In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 220 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Cambridge Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 220 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 220 | Cambridge SX-50 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Cambridge Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1968 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 5.25" Treated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.32kg / 11.7lbs | 3.00kg / 6.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.4" x 6.8" x 10.0"
315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm | 8.8" x 6.3" x 9.4"
225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 220 and Cambridge SX-50 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 220 |
Cambridge SX-50 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 220 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 220Cambridge SX-50
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 220 |
Cambridge SX-50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Diamond 220 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Diamond 220 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 220's min frequency of 56Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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 220 and SX-50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Diamond 220 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SX-50's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 220, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Diamond 220 is rated 25-100 watts and SX-50 10-100 watts.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Diamond 220 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SX-50 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 220's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 220 has a bottom firing port whereas SX-50 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale 220's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Cambridge SX-50 with its rear-firing port.
Cambridge SX-50 Port
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 220's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. Wharfedale 220 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm (12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm (8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch).
Wharfedale 220 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13mm wider, 90mm taller and 15mm deeper than Cambridge SX-50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 220 and Cambridge SX-50 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 220 and Cambridge SX-50 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 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2 and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm2 / 59.9inch2. The Diamond 220 requires 15% more surface area than the SX-50 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale 220 and Cambridge SX-50 on a Media Console
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 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the Diamond 220 77% heavier than the SX-50.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 220 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 220?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 220:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?
Here are the items that come with the SX-50:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- 2 Foam port inserts
- Installation Guide
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
225mm
vs
315mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
386cm2
vs
443cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
Cambridge Audio SX-50 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Treated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
315.0mm (12.4") |
225.0mm (8.9") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
161.0mm (6.3") |
| Depth |
255.0mm (10") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
3.00kg (6.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Woodgrain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
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 | Cambridge SX-50 digs deeper - 50Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Cambridge SX-50 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Cambridge SX-50 is easier to place; Wharfedale 220 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale 220: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Cambridge SX-50 is cheaper - $199 against $249, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale 220 B Cambridge SX-50
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?
Cambridge SX-50 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 56Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale 220 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Cambridge SX-50 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.