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Wharfedale D320 vs Polk L100 Comparison

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Wharfedale D320

Passive Bookshelf | 56-20k Hz

Wharfedale D320
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Polk L100

Passive Bookshelf | 57-38k Hz

Polk Audio Legend L100
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Wharfedale D320 Wharfedale D320
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Polk L100 Polk L100
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Wharfedale D320
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Polk L100
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Wharfedale D320 vs Polk L100 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D320 and L100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D320 and Polk L100 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D320 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:6.02kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"( 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm )

Polk L100 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 57-38k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:30-160watts
  • Weight:7.68kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 348.0" x 7-7/8" x 11-5/16"( 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and Polk L100 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 D320 Polk L100
Near-field Average Poor
Small Room Good Average
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Average
Very Large Room Bad Poor

(* 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 D320 and Polk L100 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 D320 and L100 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale D320 Polk L100
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the L100 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas L100 has a frequency range of 57-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the D320 can go slightly deeper then the L100's min frequency of 57Hz.

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

D320
L100
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D320
Polk L100
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

D320 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L100 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the L100's is rated at 85.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D320 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L100, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

D320
L100
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.

D320 can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D320 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the L100.

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

D320 features Post type posts and L100 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D320 Terminals
Wharfedale D320's Post terminals

Polk L100Post Terminals
Polk L100's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

D320 has a bottom firing port whereas L100 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D320's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk L100 with its rear-firing port.

Polk L100  Port
Polk L100 Enhanced Power Port 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 D320's and Polk L100's external dimensions. Wharfedale D320 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) whereas Polk L100 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm ( 13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch) .

Polk L100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 27mm taller and 11mm deeper than Wharfedale D320.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Polk L100 in scale.

Wharfedale D320 vs Polk L100 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Polk L100 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 D320 is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2 and base area of the Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2. The D320 requires 13% less surface area than the L100 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:

Wharfedale D320 vs Polk L100 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Polk L100 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 D320 weighs 6.02kg / 13.2lbs and the Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs. This makes the L100 28% heavier than the D320.

Here is a comparison of how D320 and L100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale D320
Polk L100
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale D320?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of D320:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
  • 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
  • User-feets Manual
  • Installation Guide
  • What's in the Box of Polk L100?

    Here are the items that come with the L100:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Registration

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale D320 over Polk Audio Legend L100
    Sensitivity 87 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Minimum Impedance 3.8 ohms vs 3 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Low Frequency Response 56 Hz vs 57 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 321mm vs 348mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 501cm2 vs 578cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 249USD vs 999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Legend L100 over Wharfedale D320

    Max Input Power 160 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    High Frequency Response 38k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Wharfedale D320 vs Polk L100 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale D320 Polk Audio Legend L100
    Brand Wharfedale Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-100 watts 30-160 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 85.5 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.8 ohms 3 ohms
    Frequency Response 56-20k Hz 57-38k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Polypropylene
    Woofer Surround Material Foamed Polyether Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Ring Radiator
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2900Hz
    Firing Direction bottom rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 321.0mm (12.6") 348.0mm (13.7")
    Width 181.0mm (7.1") 201.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 277.0mm (10.9") 288.0mm (11.3")
    Weight 6.02kg (13.2lbs) 7.68kg (16.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Wood veneer
    Available Colors Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut Brown Walnut, Black Ash
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 22-24" 24-28"
    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

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