In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.3i and Bronze 500, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene | 2 x 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 32-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 60-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.55kg / 43lbs | 18.05kg / 39.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 38-7/16" x 11-9/16" x 14-3/8"
977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.3i and Bronze 500 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3iMonitor Audio Bronze 500
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 12.3i |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Diamond 12.3i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Bronze 500 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" C-CAM Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.3i has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas Bronze 500 has a frequency range of 32-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Bronze 500 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 and Bronze 500 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.3i sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Bronze 500's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Bronze 500 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 12.3i has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Bronze 500.
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 Bronze 500 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 500'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 Monitor Audio Bronze 500 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm (38-7/16 x 11-9/16 x 14-3/8inch).
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is 46mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 500 but it is also 8mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is approximately 1076.0cm2 / 166.8inch2. The Diamond 12.3i requires 19% less surface area than the Bronze 500 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 500 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.3i 8% heavier than the Bronze 500.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.3i and Bronze 500'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 Monitor Audio Bronze 500?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 500:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Large course-thread screws
- 4 Small machine screws
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Base Surface Area |
868cm2
vs
1076cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1496USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
977mm
vs
985mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
60-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
32-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
985.0mm (38.8") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
248.0mm (9.8") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
366.0mm (14.4") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/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 2020 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 | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 digs deeper - 32Hz against 45Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i: bi-amping; Monitor Audio Bronze 500: bi-amping and Atmos drivers. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,496, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i B Monitor Audio Bronze 500
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?
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i is the one to take if it does not. 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.