In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.2 and Chorus 706, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.2 and Focal Chorus 706 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 12.2 | Focal Chorus 706 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene | 6.5" Polyglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | 25 - 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 8.20kg / 18lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.1" x 7.8" x 12.3"
335.0 x 200.0 x 313.0mm | 15.4" x 8.7" x 10.4"
390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 12.2 and Focal Chorus 706 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 12.2 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.2 and Chorus 706 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 12.2Focal Chorus 706
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 12.2 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Diamond 12.2 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.2 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas Chorus 706 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Diamond 12.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Chorus 706's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 12.2 and Chorus 706 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Chorus 706's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Chorus 706 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 12.2, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though Diamond 12.2 is rated 20-120 watts and Chorus 706 25 - 120 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 12.2 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chorus 706 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 12.2's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 12.2 has a rear firing port whereas Chorus 706 has a front firing ports. Focal Chorus 706's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale 12.2 with its rear-firing port.
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 12.2's and Focal Chorus 706's external dimensions. Wharfedale 12.2 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 200.0 x 313.0mm (13.1 x 7.8 x 12.3inch) whereas Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm (15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch).
Wharfedale 12.2 is 20mm narrower and 55mm shorter than Focal Chorus 706 but it is also 50mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 12.2 and Focal Chorus 706 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 12.2 and Focal Chorus 706 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 12.2 is approximately 626.0cm2 / 97.0inch2 and base area of the Focal Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2. The Diamond 12.2 requires 8% more surface area than the Chorus 706 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 12.2 and Focal Chorus 706 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 12.2 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Focal Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.2 and Chorus 706'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 12.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that come with the Chorus 706:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles (attached)
- User manual
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
335mm
vs
390mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
578cm2
vs
626cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
439USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
25 - 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Polyglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
390.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Rosewood, Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 |
A generation apart: Wharfedale 12.2 is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale 12.2 digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Chorus 706 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale 12.2: bi-amping. Wharfedale 12.2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Focal Chorus 706 is cheaper - $439 against $599, about 27% less. |
A Wharfedale 12.2 B Focal Chorus 706
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?
Wharfedale 12.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 36% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Focal Chorus 706 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale 12.2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Chorus 706 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Chorus 706 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.