EVO4

 

EVO4 Series
The Dawn of a New Standard

Wharfedale’s new EVO4 has grown out of the extensive research and development that produced the ELYSIAN flagship loudspeakers and borrows much of the technology involved in ELYSIAN.

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 EVO4.

EVO4 AMT

Developed from the advanced AMT in ELYSIAN, EVO4’s Air Motion Transformer treble unit utilizes a radically different way of moving air compared to the conventional dome tweeter. A large, pleated lightweight diaphragm is driven across its surface by rows of strategically placed magnets. Not only is this an efficient way of moving air but it is also very accurate as the diaphragm is under close control of the motor system at all times. The result is a wide bandwidth transducer that achieves low distortion naturally and delivers wonderful musical detail.

 

EVO4 Dome Midrange

To match to the EVO4 AMT, Wharfedale has developed a fast and responsive dome midrange with wide bandwidth thanks to the incorporation of a damped rear chamber. This soft fabric dome, damped with a plasticizer coating, is vented aperiodically into a specially shaped rear chamber that is profiled to scatter and absorb rear energy from the dome. As a result this dome midrange features a linear response from 800Hz to 5kHz, an astonishing bandwidth from such a unit. Thanks to its high flux magnet, the EVO4 midrange dome also has a high efficiency, ideally matched to that of the AMT, enabling it to respond easily and quickly to the dynamics of the music fed to it. The wide dispersion of this dome and AMT combination ensures that you’ll hear all the musical detail no matter where you sit.

 

EVO4 Bass

Utilizing the advanced, low distortion motor system developed for the ELYSIAN bass units, EVO4 marries this to a woven Kevlar cone fitted with a low loss rubber surround, giving a wide bandwidth driver which is equally adept at producing powerful bass in addition to a natural lower midrange quality.

Like ELYSIAN, the bass units are loaded by the most advanced version of the unique Wharfedale Slot Port yet. Christened SLPP (Slot Loaded Profiled Port) the rear output of the bass units is not wasted. Instead the lowest frequency energy is vented to a slot at the base of the speaker, specially profiled to equalize the high internal pressure to the low pressure in the room.

EVO4 Crossover

Combining the outputs of the drivers is an advanced computer modeled crossover that has been developed over hundreds of hours of listening tests, fine tuned to make sure that the blend between the drive units is seamless.

Crossover components have been specially chosen for their audio transparency and feature high-grade polypropylene capacitors and laminated silicon-iron and air core inductors, laid out to avoid electro-magnetic interference on a specially designed circuit board.

 

Cabinet Construction

While the cabinet, to the owner, is often just a piece of furniture, at Wharfedale we have long realised that it is the final piece of the design process that marks a loudspeaker out of the ordinary.

For Diamond 11 our engineers have refined the multi-layer sandwich of differing woods to subdue the identifiable characteristics of the cabinet ‘sound’ and so let the drive units speak for themselves.

Critical bracing of the cabinet panels and, of course, the curving of the cabinet walls to provide a non-boxy shape, have reduced resonances more than 25dB below the driver outputs. In addition we use a specially developed internal fibre to line the cabinet walls which has been chosen because of its outstanding absorbent qualities across a wide bandwidth.

 

ELYSIAN Bass

The bass units are loaded by the most advanced version of the unique Wharfedale Slot Port yet. Christened SLPP (Slot Loaded Profiled Port) the rear output of the bass units is not wasted. Instead the lowest frequency energy is vented to a slot at the base of the speaker, specially profiled to equalize the high internal pressure to the low pressure in the room. Overall system sensitivity is incredibly high, typically more than 92dB output for just 1 watt of input, allowing any amplifier to reveal the full dynamic range of the music fed to it without any strain or limitation.

In combination the bass units and SLPP bass reflex system provide the massive foundation on which the rest of the musical performance sits, letting you feel as well as hear the full impact of thunderous low frequency information.

ELYSIAN Crossover

Combining the outputs of the drivers is an advanced computer modeled crossover that has been developed over hundreds of hours of listening tests, fine tuned to make sure that the blend between the drive units is seamless. Of particular note is the phase consistency across the drive unit output, allowing a wide range of seating position and encouraging the power response to be highly linear throughout your listening room.

And, of course, we have only used the highest grade, acoustically transparent components throughout the crossover construction, ensuring that you hear all the musical detail with nothing held back.

You’ll hear the full body of instruments like cello and bass guitar, without straining to enjoy the complete dynamics of the musical recital. Whether you are listening to solo piano, a full orchestra or a jazz trio or multi-instrument rock performance, ELYSIAN is more than capable of bringing the thrill and excitement of the performance into your listening room.

 

SPECIFICATIONS ELYSIAN 4 Loudspeakers

System

3-way floorstanding speaker

Sensitivity

92dB (2.83V @1m)

Recommended Amplifier Power

15 - 250W

Weight

49.5kg/pcs

Dimensions (H x W x D)mm

1188 on plinth x 402 on plinth x (432+30) with terminals

Driver

Treble Midrange Bass

3.5" (90mm) Air Motion Transformer
6.0" (150mm) coated fibre glass matrix cone

8.5" (220mm) coated fibre glass matrix cone

Nominal Impedance

4Ω (compatible 8Ω )

Crossover Frequency

340Hz, 3.1kHz

Frequency Response

30Hz - 22kHz (+/-3dB)

Materials

Columns Top Plate Base Plate Base Spikes

High carbon steel tube High carbon steel
MDF piano finish
Hardened high carbon steel

Nominal Impedance

4Ω (compatible 8Ω )

Crossover Frequency

360Hz, 2.9kHz

Frequency Response

35Hz - 22kHz (+/-3dB)