In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.C and EVO4.C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Wharfedale Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Wharfedale EVO4.C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C and Wharfedale EVO4.C 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 EVO4.C 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Diamond 12.C is a 2-way design whereas the EVO4.C is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Wharfedale EVO4.C |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
30 x 60mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 EVO4.C features a 30 x 60mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz and 3900HZ.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.C has a frequency range of 90-20k Hz whereas EVO4.C has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the EVO4.C 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 EVO4.C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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 EVO4.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 EVO4.C 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 EVO4.C'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 EVO4.C has external dimensions of 253.0 x 751.0 x 389.0mm ( 9-15/16 x 29-9/16 x 15-5/16inch) .
Wharfedale EVO4.C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 269mm wider, 72mm taller and 168mm deeper than Wharfedale Diamond 12.C.
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 EVO4.C is approximately 2921.4cm2 / 452.8inch2. The Diamond 12.C requires 64% less surface area than the EVO4.C 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.C weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.C weighs 15.82kg / 34.8lbs. This makes the EVO4.C 86% heavier than the Diamond 12.C.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.C and EVO4.C'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 Wharfedale EVO4.C?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs (pre-installed)2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetPair of white cloth glovesUser Manual
Height |
181mm
vs
253mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1065cm2 (482x221mm)
vs
2921cm2 (751x389mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
899USD
|
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 |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
90 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C |
Wharfedale EVO4.C |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
20-102 watts |
25-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
90-20k Hz |
48-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Klarity woofers (polypropylene and mica) |
woven Kevlar cone |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
30 x 60mm" |
Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
1500Hz and 3900HZ |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
181.0mm (7.1") |
253.0mm (10") |
Width |
482.0mm (19") |
751.0mm (29.6") |
Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
389.0mm (15.3") |
Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
15.82kg (34.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
White, Walnut, Black |
White, Walnut, 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 |