In this review, we will be comparing Prime Center and Diamond 12.C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from SVS and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Center and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Prime Center and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C 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 SVS Prime Center and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Prime Center is a 3-way design whereas the Diamond 12.C is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
SVS Prime Center |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-1/2-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Prime Center features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3-1/2" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Diamond 12.C features a 1" woven polyester soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Prime Center has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz whereas Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Prime Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.C's min frequency of 90Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Prime Center and Diamond 12.C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Center sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Diamond 12.C's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Prime Center can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.C has a max power handling value of 102 watts RMS, 98 watts less than the Prime Center.
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.C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Prime Center has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 SVS Prime Center's and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C's external dimensions. SVS Prime Center has external dimensions of 196.0 x 475.0 x 232.0mm ( 7-11/16 x 18-11/16 x 9-1/8inch) whereas Wharfedale Diamond 12.C has external dimensions of 181.0 x 482.0 x 221.0mm ( 7-1/8 x 18-15/16 x 8-11/16inch) .
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is 15mm shorter and 11mm less deeper than SVS Prime Center but it is also 7mm wider.
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 SVS Prime Center is approximately 1102.0cm2 / 170.8inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is approximately 1065.2cm2 / 165.1inch2. The Prime Center requires 3% more surface area than the Diamond 12.C which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 SVS Prime Center weighs 9.18kg / 20.2lbs and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the Prime Center 8% heavier than the Diamond 12.C.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Center and Diamond 12.C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Center?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Center:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber bumpersOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 12.C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-bars(pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
102 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
90 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Height |
181mm
vs
196mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1065cm2 (482x221mm)
vs
1102cm2 (475x232mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
SVS Prime Center |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Brand |
SVS |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker (Premium Black Ash) |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-102 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-25k Hz |
90-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
polypropylene |
Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
soft-dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
3-1/2" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2400Hz |
2000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
196.0mm (7.7") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
Width |
475.0mm (18.7") |
482.0mm (19") |
Depth |
232.0mm (9.1") |
221.0mm (8.7") |
Weight |
9.18kg (20.2lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
Available Colors |
Black |
White, Walnut, Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |