In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.3 and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 and Polk RTi A5 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 and Polk RTi A5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Diamond 12.3 and RTi A5 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 |
Polk RTi A5 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Diamond 12.3 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.3 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the RTi A5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.3's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 12.3 and RTi A5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the RTi A5's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Diamond 12.3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 12.3 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the RTi A5.
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 12.3 and RTi A5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 12.3 has a rear firing port whereas RTi A5 has a front firing ports. Polk RTi A5's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 with its rear-firing port.
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 Diamond 12.3's and Polk RTi A5's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 180.0 x 362.0mm ( 38-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 14-1/4inch) whereas Polk RTi A5 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm ( 39-5/8 x 10-9/16 x 15-7/8inch) .
Polk RTi A5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89mm wider, 22mm taller and 42mm deeper than Wharfedale Diamond 12.3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 and Polk RTi A5 in scale.
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 12.3 is approximately 651.6cm2 / 101.0inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The Diamond 12.3 requires 40% less surface area than the RTi A5 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 12.3 weighs 19.50kg / 42.9lbs and the Polk RTi A5 weighs 18.18kg / 40lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.3 7% heavier than the RTi A5.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.3 and RTi A5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking collars)2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)4 Isolation pucksUsers Manual
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A5?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A5:
Cherry floor-standing speakerDetachable black cloth grille4 Screw-on spike feetOwners ManualOnline registration sheetPolk Audio product brochure
Height |
985mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
651cm2 (180x362mm)
vs
1086cm2 (269x404mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 |
Polk Audio RTi A5 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-150 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
5 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
40-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Polymer composite |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
985.0mm (38.8") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
Depth |
362.0mm (14.3") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
Weight |
19.50kg (42.9lbs) |
18.18kg (40lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Real wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Black, Oak, Walnut |
Cherry |
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 |