In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.4 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 12.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 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 12.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 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 12.4 and Bronze 500 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Diamond 12.4 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. 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 12.4 has a frequency range of 40-20k 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 12.4's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 12.4 and Bronze 500 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.4 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 12.4, 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.
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 12.4 and Bronze 500 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
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 12.4's and Monitor Audio Bronze 500's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 200.0 x 388.0mm ( 45-1/2 x 8 x 15-1/4inch) 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) .
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is 179mm shorter and 22mm less deeper than Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 but it is also 94mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 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 12.4 is approximately 776.0cm2 / 120.3inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is approximately 1076.0cm2 / 166.8inch2. The Diamond 12.4 requires 28% 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 12.4 weighs 22.40kg / 49.3lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.4 24% heavier than the Bronze 500.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.4 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 12.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.4:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking collars)2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)4 Isolation pucksUsers Manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 500?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 500:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)4 Rubber feet4 Large course-thread screws4 Small machine screws2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)2 Foam port plugsHex-keyQuick Start GuideImportant Safety Instructions
 Base Surface Area |
776cm2 (200x388mm)
vs
1076cm2 (294x366mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1298USD
vs
1496USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
40 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
1156mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
60-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-20k Hz |
32-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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 |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
366.0mm (14.4") |
| Weight |
22.40kg (49.3lbs) |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| 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 |