In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.C and S 81 CEN, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Jamo S 81 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft-dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) Woofer
- 90-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-102watts
- Weight:8.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 181.0" x 18-15/16" x 8-11/16"( 181.0 x 482.0 x 221.0mm )
Jamo S 81 CEN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer
- 71-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 60watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 186.0" x 17-1/8" x 8-11/16"( 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Jamo S 81 CEN 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 Diamond 12.C |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 Diamond 12.C and Jamo S 81 CEN 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.C and S 81 CEN are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
Diamond 12.C features a 1" woven polyester soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the S 81 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz whereas S 81 CEN has a frequency range of 71-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 71Hz, the S 81 CEN can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.C's min frequency of 90Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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.C and S 81 CEN have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.C sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the S 81 CEN's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 81 CEN, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.C can handle a max power of 102 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 81 CEN has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 42 watts less than the Diamond 12.C.
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
Diamond 12.C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 81 CEN has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Jamo S 81 CEN's Binding post terminals
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.C's and Jamo S 81 CEN's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.C has external dimensions of 181.0 x 482.0 x 221.0mm ( 7-1/8 x 18-15/16 x 8-11/16inch) whereas Jamo S 81 CEN has external dimensions of 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm ( 7-5/16 x 17-1/8 x 8-11/16inch) .
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.C is approximately 1065.2cm2 / 165.1inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2. The Diamond 12.C requires 11% more surface area than the S 81 CEN 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 Diamond 12.C weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Jamo S 81 CEN weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.C 70% heavier than the S 81 CEN.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.C and S 81 CEN's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-bars(pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Jamo S 81 CEN?
Here are the items that come with the S 81 CEN:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information