In this review, we will be comparing DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 and R-51PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Klipsch. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond Active A1 and Klipsch R-51PM first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond Active A1 | Klipsch R-51PM |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 120-watt RMS (240-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1.0" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Woven Kevlar | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | Built-in 3.0 |
|---|
| Weight | — | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-5/16" x 9-1/16"
321.0 x 186.0 x 230.0mm | 13" x 7.0625" x 10.25"
330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 and R-51PM are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond Active A1Klipsch R-51PM
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 Diamond Active A1 |
Klipsch R-51PM |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the R-51PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1663Hz.
Frequency Response
DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas R-51PM has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51PM's min frequency of 68Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 and R-51PM have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Diamond Active A1's and Klipsch R-51PM's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond Active A1 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 186.0 x 230.0mm (12-5/8 x 7-5/16 x 9-1/16inch) whereas Klipsch R-51PM has external dimensions of 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm (13 x 7.0625 x 10.25inch).
Wharfedale Diamond Active A1 is 9.2mm shorter and 30.3mm less deeper than Klipsch R-51PM but it is also 6.6mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch R-51PM needs about 9% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch R-51PM is 30mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Active A1 is approximately 427.8cm2 / 66.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-51PM is approximately 467.0cm2 / 72.4inch2. The DIAMOND ACTIVE A1 requires 8% less surface area than the R-51PM which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-51PM?
Here are the items that come with the R-51PM:
- Powered speaker (right)
- Passive speaker (left)
- 2 Grilles
- 68-inch AC power cord
- Remote control
- 2