In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.0 and R-41M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.0 and Klipsch R-41M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 12.0 | Klipsch R-41M |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Mica-infused polypropylene | 4" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-20k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.10kg / 11.2lbs | 3.20kg / 7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.4" x 6.2" x 8.9"
265.0 x 160.0 x 228.0mm | 11.2" x 5.7" x 7.8"
287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 12.0 and Klipsch R-41M 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 12.0 |
Klipsch R-41M |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 Diamond 12.0 and R-41M are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 12.0Klipsch R-41M
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 12.0 |
Klipsch R-41M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Diamond 12.0 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the R-41M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1730Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.0 has a frequency range of 70-20k Hz whereas R-41M has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 68Hz, the R-41M can go slightly deeper then the Diamond 12.0's min frequency of 70Hz.
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 12.0 and R-41M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.0 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R-41M's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-41M a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 12.0, 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.
Diamond 12.0 can handle a max power of 60 watts RMS, whereas R-41M has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Diamond 12.0.
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 12.0 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-41M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-41M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 12.0 and R-41M have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 12.0's and Klipsch R-41M's external dimensions. Wharfedale 12.0 has external dimensions of 265.0 x 160.0 x 228.0mm (10.4 x 6.2 x 8.9inch) whereas Klipsch R-41M has external dimensions of 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm (11.2 x 5.7 x 7.8inch).
Klipsch R-41M is 14mm narrower and 28mm less deeper than Wharfedale 12.0 but it is also 22mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 12.0 and Klipsch R-41M in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 12.0 and Klipsch R-41M 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 12.0 is approximately 364.8cm2 / 56.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-41M is approximately 292.0cm2 / 45.3inch2. The Diamond 12.0 requires 25% more surface area than the R-41M 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 12.0 and Klipsch R-41M 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 12.0 weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs and the Klipsch R-41M weighs 3.20kg / 7lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.0 59% heavier than the R-41M.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.0 and R-41M'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 12.0?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.0:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-41M?
Here are the items that come with the R-41M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
60 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
265mm
vs
287mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
68 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Base Surface Area |
292cm2
vs
364cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 |
Klipsch Reference R-41M |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
70-20k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
1730Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
265.0mm (10.4") |
287.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
160.0mm (6.3") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
3.20kg (7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
26-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale 12.0 costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch R-41M 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 (70Hz vs 68Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-41M is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (60W vs 50W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale 12.0: bi-amping. Wharfedale 12.0 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-41M is cheaper - $229 against $399, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale 12.0 B Klipsch R-41M
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch R-41M 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 $170 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.