Short answer: the Wharfedale EVO 5.1. It ranks #36 of 168 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $999; the PSB Imagine B50 ranks #52, rated 3.7/5, at $999. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
What the Wharfedale EVO 5.1 does well: The EVO 5 replacement for the Wharfedale EVO 4.1 keeps a 5” woven Kevlar woofer with a larger 35x70mm AMT tweeter and updated cabinet, crossover and damping, rated down to 56Hz (±3dB). The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from its measured predecessor.
The case for the PSB Imagine B50: The standmount sibling to the PSB Imagine T65 tower, from PSB’s current 2023-refreshed Imagine line, using the same titanium-dome tweeter and woven-carbon-fiber woofer platform. The catch: On-axis smoothness of just 0.235 and a deviation of 0.368dB are unremarkable for the price, with a +0.22dB per octave upward tilt giving it a brighter-leaning balance, a predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.35, and a Harman in-room bass extension estimate of only 49Hz.
Buy the Wharfedale EVO 5.1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the PSB Imagine B50 at the same price, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Wharfedale EVO 5.1 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.2, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale EVO 5.1 | PSB Imagine B50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.00 per pair | $999 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #52 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (manufacturer specified) | 69.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
| Drivers | 35x70mm AMT tweeter, 5” (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer | 1” titanium dome tweeter (ferrofluid neodymium magnet), 5.25” woven carbon-fiber woofer |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz-24kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 85dB anechoic / 87dB in-room |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 8 ohm compatible (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 8.7”W x 12.8”D (340 x 220 x 325 mm) | 6.75W x 11.8H x 9.875D in |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg) each | approx. 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex with rear slot port |
| Country | - | Canada (design) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.63 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.92 |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 44.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Wharfedale EVO 5.1 compares with other leading options:
- SVS Ultra Evolution Nano vs Wharfedale EVO 5.1
- DALI Sonik 1 vs Wharfedale EVO 5.1
- PSB Imagine B50 vs Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3
- Q Acoustics 3030c vs PSB Imagine B50
- KEF LS50 Meta vs PSB Imagine B50
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale EVO 5.1: $999.00 per pair Estimated Audio Advice eBay
Older model: the Wharfedale EVO 4.1 (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5). See every Wharfedale EVO generation.
Same family: the Wharfedale EVO 5.2 (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.1/5), the Wharfedale EVO 5.3 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Wharfedale EVO 5.4 (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5) and the Wharfedale EVO 5.C (center, estimated 4/5).
Pros: The EVO 5 replacement for the Wharfedale EVO 4.1 keeps a 5” woven Kevlar woofer with a larger 35x70mm AMT tweeter and updated cabinet, crossover and damping, rated down to 56Hz (±3dB).
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from its measured predecessor. Its predecessor’s directivity varied strongly with frequency. Nominal impedance is now 4 ohms.
Full Wharfedale EVO 5.1 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 8.7”W x 12.8”D (340 x 220 x 325 mm) |
| Drivers | 35x70mm AMT tweeter, 5” (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz-24kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 8 ohm compatible (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
PSB Imagine B50: $999 per pair PSB Speakers eBay
Same family: the PSB Imagine T54 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5) and the PSB Imagine T65 (larger floorstanding, rated 4.3/5).
Pros: The standmount sibling to the PSB Imagine T65 tower, from PSB’s current 2023-refreshed Imagine line, using the same titanium-dome tweeter and woven-carbon-fiber woofer platform. Measured bass extension of 69.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis smoothness of just 0.235 and a deviation of 0.368dB are unremarkable for the price, with a +0.22dB per octave upward tilt giving it a brighter-leaning balance, a predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.35, and a Harman in-room bass extension estimate of only 49Hz. Current retail pricing ($999/pair) has risen well above the ~$700 figure recorded in the spinorama snapshot.
Full PSB Imagine B50 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 69.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
| Country | Canada (design) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 6.75W x 11.8H x 9.875D in |
| Drivers | 1” titanium dome tweeter (ferrofluid neodymium magnet), 5.25” woven carbon-fiber woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way, bass-reflex with rear slot port |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 85dB anechoic / 87dB in-room |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.63 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.92 |
| Weight | approx. 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons