Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Wharfedale. It was released in 2024. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Advanced polypropylene Woofer.
The 12.1i sits between the 12.0i and 12.2i: a 130 mm advanced polypropylene cone with a 25 mm textile dome, 60 Hz at -6dB.
The speaker has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has an MSRP of 499$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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 12.1i is a member of Wharfedale's Diamond 12 series of Passive speakers. Diamond 12 is the latest generation of Wharfedale's acclaimed budget Diamond range. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 10 Wharfedale Diamond 12 models compared »
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i Speaker
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has a Frequency response range of 65-20k Hz 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 12.1i so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.
Here we have a comparison of how DIAMOND 12.1i's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i?
Crossover frequency of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i?
The crossover frequency of the DIAMOND 12.1i 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 Diamond 12.1i's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
4.0 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 12.1i is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
88dB of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i
Even though the nominal impedance of the DIAMOND 12.1i is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 4.0 ohms Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
12–100 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
DIAMOND 12.1i has Binding 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.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i External Dimensions and Weight
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12-5/16 x 7-1/16 x 10-15/16inch (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 Diamond 12.1i is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how DIAMOND 12.1i's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
Cabinet type and Materials
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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.
Port Position
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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.
Wall Mounting
DIAMOND 12.1i doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i come with a Grille?
DIAMOND 12.1i comes with 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.
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.