In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Wharfedale. Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Diamond 12.0 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Wharfedale 12.0 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Diamond 12.C and Diamond 12.0 are members of Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series History
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Wharfedale 12.0 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 Wharfedale 12.0 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 Diamond 12.0 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Wharfedale 12.0 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
1 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 Diamond 12.0 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz whereas Diamond 12.0 has a frequency range of 70-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 70Hz, the Diamond 12.0 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 Diamond 12.0 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 Diamond 12.0's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 12.0, 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 Diamond 12.0 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
Both Diamond 12.C and Diamond 12.0 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.C's and Wharfedale 12.0'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 Wharfedale 12.0 has external dimensions of 265.0 x 160.0 x 228.0mm ( 10.4 x 6.2 x 8.9inch) .
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C is 84mm shorter and 7mm less deeper than Wharfedale 12.0 but it is also 322mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Wharfedale 12.0 in scale.
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 Wharfedale 12.0 is approximately 364.8cm2 / 56.5inch2. The Diamond 12.C requires 192% more surface area than the Diamond 12.0 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Wharfedale 12.0?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 12.0:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual