In this review, we will be comparing D320 and Diamond 220, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale 220 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale 220 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale 220 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 Diamond 220 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale D320 |
Wharfedale 220 |
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 Diamond 220 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
D320 and Diamond 220 has exactly the same frequency range of 56-20k Hz.
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 Diamond 220 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Diamond 220's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D320 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 220, 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 and Diamond 220 has the same power range of 25-100 watts.
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
Diamond 220 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. D320 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both D320 and Diamond 220 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 220'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 220 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm ( 12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch) .
Wharfedale D320 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 7mm wider, 6mm taller and 22mm deeper than Wharfedale 220.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale 220 in scale.
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 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2. The D320 requires 13% more surface area than the Diamond 220 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:
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 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the D320 13% heavier than the Diamond 220.
Here is a comparison of how D320 and Diamond 220'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 220?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 220:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet User's Manual Installation Guide
Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
315mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
443cm2 (174x255mm)
vs
501cm2 (181x277mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Wharfedale D320 |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
4.1 ohms |
Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
56-20k 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 |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
255.0mm (10") |
Weight |
6.02kg (13.2lbs) |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Black, White, Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24" |
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 |