In this review, we will be comparing D320 and Crystal 4.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D320 | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 60-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.02kg / 13.2lbs | 4.20kg / 9.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"
321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm | 10-7/16" x 7-1/8" x 8-5/8"
266.0 x 181.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 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 |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
| 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 D320 and Crystal 4.2 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D320Wharfedale Crystal 4.2
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 D320 |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Crystal 4.2 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas Crystal 4.2 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the D320 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
D320 and Crystal 4.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Crystal 4.2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D320, 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 D320 is rated 25-100 watts and Crystal 4.2 20-100 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
Crystal 4.2 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. D320 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D320's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D320 has a bottom firing port whereas Crystal 4.2 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D320'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 D320's and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2'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 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).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is approximately 398.2cm2 / 61.7inch2. The D320 requires 26% more surface area than the Crystal 4.2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 D320 and Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 weighs 4.20kg / 9.2lbs. This makes the D320 43% heavier than the Crystal 4.2.
Here is a comparison of how D320 and Crystal 4.2'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 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 Wharfedale Crystal 4.2?
Here are the items that come with the Crystal 4.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 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) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
266mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
398cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale D320 |
Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
266.0mm (10.5") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
6.02kg (13.2lbs) |
4.20kg (9.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24-28" |
| 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 |
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 | A | Wharfedale D320 digs deeper - 56Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is easier to place; Wharfedale D320 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Crystal 4.2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale D320 is cheaper - $249 against $349, about 29% less. |
A Wharfedale D320 B Wharfedale Crystal 4.2
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. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale D320 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale Crystal 4.2 is the easier speaker to get right. 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.