In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 11.1 and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 11.1 and JBL A120 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 11.1 | JBL A120 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 4.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 60-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.81kg / 15lbs | 3.82kg / 8.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/4" x 7-11/16" x 12-7/16"
312.0 x 196.0 x 316.0mm | 11-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"
286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 11.1 and JBL A120 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 11.1 |
JBL A120 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Diamond 11.1 and A120 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 11.1JBL A120
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 11.1 |
JBL A120 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Diamond 11.1 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 11.1 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Diamond 11.1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Diamond 11.1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A120 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Diamond 11.1 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the A120's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 11.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, 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.
A120 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 11.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the A120.
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
Diamond 11.1 features 5-way post type posts and A120 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 11.1's Post terminals
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 11.1 has a bottom firing port whereas A120 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale 11.1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL A120 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 11.1's and JBL A120's external dimensions. Wharfedale 11.1 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 196.0 x 316.0mm (12-1/4 x 7-11/16 x 12-7/16inch) whereas JBL A120 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm (11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch).
Wharfedale 11.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 24mm wider, 26mm taller and 127mm deeper than JBL A120.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 11.1 and JBL A120 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 11.1 and JBL A120 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 11.1 is approximately 619.4cm2 / 96.0inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The Diamond 11.1 requires 91% more surface area than the A120 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 11.1 and JBL A120 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 11.1 weighs 6.81kg / 15lbs and the JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs. This makes the Diamond 11.1 78% heavier than the A120.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 11.1 and A120'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 11.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 11.1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of JBL A120?
Here are the items that come with the A120:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam plugs
- 4 Brackets
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
- Owner-feets Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
286mm
vs
312mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
325cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
250USD
vs
349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 11.1 |
JBL Stage A120 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
60-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foam |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.0mm (12.3") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
196.0mm (7.7") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
316.0mm (12.4") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Weight |
6.81kg (15lbs) |
3.82kg (8.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyholes w/ bracket |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale 11.1 digs deeper - 55Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale 11.1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL A120 takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL A120 is easier to place; Wharfedale 11.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. JBL A120 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | JBL A120 is cheaper - $250 against $349, about 28% less. |
A Wharfedale 11.1 B JBL A120
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 11.1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 40% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - JBL A120 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale 11.1 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL A120 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale 11.1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL A120 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.