In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and Diamond 12.C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 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 Sony SS-CS8 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
Both SS-CS8 and Diamond 12.C are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer . 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
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the SS-CS8 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
SS-CS8 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 12.C which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Diamond 12.C's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, 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.
SS-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.C has a max power handling value of 102 watts RMS, 43 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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. SS-CS8 has a 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 Sony SS-CS8's and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm ( 5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52mm wider, 35mm taller and 1mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS8 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.C 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-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is approximately 1065.2cm2 / 165.1inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 11% less surface area than the Diamond 12.C which gives it a small advantage 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 Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.C 70% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 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 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 |
145 watts
vs
102 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
90 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
146mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
946cm2 (430x220mm)
vs
1065cm2 (482x221mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Brand |
Sony |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
20-102 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
90-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
4" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
soft-dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
482.0mm (19") |
Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
221.0mm (8.7") |
Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Black |
White, Walnut, Black |
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 |