In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Wharfedale. Wharfedale D320 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the D300C is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D300C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D320 | Wharfedale D300C |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 65-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.02kg / 13.2lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 7.8" x 20.1" x 9.1"
190 x 510 x 232mm |
|---|
D320 and D300C are members of Wharfedale's D300 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale D300 Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D300C 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 D300C |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both D320 and D300C are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D320Wharfedale D300C
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 D300C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the D300C features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas D300C has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the D320 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D300C's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 D300C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the D300C's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D300C 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.
D300C can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas D320 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the D300C.
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
D300C features 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
Wharfedale D300C's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both D320 and D300C have bottom firing ports.
New
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 D300C'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 D300C has external dimensions of 190 x 510 x 232mm (7.8).
Wharfedale D300C is 131mm shorter and 45mm less deeper than Wharfedale D320 but it is also 329mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D300C in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D300C 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 D300C is approximately 1183.0cm2 / 183.4inch2. The D320 requires 58% less surface area than the D300C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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