In this review, we will be comparing D320 and D310, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D310 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 )
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 )
D320 and D310 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 D310 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 D310 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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 Wharfedale D310 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both D320 and D310 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale D320 |
Wharfedale D310 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas D310 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 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
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
D320 and D310 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the D310's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D320 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D310, 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.
D320 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 D320.
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 D310 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D320's Post terminals
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both D320 and D310 have bottom firing ports.
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 Wharfedale D310'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 D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm ( 10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) .
Wharfedale D320 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 55mm taller and 53mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D310 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale D310 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 D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2. The D320 requires 44% more surface area than the D310 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 D320 and Wharfedale D310 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 D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the D320 51% heavier than the D310.
Here is a comparison of how D320 and D310'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 loudspeakers2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)User-feets ManualInstallation Guide
What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that come with the D310:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)User-feets ManualInstallation Guide