Wharfedale Evo 4.2 (Couple) Black Speakers Pair

Product Information

AMTs typically offer excellent high-frequency performance, but don’t traditionally work down to the same crossover point that a conventional dome tweeter is comfortable at, meaning the handling of midbass frequencies can be less than ideal. In the Evo4.2, the dome midrange handles frequencies between 1.4kHz and 3.9kHz and keeps all the drivers within their operational comfort zones. The trade off comes in the form of a more complex crossover and notional reduction in efficiency. I feel like the EVO 4.2 dissected music for effectively breaking it down for the listener to be able to hear more deeply into the music. In contrast the Linton speakers disabled the analytical side of my audiophile brain which helped me relax into the music as a musical whole and this definitely stirs some deeper emotions and is a very foot tapping experience. Same with blues, jazz and all acoustic music that's why is sounds good it fall into that natural bass band 40hz and above.

The combination of the AMT tweeter and dome midrange delivers much in the way of resolution and transparency. These speakers sound impressively articulate through these frequencies and deliver vocal-led music such as Mount The Air from The Unthanks brilliantly. There’s nuance and texture in voices that helps to communicate emotions really well. Methinks that here Wharfedale have come to terms with the fact that their potential audience prefer ‘the BBC sound’ to anything associated with Red Bull and Vodka shots. Additionally, the smooth high end doesn’t draw attention to distortion from CD, making silver disc an easier listen. I did notice a slight bite in the midrange on rare occasions. An aggressive vocal snap would produce a slight midrange bark to accompany emphasis in delivery but that seemed to be a by-product of the accompanying precision from the speakers as a whole. Not a big deal and it didn’t overly concern me but it’s something to note during a demo.For a pair of stand mounters, as they sit there, on top of my speaker stands, the EVO 4.2 speakers look big. They look imposing. They, and let me make this absolutely clear… loom. They loom at you, folks. You walk into a room and you might think there’s a pair of intruders standing in your listening room. I don’t know how many times I reached for 999 during this review and then grabbed my heart in relief when I realised who they where. Straight Out The Box: My first reaction as I undressed them from their protective white gowns was that the walnut appeared duller than it looked in the pictures but that they still look beautiful and seem very well made. Their shape and design look very at home in my living room. The first test that had to pass was the wife test, I was nervous. They are larger and have a more imposing presence than the HB1’s but thankfully she liked them and said they look expensive (phew). The EVO4 series from Wharfedale uses materials and technologies from our flagship speakers, which means that we deliver high-quality achievements without a price tag. Hence, the bass and the treble provided true sonic bookends for a host of midband detail that entertained and delighted while the bass itself acted like a football coach, encouraging and influencing the rest of the music to greater heights.

As per the company, using the soft dome midrange allows a smoother transition between the high and mid frequencies since the soft dome can play just about as fast as the AMT tweeter.I tested these speakers in two rooms one small and one medium sized. In the process I was able to learn that room size, layout and furnishings have an astounding impact sound. My medium sized room has a tiled floor with a large rug but features less in the way of soft furnishings. The speakers were placed 9-10 feet apart, 4 feet away from side walls and 3 feet away from rear wall. The room acoustics made the highs seem a little sharper yet the room size and placement of the speakers allowed the delicious lower bass to breathe fully, gently filling the room without sounding constrained. The soundstage was wide, deep and immersive, instruments and vocals took on a 3D quality and the room became alive with the sound of music. That said, even from my initial listening sessions, I could definitely tell this was a quiet speaker, as they “disappeared” with no problem at all. This is the hallmark of an inert cabinet.