In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 11.2 and Diamond 225, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 11.2 and Wharfedale 225 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale 11.2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 48-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-125watts
- Weight:9.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 356.0" x 8-3/4" x 12-5/8"( 356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm )
Wharfedale 225 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 45-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:6.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 355.0" x 7.7" x 11.4"( 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale 11.2 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 11.2 |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale 11.2 and Wharfedale 225 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 Diamond 11.2 and Diamond 225 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale 11.2 |
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
|
Diamond 11.2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer . 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
Diamond 11.2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Diamond 225 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Diamond 225 can go slightly deeper then the Diamond 11.2's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Diamond 11.2 and Diamond 225 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 11.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Diamond 225's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 11.2 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. 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.
Diamond 11.2 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 225 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Diamond 11.2.
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 225 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Diamond 11.2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 11.2's Post terminals
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 11.2 and Diamond 225 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 11.2's and Wharfedale 225's external dimensions. Wharfedale 11.2 has external dimensions of 356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm ( 14 x 8-3/4 x 12-5/8inch) whereas Wharfedale 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm ( 13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch) .
Wharfedale 11.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 1mm taller and 31mm deeper than Wharfedale 225.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 11.2 and Wharfedale 225 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 11.2 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 11.2 is approximately 715.8cm2 / 110.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2. The Diamond 11.2 requires 26% more surface area than the Diamond 225 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:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale 11.2 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 11.2 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Wharfedale 225 weighs 6.55kg / 14.4lbs. This makes the Diamond 11.2 37% heavier than the Diamond 225.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 11.2 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 11.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 11.2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets ManualInstallation Guide
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