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Wharfedale Evo 4.2 3-way bookshelf speaker
Wharfedale EVO 4.2 has grown out of the extensive research and development that produced the ELYSIAN flagship loudspeakers and borrows much of the technology involved in ELYSIAN.
The new Wharfedale Evo4.2 represents the dawn of a new standard in hi-fi, from Wharfedale – the most famous name in British loudspeakers.
Following the concept of the best-selling EVO series that came before it, EVO4 represents the evolution of affordable high-fidelity audio. More than just a new edition, EVO4 also fuses the EVO concept with trickle-down technology from the new flagship Wharfedale ELYSIAN series – and just like ELYSIAN, EVO4 pushes the boundaries of technology and performance of speakers within this price class. From the cabinet design to the materials employed in its distinct design, EVO4 stands head and shoulders above the competition.
Notably, the Wharfedale EVO4 series employs a specially engineered AMT (Air Motion Transformer) transducer for its proprietary, silky smooth high-frequency reproduction. By design, the AMT allows for a higher volume of air to be moved during a performance than with a convention soft dome tweeter. This higher-pressure action, encouraged by the principles of AMT design, offers an improved point-source HF reproduction with lower distortion properties than conventional tweeters. This is evident in the stunning and sheer clarity of the musical performance of all of the EVO4 series loudspeakers.
The primary focus is on the AMT development resulting in a radically different way of reproducing high-frequency detail efficiently and accurately. Similar cabinet technology to ELYSIAN provides a stable and solid foundation for the drive units with radiused edges to help integrate the driver output with the room acoustics. In addition the unique SLPP bass reflex system, as developed for ELYSIAN, is now incorporated in EVO 4.
Wharfedale Evo4.2 – Evolution by design
Taking strong elements from the Flagship ELYSIAN series, EVO 4.2 has groundbreaking research and design embedded in its DNA. A long history of class-leading speaker concepts coupled with new technological breakthroughs means this is genuinely an evolution of affordable Hi-Fi.
Wharfedale Evo4.2 – Beauty with a purpose
The Wharfedale EVO 4.2 cabinet is purpose-designed from the ground-up. Not just the sleek curves, which stand out from the competition, but the materials, composites, internal bracing and damping too, for instance. All of this ensures the sonic character is not compromised by aesthetic. Quite the opposite, in fact.
AMT
The AMT (Air Motion Transformer) high-frequency transducer excels above any rival model within this class. The point-source replicating, high volume air movement results in lower distortion and higher accuracy in HF reproduction.
Accuracy
Articulate and accurate bass is perfected by the bi-directional weaved Kevlar cones – a material that is naturally self-damping to reduce and distribute resonances to virtually negligible levels. In addition, a fixed, profiled phase plug ensures smooth acoustic roll off, further aiding integration with the AMT HF unit and mid-range drivers found in the EVO4.2 upwards.
Finely tuned
As per the uncompromising workflow and standard of Wharfedale loudspeaker development, hundreds of hours of listening plus custom-designed WHARFEDALE Computer-Aided Optimisation technology allows for the fine-tuning of the crossover, perfecting the combination of the driver selection for ultimate performance.
Versatile in application
The EVO4 series is refined to appeal to the audiophile and the home-theatre enthusiast alike. Offering supreme performance in tight spaces.
Specifications of the Wharfedale EVO4.2:
- General Description 3-way bookshelf speaker
- Enclosure Type bass reflex
- Transducer Complement 3-way
- Bass Driver 6.5″(165mm) black woven Kevlar® cone
- Midrange Driver 2″(50mm) soft dome
- Treble Driver 30*60mm AMT
- AV Shield No
- Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1M) 87dB
- Recommended Amplifier Power 25-120W
- Peak SPL 105dB
- Nominal Impedance 8Ω Compatible
- Minimum Impedance 4Ω
- Frequency Response (+/-3dB) 54Hz ~ 22kHz
- Bass Extension (-6dB) 48Hz
- Crossover Frequency 1.4kHz,3.9kHz
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 455 x 250 x (340+10)mm
- Net Weight 13.4kg/pcs
- Finish: Walnut
Reviews of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 Speaker
- Hi-Fi World Review of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 Speaker
- Hi-Fi Choice review of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 Speaker
YouTube Reviews of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 Speaker
bhupinder sidhu –
Anil ji suggested me to purchase this speaker with my audiolab 6000a because I wasn’t getting good sound with my previous speakers. the speakers came with excellent packing from hifimart . When I connected speakers to 6000a , the sound was so musical like a live performance in front of you. I think 6000a & evo 4.2 made for each other. Thanks hifimart for great service.
