In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and Diamond 225, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale 225 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 1 | Wharfedale 225 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-20k Hz | 45-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 6.55kg / 14.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm | 13.9" x 7.7" x 11.4"
355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale 225 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 Reva 1 |
Wharfedale 225 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
Drivers
Both Reva 1 and Diamond 225 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 1Wharfedale 225
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 Reva 1 |
Wharfedale 225 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Diamond 225 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas Diamond 225 has a frequency range of 45-20k 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 Reva 1's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Reva 1 and Diamond 225 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reva 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Diamond 225's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 225 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, 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.
Diamond 225 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Diamond 225.
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
Both Reva 1 and Diamond 225 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Reva 1 and Diamond 225 have bottom firing ports.
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 Reva 1's and Wharfedale 225's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm (12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas Wharfedale 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm (13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch).
Wharfedale 225 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 37mm taller and 5mm deeper than Wharfedale Reva 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale 225 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Wharfedale 225 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2. The Reva 1 requires 13% less surface area than the Diamond 225 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 Reva 1 and Wharfedale 225 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 Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the Wharfedale 225 weighs 6.55kg / 14.4lbs. This makes the Diamond 225 16% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 and Diamond 225'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 Reva 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 225?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 225:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
 Height |
318mm
vs
355mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
568cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
Wharfedale Diamond 225 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-20k Hz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
290.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
6.55kg (14.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-30" |
24" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 2.3x 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 | B | Wharfedale 225 digs deeper - 45Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale 225 takes more power (120W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1 is easier to place; Wharfedale 225 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping; Wharfedale 225: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale 225 is cheaper - $349 against $799, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 1 B Wharfedale 225
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Wharfedale Reva 1 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale 225 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.