Wharfedale Evo 4.2 Speaker Review - A Lion doesn't need to tell anyone it's a Lion

I mistakenly said these were vinyl wrap. They are real wood veneer. Apologize for the mistake

Unbelievable how many very enthusiastic reviews you can find on the internet. Full of expectations i went looking for a store for a listening session. The Evo's look amazing but they really don't sound that good. Personally i think they sound rather bad. I have got some old Sony's SS-CG1 bookshelf speakers who sound much better and fuller. Much more detail. My main speaker come from ASW. No compassion there. On my recent listening session I listened to other speakers in the same price category. The Evo's lost to them all. Dali, B&W, Mission. The Focals really beat the Evo's. The store owner confirmed my reaction. He told me this happened a lot. People come in for the Evo's but never walks out with them. Too bad, they look amazing. My be I should buy the 4.3 but don't plug them in. Just for show because they look so stunning. And then use some Focals for musical enjoyment. But wait, the Focals look amazing to. Better forget about the complete Evo series.

Looking forward to trying these. Will be my first ‘proper’ component setup…coming from a cheap suitcase Crosley for my vinyl and a JBL bluetooth for streaming. Pairing the EVOs with a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo and Yamaha A-S801. Excited to finally build something worth the vinyl I own. This review helped me decide on the EVOs. Appreciate it!

This speaker is a cat in Lion’s clothing. The speaker baskets themselves are made of PLASTIC. For $1,000 - my drivers better have at least a stamped metal basket. Preferably cast. The highs are stifled by their use of an electrolytic capacitor where they’ve used poly caps in other places. They could have at least bypassed the electrolytic to produce a smoother sound up top. I like the way these sound, but I’m meh about the construction. Other manufacturers provide more value for the money. Skip these.

I heard a set of 4.1s in person and they just made me smile every time I played a song I knew. The intro to Silver springs by fleetwood mac especially. I LOVE the idea of owning the 4.2, but the directionality of it is a problem. Is there something with similar tone that isnt quite as directional? Maybe the Dentons, or the Lintons?

Randy, between the evo 4.2 or Polk R200, which is better? They sell for almost the same price here in Singapore.

hey i really love your review, i'm thinking to buy evo 4.2, which one is better, Wharfedale Evo 4.2 or Polk R200? and why you recommend them?

Will the warfdale 4.2 bookshelfs combine oke with SVS speakers in a 5.1.4 system?

I just got them today! I paired them with a Denon X4300H. The highs are so crisp and clear. The mids are full and rich.
They go down low enough to put a smile on your face! I listen to techno, house and minimal house a lot. Their characteristics remind me of Funktion-One loudspeakers (also from the U.K.), which are highly regarded in the club/rave/festival scene. I guess because both of them are from the U.K, it's not a coincidence that they both have that great "British" sound. Pure, clean, and crisp.

Hey Randy, thanks for your channel !! I have been binge watching all your speaker comparison videos................ I just bought the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 and just let me add something.....I was powering them with my NAD C315BEE for one week.... listening.... meh.... not really impressed. Yes balanced, and it actually has quite substantial bass. So much that I went back to the dealer today with my NAD to test it again, and maybe check for other speaker options .We checked Sonus Faber Lumina II....-very very nice, expensive , speakers-, Klipsch R600M 2....meh-no bass at all but nice highs-............and it was all meh until the guy pulled a Rega Brio power amp (which I am purchasing this evening). I could not believe the difference a power amp can make. It's not splitting hairs, it's not a slight difference. It's HUGE. All of a sudden the Wharfedales woke up and started throwing some punches....really like listening to a different set of speakers !!.....Just wanted to leave a comment here because to be honest, I was kind of skeptical about this . Again, thanks for your channel !

The actual woofer is only around 5,1” actually . The casing is 6,5”. Great speakers but it feels like a false advertising by Wharfedale :(

Naaah i grabbed a cup of Rum and a cold Beer, now thats how you enjoy music fidelity.

Wow thats a pretty glowing review. Feel like I have to seriously consider this speaker now. Worried it wont work well for home theater for 3 people on a couch, but ... who knows.
How often do you have to change out the air purifier on the top?

I'm consistently astonished when knowledgeable reviewers suggest that there's no such thing as speaker break-in. I mean, Jeebus Christmas on a pink-painted bicycle, it's a box full of moving parts! Connected by wires! Tell me that those wires don't respond to that movement differently over time.

For me, the proof that speaker break-in is real, is that it always runs in one direction along the audio character continuum. You will never, ever hear a reviewer say, "These were pretty bloated and frankly kind of a mess, but 50 hours of watching TV with my wife and they really started to come together into a much tighter and more cohesive sound." You will NEVER hear a reviewer say that. Break-in always runs the other way: From a slightly etched, brittle, tizzy sound, to something much more forgiving and musical. To me the explanation is pretty obviously that the moving parts are smoothing themselves out with fewer herks and jerks.

Hi! Do you think they are suitable for an home theatre configuration with the Denon AVC X4700H? Thank you very much

This are on sale in my country , Romania at 570$ should i get them ?

Hi man, i want to buy new speaker… i listen mostly bollywood music and songs, so vocal heavy, i love voices,
So i am confused between following…
1) Dali Oberon 5
2) wharfedale denton 85th
3) Wharfedale EVO 4.2
Or any other with best vocals and smooth sounding….
Vocals and open sound are my priorities…can you help me… thanks & happy new year🎉🎉🎉

Hi Randy, These or Denton 80th Anniversary Bookshelf Speakers? Which is better sounding? Thank you. I love all your Video's!

I do wonder how these would compare to the Linton.

I am a beginner on this hobby. I am nearing my retirement and planning to have a simple 3.1 setup for music and movies to enjoy my retirement. What AVR do you suggest to get these Evo 4.2 their best sound. Thanks in advance and more power to your channel.