ramya nandkumar –
Really great sounding speakers with plenty of power. Built well and are very heavy for their size . Very happy with Wharfedale , would recommend to anyone.
Darpan –
My experience after 7 months of usage – These speakers have a laidback presentation with a warm midranhe and a neutral and airy treble which aid fatigue free listening. They impress with the right kind of music and audience but they aren’t exciting speakers so while classical and orchestra play exceptionally well, rock and metal lack the energy and verve. Read up the review posted by hifichoice magazine which IMHO best sums up the characteristics of the speaker.
Ramana Gowra –
After a lot of going back and forth on the right speakers to buy, based on budget and quality, I took Anil’s advice and picked up the EVO 4.2’s. I have paired it with the Marantz 5015 reciever. They are just amazing and provides a fatigue free listening experience. It’s well built and looks superb as well. What I really liked was the clarity of the sound and the softness it brought to the music.
Devakumar Ratnaraj –
Bought this a month ago. Very good wooden packaging by HiMart. Happy with the purchase. Good to see we are star getting products with price similar to international market. Speaker sounds good, needs a good amplifier though.
floydindian –
As a music enthusiast, I recently embarked on a quest to upgrade my setup. After discussing various options with Mr. Anil, I took the plunge and ordered the Wharfedale EVO 4.2 speakers. HiFiMart did a terrific job of packing (using an outer sturdy wooden crate) and safely delivering these heavy speakers to my doorstep within a few days of ordering. I have been listening to a lot of vinyls since hooking up these speakers ranging from artists like Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Vince Guaraldi Trio, The Police, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, R.E.M,, ZZ Top, The Wallflowers, Jagjit & Chitra, etc. and I am simply blown away by the warm rich sound… While early days, I am extremely happy with these speakers & highly recommend them. The build quality of these speakers is amazing – the only advice I would offer is to watch / read all the reviews that have been posted by the HiFiMart team about these speakers – they were extremely helpful besides Mr. Anil’s guidance!
Milind Kulkarni –
For me it took more time to conclude on the right speakers ( EVO 4.2 ) and AV receiver ( Marantz SR 5015) to buy, based on budget and quality, I went ahead with Mr. Anil’s advice. Recently completed the installation and as off now I am extremely delighted with their performance. Thanks to Mr. Anil for his valuable time to time advice !
Anil Advani –
Warfedale EVO 4.2
Am I happy? You bet!
Straight out of the box the EVOs were as expected “new” sounding and needed a good break-in.
After the first day, PinkNoise was run through them for 24 hours.
After which the amp was left on, without any audio signal, just to let the chain reach a equilibrium: Preamp Krell KRS-2, Power amp Krell KSA-100s, Van den Hul silver cables.
After the running-in, these speakers opened up to their potential. The bass is tight, pretty much omnipresent, the mid range is amazing because of the 2” soft dome, the upper end is smooth and relaxed but not lacking. The layers and layers of detail and nuances come through with clarity.
Placement plays a critical part for the EVO 4.2s, 24” stands being just fine for my listening position, a massive toe-in benefits the directionality of the AMT, the sound-stage is pretty darn good though is limited to the lateral and back to front; the vertical image is kind of lacking but for a speaker of this range – acceptable definitely. The soundstage detaches itself from the speakers with careful placement and some adjustments to the room as well!
