chance to buy them on good price) but I am afraid the poor dispersion of the amt tweeters.I like wide - big sweet point when not need to sit in one position to enjoy the music.
Now I use the polk es20 but want to step up.There is also chance to change to polk r200 but almost the same problem with the ring tweeters.
I do not want hard positioning ls and in my room I could not use stands.
The distance between the loudspeakers is about 3,5 meters and could only put them on dresser-bookshelves.
I tried on heco elementa 300 (boring) diamond 10.2 (muddy) diamond 11.2 (my fav but could not handle power) diamond 12.2 (not for me) dali oberon 3 (hmm), kef q350 (not enjoyable for me,I like good sounding at low levels,flat,dry)...
If I choose dentons or super dentons I need to change my amp and cd player to leak audio goods

 

[regan]

I tried on heco elementa 300 (boring) diamond 10.2 (muddy) diamond 11.2 (my fav but could not handle power) diamond 12.2 (not for me) dali oberon 3 (hmm), kef q350 (not enjoyable for me,I like good sounding at low levels,flat,dry)

You could give wharfedale 225 a try maybe. They are well regarded on this forum and you can buy them used at a good price