In this review, we will be comparing A130 and Diamond 225, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL A130 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
- 55-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:5.46kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 323.0" x 7-1/2" x 9-13/16"( 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm )
Wharfedale 225 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 45-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:6.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 355.0" x 7.7" x 11.4"( 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm )
What size room are the JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 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:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL A130 |
Wharfedale 225 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A130 and Diamond 225 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL A130 |
Wharfedale 225 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Diamond 225 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas Diamond 225 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Diamond 225 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A130's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
A130 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 225 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A130 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Diamond 225's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 225 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 225 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the A130.
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
Diamond 225 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A130 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A130's 5-way post terminals
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A130 has a rear firing port whereas Diamond 225 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale 225's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL A130 with its rear-firing port.
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 JBL A130's and Wharfedale 225's external dimensions. JBL A130 has external dimensions of 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm ( 12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch) whereas Wharfedale 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm ( 13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch) .
Wharfedale 225 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 32mm taller and 40mm deeper than JBL A130.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 Size and External Dimensions
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 JBL A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2. The A130 requires 16% less surface area than the Diamond 225 which gives it a small advantage 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:
Size Comparison image of JBL A130 and Wharfedale 225 on a Media Console