In this review, we will be comparing Denton 1S and Diamond 11.0, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Denton 1S and Wharfedale 11.0 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Denton 1S | Wharfedale 11.0 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene | 4" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 75-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 15-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.81kg / 15lbs | 3.09kg / 6.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13" x 9-5/16" x 10"
331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm | 10-1/16" x 6-3/16" x 7-1/8"
256.0 x 158.0 x 181.0mm |
|---|
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 Denton 1S and Diamond 11.0 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Denton 1SWharfedale 11.0
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 Denton 1S |
Wharfedale 11.0 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Denton 1S features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Diamond 11.0 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Denton 1S has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas Diamond 11.0 has a frequency range of 75-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Denton 1S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 11.0's min frequency of 75Hz.
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
Denton 1S and Diamond 11.0 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Denton 1S sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Diamond 11.0's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 1S a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 11.0, 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.
Denton 1S can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 11.0 has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Denton 1S.
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
Denton 1S features 5-way post type posts and Diamond 11.0 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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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 Denton 1S's and Wharfedale 11.0's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 1S has external dimensions of 331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm (13inch x 9-5/16inch x 10inch) whereas Wharfedale 11.0 has external dimensions of 256.0 x 158.0 x 181.0mm (10-1/16 x 6-3/16 x 7-1/8inch).
Wharfedale Denton 1S is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 79mm wider, 75mm taller and 73mm deeper than Wharfedale 11.0.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 1S and Wharfedale 11.0 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 1S and Wharfedale 11.0 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 Denton 1S is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 11.0 is approximately 286.0cm2 / 44.3inch2. The Denton 1S requires 110% more surface area than the Diamond 11.0 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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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 Denton 1S and Wharfedale 11.0 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 Denton 1S weighs 6.81kg / 15lbs and the Wharfedale 11.0 weighs 3.09kg / 6.8lbs. This makes the Denton 1S 120% heavier than the Diamond 11.0.
Here is a comparison of how Denton 1S and Diamond 11.0'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 Denton 1S?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 1S:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User's Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 11.0?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 11.0:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
256mm
vs
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
286cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Denton 1S |
Wharfedale Diamond 11.0 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
15-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
75-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foam |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
256.0mm (10.1") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
158.0mm (6.2") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
6.81kg (15lbs) |
3.09kg (6.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Rosewood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale Denton 1S is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Wharfedale Denton 1S digs deeper - 50Hz against 75Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Wharfedale Denton 1S is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Wharfedale Denton 1S takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Wharfedale 11.0 is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 1S is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
A Wharfedale Denton 1S
B Wharfedale 11.0
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 Denton 1S has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 75Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Denton 1S has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale 11.0 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.