In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.C and Bronze C150, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.C | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft-dome | 1" vented dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) | 5.25" aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 90-20k Hz | 66-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-102 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 7.01kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-1/8" x 18-15/16" x 8-11/16"
181.0 x 482.0 x 221.0mm | 6-9/16" x 17-13/16" x 8-15/16"
167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 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 |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.C and Bronze C150 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.CMonitor Audio Bronze C150
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.C |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Bronze C150 features a 1" aluminum vented dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz whereas Bronze C150 has a frequency range of 66-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the Bronze C150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.C's min frequency of 90Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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.C and Bronze C150 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 Bronze C150's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze C150, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Bronze C150 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 12.C has a max power handling value of 102 watts RMS, 18 watts less than the Bronze C150.
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.
Monitor Audio Bronze C150
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Diamond 12.C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Bronze C150 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
Monitor Audio Bronze C150's Binding post terminals
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.C's and Monitor Audio Bronze C150'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 Monitor Audio Bronze C150 has external dimensions of 167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm (6-9/16 x 17-13/16 x 8-15/16inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is 29mm narrower and 14mm shorter than Wharfedale Diamond 12.C but it is also 7mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 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.C is approximately 1065.2cm2 / 165.1inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is approximately 1032.8cm2 / 160.1inch2. The Diamond 12.C requires 3% more surface area than the Bronze C150 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 Monitor Audio Bronze C150 weighs 7.01kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.C 21% heavier than the Bronze C150.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.C and Bronze C150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Bronze C150
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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-bars
- (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze C150?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze C150:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
395USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
102 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
90 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
167mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1032cm2
vs
1065cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-102 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
90-20k Hz |
66-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) |
aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
vented dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
181.0mm (7.1") |
167.0mm (6.6") |
| Width |
482.0mm (19") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
7.01kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
White, Walnut, Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 digs deeper - 66Hz against 90Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (102W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.C: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is cheaper - $349 against $395, about 12% less. |
A Wharfedale Diamond 12.C B Monitor Audio Bronze C150
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?
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 90Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Diamond 12.C much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.