In this review, we will be comparing DIAMOND 12.1i and Denton 1S, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i and Wharfedale Denton 1S first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i | Wharfedale Denton 1S |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Advanced polypropylene | 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 50-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 6.81kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13" x 9-5/16" x 10"
331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm |
|---|
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 Denton 1S are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1iWharfedale Denton 1S
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 |
Wharfedale Denton 1S |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
DIAMOND 12.1i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Advanced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Denton 1S features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
DIAMOND 12.1i has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Denton 1S has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Denton 1S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DIAMOND 12.1i's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 and Denton 1S have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though DIAMOND 12.1i is rated 20-100 watts and Denton 1S 30-100 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
DIAMOND 12.1i features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Denton 1S has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Wharfedale Denton 1S'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 Wharfedale Denton 1S has external dimensions of 331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm (13inch x 9-5/16inch x 10inch).
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is 57mm narrower and 19mm shorter than Wharfedale Denton 1S but it is also 24mm deeper.
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 Denton 1S needs about 20% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is 24mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Denton 1S is 19mm 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 Wharfedale Denton 1S is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The DIAMOND 12.1i requires 17% less surface area than the Denton 1S which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Denton 1S weighs 6.81kg / 15lbs. This makes the Denton 1S 0% heavier than the DIAMOND 12.1i.
Here is a comparison of how DIAMOND 12.1i and Denton 1S'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 Denton 1S?
Here are the items that come with the Denton 1S:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User's Manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
312mm
vs
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i |
Wharfedale Denton 1S |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.0 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
50-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Advanced polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.0mm (12.3") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
254.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
6.81kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| 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 Denton 1S costs roughly 2x what Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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 | B | Wharfedale Denton 1S digs deeper - 50Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 1S 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 | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is cheaper - $499 against $999, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i B Wharfedale Denton 1S
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 a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $500 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.