In this review, we will be comparing Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 | Wharfedale 220 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 56-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.20kg / 9.2lbs | 5.32kg / 11.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 7-1/8" x 8-5/8"
266.0 x 181.0 x 220.0mm | 12.4" x 6.8" x 10.0"
315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 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* |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
Wharfedale 220 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2Wharfedale 220
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
Wharfedale 220 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Crystal 4.2 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Diamond 220 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Crystal 4.2 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas Diamond 220 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Diamond 220 can go slightly deeper then the Crystal 4.2's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Crystal 4.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Diamond 220's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 220, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Crystal 4.2 is rated 20-100 watts and Diamond 220 25-100 watts.
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
Both Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 220's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Crystal 4.2 has a rear firing port whereas Diamond 220 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale 220's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2's and Wharfedale 220's external dimensions. Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 181.0 x 220.0mm (10-7/16 x 7-1/8 x 8-5/8inch) whereas Wharfedale 220 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm (12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch).
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is 49mm shorter and 35mm less deeper than Wharfedale 220 but it is also 7mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is approximately 398.2cm2 / 61.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2. The Crystal 4.2 requires 10% less surface area than the Diamond 220 which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 weighs 4.20kg / 9.2lbs and the Wharfedale 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the Diamond 220 27% heavier than the Crystal 4.2.
Here is a comparison of how Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220'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 Crystal 4.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Crystal 4.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 220?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 220:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
266mm
vs
315mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
398cm2
vs
443cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
56-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
255.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
4.20kg (9.2lbs) |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Both are Wharfedale, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale 220 digs deeper - 56Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is easier to place; Wharfedale 220 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2: bi-amping; Wharfedale 220: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale 220 is cheaper - $249 against $349, about 29% less. |
A Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 B Wharfedale 220
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $100 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.