In this review, we will be comparing ES20 and Diamond 12.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES20 and Wharfedale 12.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 41-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"( 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm )
Wharfedale 12.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:6.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES20 and Wharfedale 12.1 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* |
Polk ES20 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Polk ES20 and Wharfedale 12.1 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 ES20 and Diamond 12.1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES20 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Diamond 12.1 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz whereas Diamond 12.1 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.1's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
ES20 and Diamond 12.1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES20 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Diamond 12.1's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 12.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, 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.
ES20 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the ES20.
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 12.1 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. ES20 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES20 and Diamond 12.1 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Polk ES20's and Wharfedale 12.1's external dimensions. Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm ( 14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas Wharfedale 12.1 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 12.2 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) .
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 63mm taller and 73mm deeper than Wharfedale 12.1.
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 Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 12.1 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The ES20 requires 53% more surface area than the Diamond 12.1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.