In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS5 and Diamond 12.0, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sony and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale 12.0 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale 12.0 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 Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale 12.0 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SS-CS5 is a 3-way design whereas the Diamond 12.0 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 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Wharfedale 12.0 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Super Tweeter
|
0.75-inch |
- |
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer . On the other hand, the Diamond 12.0 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz whereas Diamond 12.0 has a frequency range of 70-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SS-CS5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.0's min frequency of 70Hz.
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
SS-CS5 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 12.0 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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.
SS-CS5 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.0 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the SS-CS5.
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 12.0 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SS-CS5 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS5 and Diamond 12.0 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 Sony SS-CS5's and Wharfedale 12.0's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm ( 13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch) whereas Wharfedale 12.0 has external dimensions of 265.0 x 160.0 x 228.0mm ( 10.4 x 6.2 x 8.9inch) .
Wharfedale 12.0 is 18mm narrower and 70mm shorter than Sony SS-CS5 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale 12.0 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 12.0 is approximately 364.8cm2 / 56.5inch2. The SS-CS5 requires 7% more surface area than the Diamond 12.0 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Wharfedale 12.0 weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.0 13% heavier than the SS-CS5.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS5 and Diamond 12.0's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 12.0?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 12.0:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
60 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
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
265mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
364cm2 (160x228mm)
vs
391cm2 (178x220mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 |
Brand |
Sony |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-60 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
53-50k Hz |
70-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2700Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
265.0mm (10.4") |
Width |
178.0mm (7") |
160.0mm (6.3") |
Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
228.0mm (9") |
Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 years |
Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 years |