In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.C and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Polk ES35 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.C and Polk ES35 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.C and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Polk ES35 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
6 x 3-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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 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 ES35 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 ES35's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.C has a max power handling value of 102 watts RMS , 48 watts less than the ES35.
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. ES35 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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.C's and Polk ES35'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 Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm ( 4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) .
Polk ES35 is 74mm shorter and 67mm less deeper than Wharfedale Diamond 12.C but it is also 139mm wider.
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 Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The Diamond 12.C requires 11% more surface area than the ES35 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 Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.C 34% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.C and ES35'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 Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
LCR loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
102 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
90 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
107mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
956cm2 (621x154mm)
vs
1065cm2 (482x221mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Power Range |
20-102 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
90-20k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
3" |
Woofer Composition |
Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
High-res dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
181.0mm (7.1") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
Width |
482.0mm (19") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
White, Walnut, Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
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 |