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Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Review
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

Main Features

  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer
  • 45-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: 30-150watts
  • Weight:42.90 lbs / 19.50 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 38-3/4"x7-1/8"x14-1/4" / 985.0 x 180.0 x 362.0mm
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Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Review
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Wharfedale Diamond 1...
See at AMAZON

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Wharfedale. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 has an MSRP of 998$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 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-fieldBad
Small RoomPoor
Mid-size RoomGood
Large RoomGood
Very Large RoomPoor

(* 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 12.3 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
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
45-20k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 5"
Wharfedale Diamond 12.4
Compare
40-20k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Wharfedale 12.0
Compare
70-20k Hz 87 dB8Ω 1 x 4"
Wharfedale 12.2
Compare
50-20k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Wharfedale Diamond 12.C
Compare
90-20k Hz 90 dB8Ω 2 x 5"
Wharfedale 12.1
Compare
65-20k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 5"
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12 Series Speakers


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Frequency Response of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Speaker

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 has a Frequency response range of 45-20k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-150 watts. With a minimum frequency of 45 Hz, Diamond 12.3 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.

To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Wharfedale Diamond 12.3, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $1000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Diamond 12.3's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Min
Average
Max

Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3's 45Hz:

  • PSB Alpha T20 with Low Frequency of 36 Hz (Compare w/ Diamond 12.3)
  • Jamo S 809 with Low Frequency of 37 Hz (Compare w/ Diamond 12.3)
  • Jamo C 95 II with Low Frequency of 37 Hz (Compare w/ Diamond 12.3)
  • Klipsch RP-4000F with Low Frequency of 37 Hz (Compare w/ Diamond 12.3)
  • Klipsch R-620F with Low Frequency of 38 Hz (Compare w/ Diamond 12.3)

Crossover frequency of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3?

The Crossover frequency of the Diamond 12.3 is set to 2200Hz. 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 12.3's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 5 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 88 dB.

Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Min
Average
Max

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

88dB of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.

Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

Even though the nominal impedance of the Diamond 12.3 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 5 ohms Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 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 Diamond 12.3:

  • Integrated Amps under 750 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 1000 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 1500 USD
  • All Integrated Amplifiers

Input Type

Diamond 12.3 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.

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Back View
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Back View

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 External Dimensions and Weight

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 38-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 14-1/4inch (985.0 x 180.0 x 362.0mm ).

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 12.3 is approximately 651.6cm2 / 101.0inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Real Life Body Size Comparison
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 placed next to a Media Stand
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Floor-standing Speaker next to a Media Stand

Weight

The Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 weighs 19.50kg / 42.9lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.3's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Min
Average
Max
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $1000
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Min
Average
Max

How does the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 compare to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.4?

One of the natural alternative to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is the Diamond 12.4 which is located one step higher in Wharfedale's Passive Floor-standing selection.

Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 Size and External Dimensions

Check the Detailed Comparison of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 vs Diamond 12.4 for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood-grain vinyl 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 Diamond 12.3 comes with 4 Spike feet (w/ locking collars) 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 Diamond 12.3 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 Diamond 12.3 is available in Black, Oak and Walnut.

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3  Colors
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Colors

Does the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 come with a Grille?

Diamond 12.3 comes with magnetic grilles in Black color choices. 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. Since the included grille of the Diamond 12.3 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3  with Grille
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 with Grille

What's in the Box of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.3:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Spike feet (w/ locking collars)
  • 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
  • 4 Isolation pucks
  • Users Manual
  • Recommended Accessories

    Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3.

    • Speaker Cable and Connectors
      • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
      • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
      • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
    • 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.

    User's Manual

    For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
    Download User Manual for Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

    Official Brochure

    Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 speaker:
    Official Brochure for Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

    Official Product Page

    Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 speaker can be found below:
    Official Product Page for Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

    Warranty

    5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

    Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Alternatives in Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
    Wharfedale Diamond 12.4
    Compare
    2-way 89 dB 8 ohms 40-20k Hz
    DALI Oberon 5
    Compare
    2-way 88 dB 6 ohms 39-26k Hz
    Wharfedale EVO4.4
    Compare
    3-way 89 dB 8 ohms 44-22k Hz
    Wharfedale 12.2
    Compare
    2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 50-20k Hz
    B&W 606
    Compare
    2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 52-28k Hz
    Klipsch R-620F
    Compare
    2-way 96 dB 8 ohms 38-21k Hz
    Triangle Borea BR08
    Compare
    3-way 92 dB 8 ohms 40 - 22k Hz
    B&W 603
    Compare
    3-way 88.5 dB 8 ohms 48-28k Hz
    Frequently Asked Questions about Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
    What is the External Dimensions of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
    What is the Speaker Sensitivity of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
    is the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 an easy to drive speaker?

    Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Detailed Specifications

    General
    BrandWharfedale
    Full Model NameWharfedale Diamond 12.3
    Speaker Type2-way Floor-standing
    Power Range30-150 watts
    Sensitivity88 dB
    Impedance8 ohms
    Frequency Response45-20k Hz
    DRIVERS
    Woofer Size5-inch
    Woofer CompositionMica-infused polypropylene
    Woofer SurroundRubber
    Tweeter Size1-inch
    Tweeter TypeSoft-Dome
    Crossover freq2200Hz
    Port Positionrear

    CONNECTIONS
    Connector TypeBinding post
    Biamp InputsYes
    Port Positionrear
    PHYSICAL SPECS
    Height985.0mm ( 38-3/4-inch)
    Width180.0mm ( 7-1/8-inch)
    Depth362.0mm ( 14-1/4-inch)
    Height985.0mm ( 38-3/4-inch)
    Weight19.50kg ( 42.90 lbs)
    EnclosureBass Reflex
    FinishMDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available ColorsBlack, Oak, Walnut
    Mounting BracketNo
    GrilleYes
    Moisture ResistanceNo
    OTHER
    Handheld RemoteNo
    Parts Warranty5 Years
    Labor Warranty5 Years
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