My Mission 775 tower speakers are 24 years old and I discovered recently one of the speaker elements in one of my tower speakers has ceased to emit any sound - one of the woofers, most likely a burned-out voice coil. I debated about taking it in to a repair shop and having it replaced, but considering the age of the speaker I seriously doubt I could get an exact replacement... And frankly these speakers don't excite me anymore.

All that said, I entered the market recently and have been researching mostly online - I would prefer auditioning speakers live, in person. But this option is virtually impossible now in Saint Louis with one notable exception and it's a very high end place that's not in my price range...

Thanks largely to your review I decided to pull the trigger and purchase these along with the EVO4.CS center speaker . After about two weeks in I can say I am absolutely thrilled with these. By far the best sounding speakers I've ever owned. I spent #1,100 LESS than what I paid for the Mission speaker in 1998 AND these new speakers sound vastly superior to my ears.

I considered replacing my back surrounds and I am glad I waited, because my Boston Acoustic CR9's, though purchased in 1995, march perfectly with these. I also have an SVS subwoofer and Sony height speakers, rounding out an exquisite system that delights and enraptures me better than any system I've owned before.

Final note: The Mission tower speakers and matching center channel speaker cost me $2700 back in 1998. The Boston
Acoustic CR9"s cost me $400 for the pair back in 1995 and they're still going strong - unlike the Mission. Goes to show you that spending more money is no guarantee on neither the sound quality OR the longevity or the electronics purchased!

I inherited my first car from my brother. Rambler. Cost him $100 and hot wired to start. 🧐
I didn’t know enough to ask. 🤦‍♀️😆

great reviews & really have an anchoring for a set of these! What do you think they would be like with the rotel a11 tribute?

Hi Randy! congrats for your channel, as it's a must for me in this audio-fans-world... my question is pretty concrete: do you prefer these EVOs or the more newer Polk R200s?? keeping in mind a mixed usage (home theater and music), but with an special focus in stereo music (without sub).

I am bit surprised that this Evo 4.2 need so much distance to the rear wall : 2 or 3 feet according to you experience. Since this speakers do not have rear reflex ports, I thought they could be placed as near as 1 feet from the rear wall.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the AMT tweeter of the EVO 4.2 compared to traditional dome tweeter?

Are these working without stands when put on right height?

How do these speakers compare to svs prime bookshelf speakers anyone any idea?

How do you think these would work in a stack? 2 pairs on one set of stands with the speakers doubled stacked with no flip....would that blend and mix the sounds better? take care of the laser pointer mid frequency.

Hello. They are ok for a 30mp2 room? Thank you

Would the new Powernode run these speakers well

I want to thank you for all of your great, informative and occasionally humorous videos. I am a burgeoning audiophile (can I say that word?) and recently took two of your recommendations. I purchased the Wharfedale Evo 4.2s and the Sony STR-DH190. While the Warfedales are a little light on the bottom end, I paired them with a couple of Presonus Eris E8XTs to carry the lows. As I write this, I am listening to the Elder Scrolls V Skyrim soundtrack. My music has never sounded so vast!
As I am not wealthy, I was wondering if I should buy these items while having no idea what they sounded like. Thanks to your videos, I took that chance and am in no way disappointed.
Keep the videos coming!!! Thank you!
Edit: 11 days later and the lows on the Wharfedales have surpassed the lows on the Presonus’. I have always been uncertain as to the validity of a speaker “break-in” period. With the 4.2s there is a definite difference. Love these speakers!! Thanks again!!

2 pairs of leak sandwich 600s works for me. Drive them with a sansui AU 717

These have been the most underwhelming purchase of my life.

I listen to music only and I currently have Polk S20 set up in my bedroom which to me sound more detailed than the klipsch RB 51 they replaced. However I still feel like something is missing and was wondering if these would be a good upgrade or should I try for SVS ultra or even Monitor Audio Bronze 100 since my ears are level with the tweeter on the polks now. I’m also running these on a Yamaha RN803 network receiver with an SVS PB1000 pro sub.

I wonder why in our country this only sell for $670 a pair, while the svs ultra bookshelf is $1,200.

Update...1/18/22 $1199.00

How do You think it will sound with Arcam Sa10?

Great review, I would love a pair of these, try Stevie wonder "living in the city" for soundstage and imaging. amazing!

That album was recorded with Q Sound processing which is meant to make any pair of stereo speakers sound 3 dimensional. Plus the qualities you talk about, you can't get from cheap speakers. Stop being a cheap audio man and spend some money

I wish I could pay what my first car cost..1967 Plymouth Valiant. One hundred dollars in 1977

Had these for a couple months and loved them - definitely recommend. I replaced them with a pair Zu Omen DW which I've kept for well over a year now (for reasons I won't blather on about a vid about Wharfedales) but I do sometimes missed these Wharfes for specific imaging in classical and jazz pieces, which is where I found the Evos really excelled.

Got them and they are amazing. They are a gateway to what the really expensive ultra high end speakers can do.

What amplifier is great with Evo 4.2?

Beautifully explained & an overall brilliant presentation. You are a gem, my friend...I simply liked your review! I actually appreciate geniuses like you who have this sound DNA inbuilt in thier core

thank you very much señor :)) excelentes comentarios / excellent comments :)))

I figured after watching the$500 shootout, Randy was going to love these more than life itself. I bet they would be nice in my bedroom.

"At the right height" . . . I have these in my shop and the sound changes far too much for my liking just walking around the room. For the best sound, you just have to be in the right spot (height) more than other speakers. It seems minor, but it could be too much of a trade-off even if competing speakers aren't as accurate.

Can you pls review the Evo 4.1 ?