WHARFEDALE EVO 5.4 LOUDSPEAKERS REVIEW

Wharfedale EVO 5.4 loudspeakers are the latest iteration of this popular and affordable floorstanding loudspeaker. In this review for HiFi PiG, Debbie Collinson, a long-time user of the previous Wharfedale EVOs, takes a listen to the new and improved EVO 5.4 from this stalwart of the HiFi scene.

Founded in 1932 by Gilbert Briggs, a music enthusiast and audio experimenter, Wharfedale is a cornerstone of the British audio industry, known for its long-standing commitment to producing high-quality loudspeakers that offer exceptional value. The company has a rich history of innovation, consistently delivering well-engineered products that appeal to both new enthusiasts and seasoned audiophiles with a variety of budgets to consider.

In some of the latest additions to their lineup, from 2019 to date, the Evo 4 and Evo 5 series build upon this legacy. The Evo series represents a significant development in Wharfedale’s approach to performance and design, incorporating advanced driver technology and refined cabinet construction. Positioned to deliver a compelling listening experience, the Evo 5 models aim to build upon the success of the Evo 4 series and maintain Wharfedale’s reputation for providing accessible high-fidelity audio without compromise.

Peter Comeau, Director of Acoustic Design at Wharfedale, explains that “For the Evo 5 series, we’ve reworked cabinet volumes, redesigned crossovers, and applied advanced techniques and materials to the drive units.  These updates result in significant sonic improvements and aesthetic refinements, all while keeping cost increases to a minimum”.  

As a long-term Evo 4 series owner and enthusiast, it seemed like a big ask, but first impressions were very positive.

BUILD AND STYLING

Having been accustomed to the Evo 4.3s for well over 4 years, as my everyday go-to speaker, when the Evo 5.4s arrived I was rather stunned by the size and weight, especially for a speaker at their price point.  The speakers weigh 31.2kgs each when unboxed.  They are 1028mm high, 302mm wide, and are up to 390mm deep with the grilles mounted.  I could already see that I’d need to be more mindful of the space I provided around them and placement near the rear walls.  This was something that the 4.3s handled admirably and with little fuss due to their more diminutive stature.

They were very well packed and, after unboxing, a two-person job requiring a tea break; first impressions were of delighted anxiety as I wondered how they would fit into my relatively modest 12 x 13ft listening room.

First impressions are that the Evo 5.4’s design is a blend of modern and retro aesthetics, with a more rectangular shape compared to its predecessors, the Evo 4 series. The cabinet is a key feature, robustly constructed from a sandwich of different-density woods to reduce resonance. It also has a curved side to further aid in this. The drivers are housed in a sturdy cabinet that, unlike the previous Evo 4.4, feels more solid and well-damped.

Aesthetically, the speaker has clean lines with no visible screws, and the grilles are magnetically attached, contributing to a premium look and user experience. The speakers stand on a hybrid metal and wood plinth, which houses the Slot Loaded Profiled Port (SLPP) system. This is a three-directional port design that aids in airflow and bass performance.

The Evo 5.4 is a three-way floor-standing speaker featuring a 35 x 70mm Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter, a 2-inch soft dome midrange driver, and two 6.5-inch black woven Kevlar bass cones. It has a sensitivity of 90 dB and a nominal impedance of 4 Ω (compatible with 8 Ω systems). The recommended amplifier power is between 30 and 200 watts. The speakers have a frequency response of 42 Hz−24 kHz (±3 dB).  My Rega Elicit Mk 5 integrated amplifier had no problems driving these speakers.

The Evo 5.4 is available in an enhanced range of finishes, including the Walnut Wood Veneer option.  The white and black finishes are now smooth, high-quality matt, and there is also the addition of a new Lunar Grey matte finish, which was not available for the previous Evo 4 series.  It is the new Lunar Grey matte finish we are supplied with for this review.

SOUND OF THE WHARFEDALE EVO 5.4s

Straight out of the box, I could tell the Evo 5.4s had already been tested and used previously, so I was expecting them to be somewhat run-in.  I started with some smooth jazz at a reasonably low volume, and they seemed more than up to the job and completely comfortable.  Switching it up a little to the 45 rpm MoFi Version of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue”, they really started to show their true potential.  I conducted direct comparisons between my previous Evo 4.3s and the 5.4s, and the standout improvements were firmly rooted in the scale and depth of bass, but also the shimmering detail from the improved AMT tweeters. They handled the complex horn solos with aplomb. On increasing the volume, I discovered an even richer and rounder dimension of sound as they woke up.  The Evos certainly shine brighter at a slightly higher volume.  Continuing to utilise the Rega P3 50th with ND7 as the source, Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” 45 rpm on Mofi sounded positively sparkling, with beautiful detail in the upper frequencies.  Changing to a much cheaper record (£2, second hand!), the 12” of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Two Tribes”, was lively, delivering a punchy rhythm and extended bass.

One of the first small challenges I noted was that due to the increased size and volume of the 5.4s compared to the 4.3s, I had to do a little more manoeuvring in my relatively small listening room in order to mitigate some bass overkill. This improved when I moved them around 14 inches from the rear and side wall, toed them in, and cleared any clutter around the downward firing ports (the records will have to find another home!). The adjustments were fairly minimal and did improve the bass response and control well. These speakers are not really made to be backed up against a wall or placed tightly in a corner if you want to gain optimal sound from them.  I have no doubt they will shine even more in a larger room.  They certainly have enough juice and gumption to fill larger listening rooms with rich and dynamic sound.

It was time to experiment with a few different genres to see how the Evo 5.4s handled a broader variety of music.  Switching to streaming from Qobuz and Tidal via the Hifi Rose RS 150b, I was able to see how they performed more widely from a digital source.

