In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.2 and Wharfedale 12.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale 12.2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 50-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-120watts
- Weight:8.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 335.0" x 7.8" x 12.3"( 335.0 x 200.0 x 313.0mm )
Wharfedale 12.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:6.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )
Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1 are members of Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series
History
What size room are the Wharfedale 12.2 and Wharfedale 12.1 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 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale 12.2 and Wharfedale 12.1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale 12.2 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 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 Diamond 12.1 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.2 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas Diamond 12.1 has a frequency range of 65-20k 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 Diamond 12.1's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Diamond 12.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Diamond 12.2.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 12.2's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Wharfedale 12.1'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 Wharfedale 12.1 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 12.2 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) .
Wharfedale 12.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 23mm taller and 35mm deeper than Wharfedale 12.1.
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 Wharfedale 12.1 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Diamond 12.2 requires 25% more surface area than the Diamond 12.1 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 12.2 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Wharfedale 12.1 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.2 21% heavier than the Diamond 12.1.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.2 and Diamond 12.1'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 loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 12.1?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 12.1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
312mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
626cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
65-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| 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 |
2000Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |