Wharfedale D310 vs Cambridge SX-50 Comparison

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Wharfedale D310

Passive Bookshelf | 65-20k Hz

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Cambridge SX-50

Passive Bookshelf | 50-22k Hz

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Wharfedale D310

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Cambridge SX-50

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Wharfedale D310

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Cambridge SX-50

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Wharfedale D310 vs Cambridge SX-50 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D310 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Cambridge Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D310 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D310 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Soft-Dome Tweeter

4" Woven Kevlar Woofer

65-20k Hz Frequency Response

86 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:20-60watts

Weight:4.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 266.0" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"( 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm )

Cambridge SX-50 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Dome Tweeter

5.25" Treated paper Woofer

50-22k Hz Frequency Response

90 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:10-100watts

Weight:3.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 225.0" x 6.3" x 9.4"( 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D310 and Cambridge SX-50 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 D310	Cambridge SX-50
Near-field	Good	Average
Small Room	Good	Good
Mid-size Room	Average	Average
Large Room	Poor	Poor
Very Large Room	No way	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 D310 and Cambridge SX-50 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 D310 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	Wharfedale D310	Cambridge SX-50
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer .

Frequency Response

D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D310's min frequency of 65Hz.

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

D310

SX-50

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D310

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

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

D310 and SX-50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D310 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SX-50's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D310, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

D310

SX-50

Min

Average

Max

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.

D310 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the SX-50.

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

D310 features 5-way post type posts and SX-50 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D310's Post terminals

Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

D310 has a bottom firing port whereas SX-50 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D310's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Cambridge SX-50 with its rear-firing port.

Cambridge SX-50 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 D310's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm ( 10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm ( 8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch) .

Wharfedale D310 is 5mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than Cambridge SX-50 but it is also 41mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 and Cambridge SX-50 in scale.

Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and Cambridge SX-50 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 D310 is approximately 349.4cm² / 54.2inch² and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm² / 59.9inch². The D310 requires 10% less surface area than the SX-50 which gives it a small advantage 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:

Size Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and Cambridge SX-50 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 D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the D310 33% heavier than the SX-50.

Here is a comparison of how D310 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D310

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)

2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)

User-feets Manual

Installation Guide

What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?

Here are the items that come with the SX-50:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Self-adhesive feet

2 Foam port inserts

Installation Guide

Reasons to choose Wharfedale D310 over Cambridge Audio SX-50

Base Surface Area	349cm² vs 386cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio SX-50 over Wharfedale D310

Max Input Power	100 watts vs 60 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	90 dB vs 86 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	5.25 inches vs 4 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 65 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	22k Hz vs 20k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Height	225mm vs 266mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Wharfedale D310 vs Cambridge SX-50 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Wharfedale D310	Cambridge Audio SX-50
Brand	Wharfedale	Cambridge Audio
Speaker Type	Compact bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	20-60 watts	10-100 watts
Sensitivity	86 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.6 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	65-20k Hz	50-22k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	4"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Woven Kevlar	Treated paper
Woofer Surround Material	Foamed Polyether	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Soft-Dome	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Firing Direction	bottom	rear
Physical Specs
Height	266.0mm (10.5")	225.0mm (8.9")
Width	156.0mm (6.1")	161.0mm (6.3")
Depth	224.0mm (8.8")	240.0mm (9.4")
Weight	4.00kg (8.8lbs)	3.00kg (6.6lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Wood-grain vinyl	MDF/Woodgrain vinyl
Available Colors	Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut	Black
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	22-26"	28-31"
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	No	No
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years