In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.0 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 12.0 | Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Mica-infused polypropylene | 4" Mica-infused polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-20k Hz | 70-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 20-60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.10kg / 11.2lbs | 5.09kg / 11.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.4" x 6.2" x 8.9"
265.0 x 160.0 x 228.0mm | 10-1/2" x 6-3/8" x 8-15/16"
267.0 x 162.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i are members of Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series
History
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 Diamond 12.0i are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 12.0Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i
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 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i |
|
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 Diamond 12.0i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i has exactly the same frequency range of 70-20k 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
Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
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 and Diamond 12.0i have the same power range of 20-60 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 Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i'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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i has external dimensions of 267.0 x 162.0 x 228.0mm (10-1/2inch x 6-3/8inch x 8-15/16inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 12.0 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 12.0 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i is approximately 369.4cm2 / 57.3inch2. The Diamond 12.0 requires 1% less surface area than the Diamond 12.0i which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i weighs 5.09kg / 11.2lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.0 0% heavier than the Diamond 12.0i.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.0 and Diamond 12.0i'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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 12.0i:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
 Base Surface Area |
364cm2
vs
369cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
20-60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
70-20k Hz |
70-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
267.0mm (10.5") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Width |
160.0mm (6.3") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
5.09kg (11.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (70Hz vs 70Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (60W vs 60W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale 12.0: bi-amping; Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($399 vs $399 a pair). |
A Wharfedale 12.0 B Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i
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.
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.