Wharfedale Opus2 2, Imposing presence

WHARFEDALE AND WOOD

• The performance of the Kevlar woofers in the OPUS2 can only be described as extraordinary

• Price: €2,099

• Specialists' rating: 5

• Text: Fernando DE LA FUENTE

Britain's Wharfedale has just launched its new Opus2 series, which the manufacturer describes as a high-end loudspeaker system designed for exceptional reproduction of music and movies. In other words, a reference model within its wide range. Like every speaker line these days, it is part of a home theater system that completes the Opus2 series.

Our guests handle a total power of 250w, with a sensitivity of 90 dB at 6 ohms. They are four-way designs: two 200 mm Kevlar bass drivers, a 75 mm midrange driver and a 25 mm tweeter. All within a classic configuration with a front bass reflex port. The figures seem to indicate the need for demanding electronics, although the possibility of tri-wiring greatly broadens our options in this respect. It should not, therefore, be a problem.

Having covered all the technical aspects of the Opus2, their impressive presence must be highlighted. The Wharfedales are imposing. In our case, in the Piano Cherry finish, they offer a look of solidity and reliability that deserves to be underlined. In addition to the woods used in their construction, Australian eucalyptus, the cabinet is protected by ten coats of lacquer. Although overall they present a fairly classic image, the rear is rounded, which gives them a somewhat more modern look than other ranges from the British firm. At the back, as already mentioned, they offer the possibility of tri-wiring. The binding posts are shielded and gold-plated. Their diagonal orientation made them very convenient to wire. They also include decoupling spikes, with four floor protectors for each speaker.

The front is also very attractive. The imposing pair of Kevlar and fiberglass bass drivers stands out. We were particularly struck by the fact that both the midrange and tweeter domes were angled, which we must also take into account when positioning them, especially in relation to the stereo listening position. We must also bear in mind the considerable dimensions of the Opus2 2, which stand over a meter tall, which may constrain their placement.

With all these observations made, we set about finding the right electronics to drive them smoothly, in order to listen under the best possible conditions. We opted for a Rotel preamp and power amp combination and a Panasonic multiformat player, all bi-wired with our usual Jamo cables.

The first thing that struck me was the extraordinary presence of the bass which, without ever becoming overwhelming, showed a constant and extremely balanced presence. It surprised me especially because, as we know, with new speakers the bass is precisely where the progress of break-in is most noticeable. That is why I was so surprised to find such controlled, balanced and clear bass straight out of the box.

VERSATILITY AND POWER

Once the initial tests had been carried out and we considered the speakers' break-in complete, we got down to some serious listening. For this we used a CD from Linn Records that includes recordings in every style, ranging from light soul pieces with male and female vocals to excellent versions of Handel's Messiah. In these tests, the bass performance struck us as extraordinary. Among its virtues we would highlight presence, control, precision and, above all, naturalness. At no point did it overwhelm me, although I could perceive its existence constantly and with every kind of music. The performance of the Kevlar woofers in the Opus2 can only be described as extraordinary. The midrange also struck me as very natural and balanced, with a very well-defined sound space. As for the highest frequencies, at first they seemed somewhat weak to me, especially with female voices. As listening progressed, they gradually improved, but even so we think they remain below the midrange, and especially below the excellent bass. We put this down to the tweeter, as it could be clearly perceived in further listening with a piccolo, a violin and more female voices, in this case closer to the operatic. As the listening went on, the different ranges came together and the sound gelled, so the treble gradually improved.

It should be noted that, given the performance of the bass, the Opus2s left us with the impression of being speakers that work very well with strongly marked rhythms, whether with very clear double basses (vocal jazz, string sonatas, etc.) or with electric basses and electronic beats (House, Lounge, Groove, rock... and even Electro). In fact, despite their refined looks and extraordinary presence, they struck me as quite rock-oriented speakers, always in the stylistic sense of the term, while still maintaining a high level in any musical genre.

In order to confirm my impressions, I did more tests with the most varied styles, ranging from the very recent albums by Gnarls Barkley (The Odd Couple) and Yelle (Pop Up), both with very original production but excellent recordings, taking us from Groovy to Disco, to more complex pieces, such as Lizz Wright's excellent album The Orchard, an extraordinary female voice full of nuance, which we used to conclude our tests. It was particularly useful, since that was precisely the part of the sound spectrum that had raised the most doubts for me. There is a significant improvement with use, but even so, the highest frequencies seem to me to be the weakest part of the Wharfedales.

The versatility of the Opus2 must also be underlined, as they gave us maximum performance from every position, and finding the optimum listening position was very easy. As mentioned earlier, the orientation of the midrange and treble drivers makes things much easier. They also left me with the impression of being easier to drive than their specifications suggested on paper. Although I like to take care over the electronics, I think a more modest integrated amplifier could have got good performance out of the Wharfedales.

CONCLUSION

The excellent value for money of the Opus2 must be highlighted. It is very difficult to find speakers on the market with construction, finishes and sonic qualities like those of the Opus2 at a similar price. To find bass like that offered by these speakers, we would have to go above €3,000 without batting an eyelid. They are therefore highly recommended for anyone looking for versatile, beautiful speakers (even for overcoming the WAF effect) and, above all, for all those who are tormented by uncontrolled or out-of-place bass. That enthusiast, especially, will find his own personal Valhalla in the Wharfedale Opus2 2.

Toni Monsalve, Director of CPP 2000. As Wharfedale's distributors in Spain, what makes us proudest is the degree of satisfaction of all the customers who have bought Wharfedale loudspeakers. They all agree on the excellent value for money they offer, which makes them truly satisfied with their purchase. Without any doubt, the Opus Series more than lives up to what our customers tell us, since it brings exceptional sound characteristics within the reach of potential buyers at a truly competitive price, as the article makes clear, making them practically unbeatable in their market segment.

WHARFEDALE AND WOOD

The cabinets of this Opus2 series are made using a special variety of wood composite that provides extremely low internal resonance. They are made from Australian eucalyptus and pine mixed with synthetic resins, resulting in a versatile material much appreciated by woodworkers for the strength and consistency it offers. If we add the ten coats of lacquer and the curved shape of the cabinets, we find the secret of the Opus2's bass. Wave absorption is multiplied and internal resonance disappears, giving the lowest frequencies the dynamism we have already discussed in the review, which strikes us, without doubt, as the most noteworthy aspect of these Opus2 2s.

Wharfedale Opus2 2, Imposing presence

Specifications

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 33Hz-44kHz . NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 6 Ohms. SENSITIVITY 90 dB. RECOMMENDED AMPLIFIER between 50W and 500W. DIMENSIONS 260 x 1,075 x 410 mm. WEIGHT 34.5 kg each. MANUFACTURER Wharfedale (UK). DISTRIBUTOR CPP 2000 (93 586 17 30)

Price: €2,099