In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.1i and 3010, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i and Q Acoustics 3010 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i | Q Acoustics 3010 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Advanced polypropylene | 4" Paper composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 68-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 15-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/16" x 7-1/16" x 10-15/16"
312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm | 9-7/16" x 5-7/8" x 8-1/16"
239.0 x 150.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i and Q Acoustics 3010 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 Diamond 12.1i |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 12.1i and 3010 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1iQ Acoustics 3010
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 Diamond 12.1i |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Diamond 12.1i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Advanced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the 3010 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.1i has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas 3010 has a frequency range of 68-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Diamond 12.1i can go slightly deeper then the 3010's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 12.1i is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the 3010 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.1i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 3010's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3010, 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 12.1i can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 3010 has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Diamond 12.1i.
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 12.1i features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3010 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 12.1i and 3010 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 Diamond 12.1i's and Q Acoustics 3010's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (12-5/16 x 7-1/16 x 10-15/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3010 has external dimensions of 239.0 x 150.0 x 205.0mm (9-7/16 x 5-7/8 x 8-1/16inch).
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 73mm taller and 73mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i needs about 63% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is 73mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is 73mm taller.
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 Diamond 12.1i is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3010 is approximately 307.5cm2 / 47.7inch2. The Diamond 12.1i requires 63% more surface area than the 3010 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Diamond 12.1i weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Q Acoustics 3010 weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.1i 89% heavier than the 3010.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.1i and 3010's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 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 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Minimum Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
239mm
vs
312mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
307cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
119USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
15-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.0 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
68-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Advanced polypropylene |
Paper composite |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.0mm (12.3") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| 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 Diamond 12.1i costs roughly 4.2x what Q Acoustics 3010 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 | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i digs deeper - 65Hz against 68Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3010 is easier to place; Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i: bi-amping. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3010 is cheaper - $119 against $499, about 76% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i B Q Acoustics 3010
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i measures better, Q Acoustics 3010 costs about about 4.2x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3010 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Q Acoustics 3010 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.