In this review, we will be comparing D320 and Reva 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Reva 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D320 | Wharfedale Reva 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 52-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 20-60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.02kg / 13.2lbs | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both D320 and Reva 1 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D320Wharfedale Reva 1
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 Reva 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Reva 1 can go slightly deeper then the D320's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 Reva 1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Reva 1's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D320 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, 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.
D320 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the D320.
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
Reva 1 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 Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both D320 and Reva 1 have bottom firing ports.
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 Reva 1'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 Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm (12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch).
Wharfedale Reva 1 is 7mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Wharfedale D320 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Reva 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2. The D320 requires 1% more surface area than the Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs. This makes the D320 7% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how D320 and Reva 1'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 Reva 1?
Here are the items that come with the Reva 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
318mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale D320 |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
52-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Glass Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
6.02kg (13.2lbs) |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Wood composite laminate |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
28-30" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 3.2x what Wharfedale D320 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Reva 1 digs deeper - 52Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale D320 takes more power (100W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale D320 is cheaper - $249 against $799, about 69% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale D320 B Wharfedale Reva 1
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?
Wharfedale Reva 1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.2x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale D320 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale Reva 1 appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $550 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.