In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.3i and C 97 II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Jamo C 97 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i | Jamo C 97 II |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene | 3 x 6" Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 32-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 50-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.55kg / 43lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38-3/4" x 9-3/4" x 13-3/4"
985.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm | 42-1/8" x 9-3/4" x 15-13/16"
1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Diamond 12.3i is a 2-way design whereas the C 97 II is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3iJamo C 97 II
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 12.3i |
Jamo C 97 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
Diamond 12.3i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the C 97 II features a 1" Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.3i has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas C 97 II has a frequency range of 32-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the C 97 II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.3i's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 12.3i is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the C 97 II which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
C 97 II can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 12.3i has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the C 97 II.
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
Both Diamond 12.3i and C 97 II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Jamo C 97 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 12.3i's and Jamo C 97 II's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i has external dimensions of 985.0 x 248.0 x 350.0mm (38-3/4inch x 9-3/4inch x 13-3/4inch) whereas Jamo C 97 II has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm (42-1/8 x 9-3/4 x 15-13/16inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Jamo C 97 II in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Jamo C 97 II 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 Diamond 12.3i is approximately 868.0cm2 / 134.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 97 II is approximately 997.0cm2 / 154.5inch2. The Diamond 12.3i requires 13% less surface area than the C 97 II 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 12.3i weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the Jamo C 97 II weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the C 97 II 26% heavier than the Diamond 12.3i.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.3i and C 97 II'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 12.3i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.3i:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 8 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 8 Isolation pucks
- Eight M6x25mm phillips-head screws
- User's Manual
What's in the Box of Jamo C 97 II?
Here are the items that come with the C 97 II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 8 Machine screws
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
985mm
vs
1070mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
868cm2
vs
997cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1378USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
50-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
32-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
985.0mm (38.8") |
1070.0mm (42.1") |
| Width |
248.0mm (9.8") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Grey |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Jamo C 97 II digs deeper - 32Hz against 45Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i: bi-amping; Jamo C 97 II: bi-amping. Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,378, about 13% less. |
A Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i B Jamo C 97 II
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 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i much easier to justify.
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.