In this review, we will be comparing R-51M and D310, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-51M and Wharfedale D310 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-51M | Wharfedale D310 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG | 4" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 62-21k Hz | 65-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 85 watts | 20-60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.3" x 7.0" x 8.4"
338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm | 10-7/16" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"
266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-51M and Wharfedale D310 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* |
Klipsch R-51M |
Wharfedale D310 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both R-51M and D310 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-51MWharfedale D310
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-51M |
Wharfedale D310 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz. On the other hand, the D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k Hz whereas D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 62Hz, the R-51M can go slightly deeper then the D310's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
R-51M and D310 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-51M sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the D310's is at 86 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-51M a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D310, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R-51M can handle a max power of 85 watts RMS, whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the R-51M.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R-51M features Post type posts and D310 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-51M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way terminals
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R-51M has a rear firing port whereas D310 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale D310's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch R-51M with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch R-51M's and Wharfedale D310's external dimensions. Klipsch R-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm (13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch) whereas Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm (10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch).
Wharfedale D310 is 22mm narrower and 72mm shorter than Klipsch R-51M but it is also 9mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-51M and Wharfedale D310 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-51M and Wharfedale D310 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 Klipsch R-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2. The R-51M requires 10% more surface area than the D310 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 Klipsch R-51M and Wharfedale D310 on a Media Console
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 Klipsch R-51M weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the R-51M 25% heavier than the D310.
Here is a comparison of how R-51M and D310's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-51M?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-51M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that come with the D310:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
- 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 Max Input Power |
85 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
62 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
266mm
vs
338mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
349cm2
vs
382cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
359USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-51M |
Wharfedale D310 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Compact bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 85 watts |
20-60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
62-21k Hz |
65-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Copper-spun IMG |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Polyether |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1660Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
338.0mm (13.3") |
266.0mm (10.5") |
| Width |
178.0mm (7") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
215.0mm (8.5") |
224.0mm (8.8") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch R-51M costs roughly 1.8x what Wharfedale D310 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch R-51M digs deeper - 62Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch R-51M is more sensitive (93dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch R-51M takes more power (85W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale D310 is easier to place; Klipsch R-51M is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale D310 is cheaper - $199 against $359, about 45% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch R-51M B Wharfedale D310
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch R-51M measures better, Wharfedale D310 costs about about 80% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale D310 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch R-51M is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.