Wharfedale Diamond 220 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Wharfedale. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Wharfedale 220 has an MSRP of 249$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Wharfedale 220 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 220 Speaker Structure
Wharfedale's Diamond 200 Series of Loudspeakers
Diamond 220 is a member of Wharfedale's Diamond 200 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 200 Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Wharfedale 220 Speaker
Wharfedale 220 has a Frequency response range of 56-20k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 25-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 56 Hz, Diamond 220 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 220, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $300. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Diamond 220'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 220?
The Crossover frequency of the Diamond 220 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 220's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
4.1 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Wharfedale Diamond 220 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Wharfedale Diamond 220 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.
Minimum Impedance of the Wharfedale 220
Even though the nominal impedance of the Diamond 220 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Wharfedale is 4.1 ohms Wharfedale Diamond 220 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 220:
Input Type
Diamond 220 has 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 220 Back View
Wharfedale 220 External Dimensions and Weight
Wharfedale 220 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch (315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm ).
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 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Wharfedale 220, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Wharfedale 220 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Wharfedale 220 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Wharfedale 220 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe Wharfedale 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Diamond 220's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
How does the Wharfedale 220 compare to the Wharfedale Diamond 225?
One of the natural alternative to the Wharfedale 220 is the Diamond 225 which is located one step higher in Wharfedale's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Wharfedale 220 and Wharfedale 225 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Wharfedale 220 vs Diamond 225 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Wharfedale 220 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 220 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.
Wharfedale 220 Feet
Port Position
Wharfedale 220 is a bottom-firing port speaker
Available colors
Wharfedale 220 is available in Black, White and Walnut.
Wall Mounting
Diamond 220 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Wharfedale 220 come with a Grille?
Diamond 220 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 220?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 220:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet User's Manual Installation Guide
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Wharfedale Diamond 220.
- 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 220, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Wharfedale 220
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Wharfedale Diamond 220 speaker:
Official Brochure for Wharfedale 220
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Wharfedale Diamond 220 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Wharfedale 220
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.