In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and Diamond 220, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Wharfedale 220 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Wharfedale 220 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Wharfedale 220 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Carina BS243.4 and Diamond 220 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Wharfedale 220 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Diamond 220 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas Diamond 220 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 220's min frequency of 56Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Carina BS243.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 220 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Carina BS243.4 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Diamond 220's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 220 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Carina BS243.4 and Diamond 220 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Carina BS243.4 and Diamond 220 have bottom firing ports.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Carina BS243.4's and Wharfedale 220's external dimensions. ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) whereas Wharfedale 220 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm ( 12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch) .
Wharfedale 220 is 31mm narrower and 6mm shorter than ELAC Carina BS243.4 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Wharfedale 220 in scale.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 14% more surface area than the Diamond 220 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the Wharfedale 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 26% heavier than the Diamond 220.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and Diamond 220's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 220?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 220:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet User's Manual Installation Guide
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
315mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
443cm2 (174x255mm)
vs
506cm2 (205x247mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
Brand |
ELAC |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
56-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
255.0mm (10") |
Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Black, White, Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |