In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 225 and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 225 and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 225 | KEF Q350 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 63-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 10-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.55kg / 14.4lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.9" x 7.7" x 11.4"
355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 225 and KEF Q350 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 225 |
KEF Q350 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Diamond 225 and Q350 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 225KEF Q350
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 225 |
KEF Q350 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Diamond 225 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 225 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Diamond 225 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q350's min frequency of 63Hz.
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 225 and Q350 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
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 120 watts RMS, though Diamond 225 is rated 25-120 watts and Q350 10-120 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 225 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q350 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 225 has a bottom firing port whereas Q350 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale 225's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q350 with its rear-firing 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 225's and KEF Q350's external dimensions. Wharfedale 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm (13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch) whereas KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch).
KEF Q350 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 3mm taller and 16mm deeper than Wharfedale 225.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 225 and KEF Q350 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 225 and KEF Q350 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 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2 and base area of the KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The Diamond 225 requires 12% less surface area than the Q350 which gives it a small advantage 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 225 and KEF Q350 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 225 weighs 6.55kg / 14.4lbs and the KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the Q350 16% heavier than the Diamond 225.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 225 and Q350'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 225?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 225:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
355mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
568cm2
vs
642cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 225 |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
355.0mm (14") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
196.0mm (7.7") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
290.0mm (11.4") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
6.55kg (14.4lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
18-24" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - KEF Q350 costs roughly 2.1x what Wharfedale 225 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale 225 digs deeper - 45Hz against 63Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale 225: bi-amping. KEF Q350 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale 225 is cheaper - $349 against $750, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale 225 B KEF Q350
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?
Wharfedale 225 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 63Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $401 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.