Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Wharfedale. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. Wharfedale 12.1 has an MSRP of 449$ per pair but can often be found around 349$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale 12.1 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Wharfedale's Diamond 12 Series of Loudspeakers
Diamond 12.1 is a member of Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Wharfedale 12.1 Speaker
Wharfedale 12.1 has a Frequency response range of 65-20k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 20-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 65 Hz, it is hard to expect a strong bass response from Diamond 12.1 so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Wharfedale 12.1, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $500. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Diamond 12.1's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Crossover frequency of the Wharfedale 12.1?
The Crossover frequency of the Diamond 12.1 is set to 2600Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Wharfedale 12.1's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
4 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
88 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
88dB of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.
Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale 12.1
Even though the nominal impedance of the Diamond 12.1 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 4 ohms Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Wharfedale 12.1:
Input Type
Diamond 12.1 has 5-way post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Wharfedale 12.1 External Dimensions and Weight
Wharfedale 12.1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12.2 x 7.0 x 10.9inch (312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Wharfedale 12.1 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2.
WeightThe Wharfedale 12.1 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.1's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
How does the Wharfedale 12.1 compare to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2?
One of the natural alternative to the Wharfedale 12.1 is the Diamond 12.2 which is located one step higher in Wharfedale's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Check the Detailed Comparison of Wharfedale 12.1 vs Diamond 12.2 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Wharfedale 12.1 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
Wharfedale 12.1 comes with
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
Wharfedale 12.1 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
Wharfedale 12.1 is available in Walnut, Black, Oak and White.
Wall Mounting
Diamond 12.1 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Wharfedale 12.1 come with a Grille?
Diamond 12.1 comes with removable grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 12.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser-feets Manual
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Wharfedale 12.1
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speaker:
Official Brochure for Wharfedale 12.1
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Wharfedale 12.1
Warranty
5 years of parts warranty and 5 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.