In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 220 and M105, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 220 and Revel M105 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale 220 and Revel M105 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 220 and Revel M105 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 220 and M105 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale 220 |
Revel M105 |
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 M105 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 220 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas M105 has a frequency range of 60Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Diamond 220 can go slightly deeper then the M105's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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 220 and M105 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 220 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 220 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the M105.
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 220 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. M105 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 220 has a bottom firing port whereas M105 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale 220's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Revel M105 with its rear-firing port.
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 220's and Revel M105'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 Revel M105 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 202.0 x 251.0mm ( 14-1/8 x 7-15/16 x 9-7/8inch) .
Wharfedale 220 is 28mm narrower and 44mm shorter than Revel M105 but it is also 4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 220 and Revel M105 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 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2 and base area of the Revel M105 is approximately 507.0cm2 / 78.6inch2. The Diamond 220 requires 12% less surface area than the M105 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 Revel M105 weighs 7.14kg / 15.7lbs. This makes the M105 34% heavier than the Diamond 220.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 220 and M105'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 Revel M105?
Here are the items that come with the M105:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
315mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
443cm2 (174x255mm)
vs
507cm2 (202x251mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
1650USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
General |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
Revel Performa3 M105 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Revel |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-100 watts |
50-120 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
60Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
2300Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
315.0mm (12.4") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
202.0mm (8") |
Depth |
255.0mm (10") |
251.0mm (9.9") |
Weight |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
7.14kg (15.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Wood/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black,Piano White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
24-25" |
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 |