Test tracks used, not limited to though, were: Melting Pot – Booker T and the MGs
Sinnerman – Nina Simone
Wherever I May Roam – Metallica
Redemption Song – Bob Marley
Bass & Drums Intro – Nils Lofgren
Bubbles – Yosi Horikawa
Moonlight On Spring River – Zhao Cong
Walk on The Wild Side – Lou Reed
Speak to me – Amy Lee
The Train Song – Holly Cole
Briar and Rose – Holly COle
Shake Your Hips [live] – Peter Green and Splinter Grp
Ice Cream Cakes – Jeff Beck
Tin Pan Alley [studio] – Stevie Ray Vaughan
Hyper-ballad – Bjork
Kiss in Blue – Yello
Besides the above, plenty of classical tracks, 70s Rock and others.
A big thanks goes out to Anil @ HiFi Mart for all his help.
Best wishes, Anil Advani
Probir Sen –
I’ve never heard Whitney Houston give such a performance! Captured every high and super-high pitch, excellent mid-range and synchronous bass balance. Tese are the speakers everyone should be listening to.
Robert –
Living in India for 9 years now, in Auroville TN, last summer i brought back from France a nice Creek Destiny 2 and was wondering what kind of speakers could be good companions within a budget, Anil suggested me to go with the Wharfedale Linton but they were a little big for my space and reading the reviews about the Evo 4.2 i decided to go with them and really never regretted my choice. At this price level i don’t know if we can find better, the musicality is exceptional as other virtues like soundstage and absence of fatigue. Having owned in my past life such speakers like Kharma CRM 3.2 fe, i can say i have a little experience in the matter, so don’t hesitate go for them.
JOHN –
It was Mr. Anil’s suggestion to buy this pair along with Marantz PM 7000N . Speakers were well packed in wooden crating and received on 4th day after placing order.
The combination is absolutely fantabulous !
Thanks to Hifi Mart for their prompt service. Keep it Up!
ravindranahar –
What an output…
I purchased this set of speakers from HifiMart, after consulting with Anilji.
I must say, the setup that he has suggested has truly met my expectations.
This could have been difficult to form and arrive at such conclusion without investing much of time in various auditions and trials.
I got the speakers delivered in very quick time, and the whole process of placing the order, till the delivery of the goods was very smooth. I highly recommend using this platform for purchasing of audio products.
Now, coming to the speakers Evo 4.2.
Initially I was looking to buy Evo 4.4, with the expectation that floor standers will provide the better base and depth. But after using the 4.2 speakers for more than 6 months now, I am confident that 4.2 is a better choice, given that they have been installed in a 12 by 13 room size.
It has been connected with Marantz PM7000N, which is a very suitable amplifier for this set of speakers.
My overall experience is very good with this whole journey.
Rajeshwar Singh –
Firstly, Special thanks to Mr. Anil who recommended me my first HiFi gear. He understood my requirements and suggested me products which were completely different than what I was planning, and a big thanks to him for suggestions.
Coming to the speakers, I haven’t heard anything of this quality before. They made me realize what all details I had been missing in my preferred selection of music. Brilliant lows (nothing more than needed), extra ordinary mids and amazing highs. Highly recommended !
Nayan Dewan –
I wanted to upgrade my speakers and wanted something that could handle my bass and mid-range. I bought these speakers and was amazed at the difference in sound quality. They are clearer in the mid-range and have more bass than my old ones. The customer service was great. I would recommend these speakers to music lovers.