They sounded exceptionally impressive with Lenny Kravitz’s “Low” accentuating the full potential of the 2 x 6.5” woven Kevlar woofers.  Similarly, using another bass-intensive, drum-led track, Steve Smith’s “Drums Stop, No Good”, they sounded very cogent and expressive, picking up every nuance from the lowest kick of the bass drum to the top of the cymbals and snare cracks with the AMT tweeter.  

One of the most impressive tracks I tried during this initial session was Hidden Citizens’ “Que Sera, Sera”, a poetic and atmospheric track that tests the best of systems from the very highest to the lowest frequencies. The Evo 5.4s did not disappoint at all, and I found myself holding my breath whilst listening; it was so immersive. In my opinion, this truly demonstrated the full potential and scale of what these speakers could deliver. The room vibrated (in a good way) and the dog shot out into the back garden…

I had been so focused on fine-tuning the bass and eliciting as much detail as I could out of the AMTs that I felt I needed to shift my focus to vocals and explore how effectively they were presented. The Evos have a dedicated 2” soft dome midrange driver, so I really wanted to test their capacity to deliver. As much as I loved my Evo 4.3s, this was an area I always felt they lagged with, compared to other models, such as transmission line designs. I started with a strong vocal track, Sophie Zelmani’s, “Why”, which sounded sweet and pure with very clear and accurate vocal delivery.  Playing another midrange-rich track, Sara K’s “All Your Love (Turned to Passion) reinforced again that the Evos were very capable of making the most out of a great source recording.  They sounded just as impressive as speakers I have heard with significantly larger price tags.

Having concluded that the Evo 5.4s were very talented and expressive with great source recordings, I felt I needed to dig a little deeper to see how they handle slightly more problematic or flat recordings. I started with a few tracks from Guns and Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction”, with which I’ve always struggled to get a satisfactory sound via streaming platforms. This was no real exception. The Evos exposed the rather compressed recording and were not particularly forgiving. It was a similar story with a plethora of other 80s recordings, which had been compressed for initial CD recordings at the time. From this, I could draw some conclusions that the Evos were true to the source recordings. You get out of them what you put in, so choose the best source you have available wherever possible. That is not to say that they don’t do an impressive job all round, and they did sound superb with many other 70s and 80s tracks, particularly those with detailed acoustic guitar layers or thumping dance tunes.

Having now listened to the Evo 5.4s for several weeks in my system, I’m not going to be able to let them go.  They are exceptional value for money and are highly talented all rounders for those who have sufficient space and a modestly capable amplifier/source. They perform beautifully with both analogue and digital sources and seemed to be more than satisfied being driven by my Rega Elicit Mk 5 integrated amplifier, at 162wpc into 4 ohms. Compared to the Evo 4.3s, I just need to up the volume by less than an eighth of a turn.

QUIBBLES

There’s isn’t much not to love about these speakers at this price point. Under great scrutiny, I would say that on some tracks, the midrange is not quite as rich and warm as it could be, but with a great source recording, the midrange is expansive and detailed. Some people with smaller listening rooms may want to try a home demo of both the 5.4s and the 5.3s before deciding what is best for their space and set up.  The 5.4s have some serious bass and may need careful positioning and/or room treatment in a small environment.

CONCLUSION

I’ve enjoyed every minute with these speakers and been thoroughly impressed with their overall performance and value. Experienced audiophiles who have visited the house have expressed positivity about their stylish aesthetics and build quality. They were wholly surprised when I told them that they retailed for £1399.

From a listening point of view, they demonstrate admirable dynamic scale and delivery from a variety of different analogue and digital sources. With a little repositioning in my modest listening room, they have added greater depth, soundstage, and detail in the high end to my previous stalwarts, the Evo 4.3s. My audiophile other half was also suitably impressed enough that we sold two sets of our previous speakers off so we could purchase the new 5.4s as a step up for our passive system. At £1399rrp they are an absolute steal and a must-have for anyone looking to demo loudspeakers at this price point (or even higher, to be honest). As ever, wherever possible, we would recommend a demo in your own setting first to ensure that any speakers suit your listening room and system.

I’m giving these the HiFi PiG 5 Heart award because they are simply excellent value for money, are talented all-rounders, and are a significant upgrade from the previous Evo 4 series.   

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality and Features:

The build quality and finish are solid, with a variety of different option,s including the Walnut Wood Veneer option.  There are smooth white and black finishes in high-quality matt and the addition of a new Lunar Grey matte finish, which was not available for the previous Evo 4 series.

Sound Quality:

Excellent scale and depth with stand out detail in the high end from the AMT tweeters

Hugely capable with strong source recordings

Value for Money:

Exceptional value for money at £1399.  You would be hard-pressed to find the whole package at this price point, but Wharfedale has delivered with the Evo 5.4s.

We Loved:

Build quality, dynamics, powerful bass, fabulous detail in the high end, value

We Didn’t Love So Much:

Quite revealing with less well-mastered or very compressed source recordings. 

Elevator Pitch Review: Wharfedale’s new Evo 5.4s are the flagship model of the Evo range, which sits above the Diamond and below the Aura models of loudspeakers.  They are a 3-way design featuring a very capable Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter, a dedicated 2-inch soft dome midrange driver, and two 6.5-inch black woven Kevlar bass cones, which deliver excellent bass range. They look and feel solid and robust, yet have a pleasing curved aesthetic and utilize different density woods to reduce resonance. They are sonically a significant improvement on the already well-regarded Evo 4 series and continue to represent excellent value for money with the bonus of improved functionality and build. We liked them so much we bought a pair!

Price: £1399

Debbie Collinson