In this review, we will be comparing Denton 85 and Diamond 225, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Wharfedale 225 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Denton 85 | Wharfedale 225 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 45-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 6.55kg / 14.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-7/16" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"
342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm | 13.9" x 7.7" x 11.4"
355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Denton 85 and Wharfedale 225 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 Denton 85 |
Wharfedale 225 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
Drivers
Both Denton 85 and Diamond 225 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Denton 85Wharfedale 225
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 85 |
Wharfedale 225 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the Diamond 225 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Denton 85 and Diamond 225 has exactly the same frequency range of 45-20k Hz.
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 85 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 225 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Denton 85 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Diamond 225's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 225, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though Denton 85 is rated 20-120 watts and Diamond 225 25-120 watts.
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
Both Denton 85 and Diamond 225 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Denton 85 has a rear firing port whereas Diamond 225 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale 225's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Denton 85 with its rear-firing port.
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 85's and Wharfedale 225's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm (13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch) whereas Wharfedale 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm (13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch).
Wharfedale 225 is 44mm narrower and 14mm less deeper than Wharfedale Denton 85 but it is also 13mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Wharfedale 225 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Wharfedale 225 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 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2. The Denton 85 requires 28% more surface area than the Diamond 225 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 Denton 85 and Wharfedale 225 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 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Wharfedale 225 weighs 6.55kg / 14.4lbs. This makes the Denton 85 37% heavier than the Diamond 225.
Here is a comparison of how Denton 85 and Diamond 225'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 85?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 85:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 225?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 225:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
342mm
vs
355mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Base Surface Area |
568cm2
vs
729cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
Wharfedale Diamond 225 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3100Hz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
290.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
6.55kg (14.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Denton 85 costs roughly 2.9x what Wharfedale 225 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (45Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale 225 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Denton 85: bi-amping; Wharfedale 225: bi-amping. Wharfedale Denton 85 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale 225 is cheaper - $349 against $999, about 65% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Denton 85 B Wharfedale 225
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 225 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale 225 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $650 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.