Som –
*** not an audiophile + comments are subjective *** I’ve been using this speaker with the Audiolab 6000A for a month and a half, and I finally feel ready to write about it. The sound has evolved a bit over this time, which is something one has to be prepared for. To begin with, I have to say that this is the purest and cleanest sound I’ve heard in my life. Nothing I’ve come across quite compares. The system sounds like it’s giving you the music exactly as recorded, without its own spin (enhancement if you like it, distortion if you don’t). For the music I listen to – late baroque, mostly – this is an absolute blessing, because it lets the airiness of a Suzuki-BCJ interpretation shine through, while not compromising the intensity of Gardiner’s miraculous ensembles. Harpsichord music is precise without being tinny, and violins are fluent and resonant without being screechy. Vocal music sounds like the singer is in the room. The only small complaint one could have is with organ music, where the pedal notes come across with clarity but are somewhat lacking in the growl that one is used to. But it handles the cello’s lower notes fluently. The other feature I must write about is the listening experience. I heard a lot about the 4.2 speakers’ disappointing off-axis performance, and I did feel that way myself at first. Over time, though, I notice a significant improvement, to a point where I’m quite happy with what I hear even when I get up and walk over to answer the door. And at a proper listening position, my matchbox-sized (if one is charitable) Mumbai living room somehow expands into something much more capacious, exactly big enough for whatever’s playing. Opening one’s eyes is always a jolting experience, no matter how many times it’s happened before. A third feature I should highlight is that the level of detail, which lets you focus on any specific aspect that you like, without losing track of the whole. For music rich in counterpoint, this again is a blessing. What do I not like? Well, the sound isn’t really big – so if you like your Bruckner rare or medium-rare, then this sound may not really be for you (disclaimer – I don’t know which hardware can do a good job of rendering a proper red-blooded Bruckner symphony, hope to find out one day). Likewise, for bass-heavy music, you might find it wanting (again, I haven’t tried). Lastly, these are after all bookshelves, even if they’re impossibly good ones, so if you’re listening late at night at low volume so as not to disturb the neighbours, you may not find the granularity and detail satisfying. For me, so far, it’s been a wonderful experience, and at this rate I expect, over the system’s (and my) lifetime, to be repaid handsomely for my investment. Many thanks to Anil at Hifimart for sending me down this path!
Venkatesan –
Excellent built bookshelf speaker, good imaging & tonality.. Great service from hifi mart..
Jayachandran P –
After using the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 3-Way Bookshelf Speaker for over two years through various amplifiers and many different configurations I wanted to post my view of this truly exceptional speaker that delivers a premium listening experience.
First and foremost, the design of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 is stunning. The speakers have a sleek, modern look that would complement any home decor. The high-quality construction and finish of the cabinet are immediately noticeable, with attention to detail that elevates the product’s aesthetics.
The 3-way design of the speakers is impressive, featuring an AMT tweeter, a domed midrange driver, and a 6-inch woven Kevlar bass driver. These three drivers work together in harmony to produce a dynamic and detailed soundstage, delivering clear and crisp highs, mids, and astounding deep bass (with the right amplifier).
The sound quality of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 is where the product truly shines. The speakers are capable of producing a wide soundstage with excellent imaging, allowing you to hear every instrument and detail in your music. The bass response is also outstanding (after around 200 hours of running), providing a full-bodied and impactful listening experience. The sound is well-balanced, with no frequency range overpowering the others.
The Wharfedale Evo 4.2 is versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes. Whether you are using them for home theatre, listening to music, or gaming, the speakers deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience.
Finally, I would say that the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 3-Way Bookshelf Speaker is an excellent speaker (worth many times more than its current price) that is well worth the investment. With a stunning design, exceptional build quality, and outstanding sound performance, it’s a speaker that will impress even the most discerning audiophiles.
Ebenezer Jebaraj –
I bought this speaker a year back from Hifimart after speaking to Anil. This is an excellent speaker if you have synergic amplifier / front end (Neutral sounding amplifiers sound good with this speaker). This speaker has well balanced sound with warm bass, full bodies mid frequency and crisp HF. This speaker has wide / deep sound stage. Overall this speaker is warm with slightly projected high mid frequencies. Hence one needs to be careful with pairing. It sounds awesome in my current chain (ifi Zen Stream – Denafrips Ares ii DAC – Naim Nait 5si amp – Evo 4.2 + Rel t7x sub). I had to try different pairing components to arrive at this sweet spot. Though this speaker has good bass, a good quality Sub would dig deep in low frequency and complement well with its wonderful mids and produce a much wider sound stage.