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.
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:4.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 266.0" x 7-1/8" x 8-5/8"( 266.0 x 181.0 x 220.0mm )
Wharfedale 220 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:5.32kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 315.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 and Wharfedale 220 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Crystal 4.2 and Diamond 220 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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. 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.
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 220 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Crystal 4.2 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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
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 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.
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.
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 loudspeakers2 Grilles (pre-installed)User-feets ManualInstallation 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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| 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 |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |