Wharfedale Diamond 12 Owner's Thread

[knownothing]

I am currently torn between the Diamond 12.1 and 12.2 for a small room. Has anybody listened to both? How much of a difference is there? There are no Reviews on Youtube or the internet in general that specifically compare the two.

There was a group that did a YouTube video comparing the 12.0, 12.1 and 12.2. I couldn’t find it again to reference here. I recall that they were surprised by how good they thought the 12.0 was. They thought the 12.1 was also good, but that it did not offer that much more than the 12.0 for the money, and they liked the 12.2 the best because of the more robust bass response.

I own the 12.0’s and I think they are remarkable sounding for the money, but the mid bass driver hits it’s stops and makes a popping sound at higher volumes with a 50 wpc Rega amp. The 12.2 has double the power handling capacity of the 12.0 and should be more than adequate for any reasonable volume level in a small room.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Has anyone been able to compare Diamon 12.2 against Dentons 85 Anniversary Ed.? Currently, I have Diamonds 12.2 for my desktop setup, but I would like to know if the upgrade to the Dentons 85 will be a big jump. I can purchase them for 500 euros brand new instead of 800 euros. But not sure if it's worth it. Unfortunately, order and return is not an option.

What sound signature do you like and which music genre do you listen?
It is always best to listen to the speakers before buying if possible. Do not buy random speakers because they are on sale.
Watch some reviews on youtube on how do they describe the sound signature, do not listen to sound demo's on youtube because you can not hear the real sound.

The new Wharfedale Evo 5 serie is ready to be released also.
Maybe the EVO 5.1 or 5.2 is something for you? They Evo series sound great.

EVO 5.1

The EVO 5 Series represents a bold step forward for Wharfedale - taking everything that makes the EVO4 a showroom-staple and multi-award winning loudspeaker series but blending luxurious design updates with technical evolution further to enhance the appeal of a price-bracket-defying loudspeaker...

www.wharfedale.co.uk

EVO 5 Series

Wharfedale

www.wharfedale.co.uk

 

[knownothing]

“but the mid bass driver hits it’s stops and makes a popping sound at higher volumes with a 50 wpc Rega amp”

Update on my previous comment. I tried running the Diamond 12.0’s through the crossover on my subwoofer at 100Hz, and wow, what a difference that made. I can now play bass heavy music at 90db average level through the 50 wpc Rega amp (briefly to protect my ears) and I hear no noticeable distortion whatsoever, clear as a bell with no mid-woofer stop hits. I have much greater appreciation for what these inexpensive speakers can do. The subwoofer I’m using is an old 400w Monitor Audio Radius 720 which must have a pretty decent builtin crossover.

Again the Diamond 12.2’s specs indicate they have a much greater ability to handle power and volume, but the 12.0’s sound great as part of a budget 2.1 system if crossed over properly.

kn

 

[JoshK]

Does anyone know off hand what size/thread of the binding post are? I lost one in my last move and the posts I bought at a local store are too small.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Does anyone know off hand what size/thread of the binding post are? I lost one in my last move and the posts I bought at a local store are too small.

Try to ask Wharfedale, maybe they send you one for free

 

[JoshK]

Try to ask Wharfedale, maybe they send you one for free

I tried their contact form which doesn't do anything, so I tried their email and says the inbox is full. I had tried a month back, same result.

 

[XDM]

One moment, please...

Alpha Audio seems to be a total joke
Their latest review is, of course, of "really fast" audio cables, which start at over 700 USD: https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/...-lightning-purple-flare-blue-heaven-red-dawn/

They review them as:
"Rhythmically strong
Fast, open sound
Clear series structure"

And
"We also see the use of FEP: an insulation material that guarantees high speed. We have seen in the review of the interlinks, that the use of FEP is not nonsense: Nordost cables are really fast. And that is – our opinion – also audible."

If you keep reading it gets better or worse depending on you sense or humor.

 

[knownothing]

Alpha Audio seems to be a total joke
Their latest review is, of course, of "really fast" audio cables, which start at over 700 USD: https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/...-lightning-purple-flare-blue-heaven-red-dawn/

They review them as:
"Rhythmically strong
Fast, open sound
Clear series structure"

And
"We also see the use of FEP: an insulation material that guarantees high speed. We have seen in the review of the interlinks, that the use of FEP is not nonsense: Nordost cables are really fast. And that is – our opinion – also audible."

If you keep reading it gets better or worse depending on you sense or humor.

Hmmm. They actually measure the “speed” of each cable. If you want to see a really big cable test by that group, look here:

https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/interlinks-dont-do-anything-or-do-they-32-rca-cables-analyzed/3/

 

[antcollinet]

Hmmm. They actually measure the “speed” of each cable. If you want to see a really big cable test by that group, look here:

https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/interlinks-dont-do-anything-or-do-they-32-rca-cables-analyzed/3/

That article gets a huge from me. They completely fail to understand how utterly pointless that test is.

 

[#Budgethifi13]

Got the Diamond 12.2 a month back and fell in love with them, I now listening to almost everything on them and starting to neglect my other costlier speakers. To my ears, they sound so smooth yet do not lack clarity. Mids produced by the 12s are exactly to my taste, forward, crystal clear with body and sweet sounding. Its just what I want from a speaker. There is not one thing I dont like about these, and I have owned and own quite a few speakers including the Diamond 225, Q.A 3030i, Dali Oberon 3, Polk Reserve R100 (wished I had the R200 though), the orginal KEF LS50, JBL Studio 590, l and Wharfedale Crystal 4.3, 4.1 and 4c to name a few.

Any Diamond 12 owners here be it the 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12,3 or 12.4? What are you pairing them up with and how is it working out for you? Positioning and placement?Any measurements you have taken personally or come across any measurements in other forums you wished to share? Any mods done to improve the speakers? Would be great to hear anything and everything from the owners!

Got the Diamond 12.2 a month back and fell in love with them, I now listening to almost everything on them and starting to neglect my other costlier speakers. To my ears, they sound so smooth yet do not lack clarity. Mids produced by the 12s are exactly to my taste, forward, crystal clear with body and sweet sounding. Its just what I want from a speaker. There is not one thing I dont like about these, and I have owned and own quite a few speakers including the Diamond 225, Q.A 3030i, Dali Oberon 3, Polk Reserve R100 (wished I had the R200 though), the orginal KEF LS50, JBL Studio 590, l and Wharfedale Crystal 4.3, 4.1 and 4c to name a few.

Any Diamond 12 owners here be it the 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12,3 or 12.4? What are you pairing them up with and how is it working out for you? Positioning and placement?Any measurements you have taken personally or come across any measurements in other forums you wished to share? Any mods done to improve the speakers? Would be great to hear anything and everything from the owners!

I have the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 and in the year that I have had them I've tried other speakers from Mission, Klipsch, Fyne Audio and Elac and nothing comes close i have returned them all. The Elacs are being collected in the next few days.

 

[Alexei]

I have the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 and in the year that I have had them I've tried other speakers from Mission, Klipsch, Fyne Audio and Elac and nothing comes close i have returned them all. The Elacs are being collected in the next few days.

End your search! Wharfedale Diamond bookshelf range are the business. Affordable, dynamic, pleasant, 3-D-like imaging, eminently listenable and sounding very large, up to their loudness limits. I had Diamond IVs (5” poly woofer) and still have 10.2s (my favs even more than my Lintons). The 12 series is likely even better based on measurements & reviews. Enjoy the music and laugh at the rest of us ever searching for ‘better’, unless you like the thrill of the chase of course.

 

[knownothing]

Hi guys, looking for some guidance for my desktop setup.

Currently:
-KEF C15 speakers (gifted from my brother, said he bought them in the late 80s)
-Soundrise PRO-9 stands
-REL tZero mkIII
-SMSL AO200 amp
-Orchard Audio Pecanpi DAC/Streamer

Do you think the 12.0 or 12.1 would be better for nearfield listening?

Very late reply - I tried the 12.0 with REL tZero and found them very compatible. I wanted more deep bass than the tZero can deliverso went in a different direction, but the little Diamonds and the little REL were a nearly perfect match.

 

[beagleman]

End your search! Wharfedale Diamond bookshelf range are the business. Affordable, dynamic, pleasant, 3-D-like imaging, eminently listenable and sounding very large, up to their loudness limits. I had Diamond IVs (5” poly woofer) and still have 10.2s (my favs even more than my Lintons). The 12 series is likely even better based on measurements & reviews. Enjoy the music and laugh at the rest of us ever searching for ‘better’, unless you like the thrill of the chase of course.

I have tried also.
I mean I have heard and owned bigger and more expensive speakers in the past for sure, but wow, these just do it all, Excepting of course any deep bass or very high levels.
I run mine with dual 12" velodyne subs and its extremely listenable and neutral.

 

[Bumhunter]

and maybe someone had experience of direct comparison, what can you say about comparison of klipsch rp-500m ii and wharfedale diamond 12.2. maybe you can suggest something else from good active?

 

[Rssin23]

Hi everyone,
New member. I am trying to build jumper cables for my diamond 12.2 but not sure which spade connector will fit.

Would it possible for any owner to share the size of the binding post in mm.

 

[BristolRuss]

I have been looking at getting a pair of either 12.1 or 12.2's recently and I am glad I hadn't pulled the trigger yet as a refresh of the 12 line is coming next month!

DIAMOND 12i Series

Wharfedale

www.wharfedale.co.uk

Going to priced the same as the current models as well.

 

[Rssin23]

Bi wiring removed, port tuning changed and new colors.

 

[ZööZ]

I have been looking at getting a pair of either 12.1 or 12.2's recently and I am glad I hadn't pulled the trigger yet as a refresh of the 12 line is coming next month!

DIAMOND 12i Series

Wharfedale

www.wharfedale.co.uk

Going to priced the same as the current models as well.

And here I am still waiting for Klippel measurements of the 12.2. The new ones better not be phenomenal so I don't have to buy them just to see if I think I hear a difference.

 

[tw 2022]

And here I am still waiting for Klippel measurements of the 12.2. The new ones better not be phenomenal so I don't have to buy them just to see if I think I hear a difference.

odds are they are gonna be 98% the same as what you have , it's simple : wait for the measurements , you'll be able to tell by those, or if you don't have that skill by the reaction of those that have those skills ... don't get caught up in the upgade -itis caused by fomo...

 

[ZööZ]

odds are they are gonna be 98% the same as what you have , it's simple : wait for the measurements , you'll be able to tell by those, or if you don't have that skill by the reaction of those that have those skills ... don't get caught up in the upgade -itis caused by fomo...

The point I was trying to make was that it would be difficult to tell if the new ones do get measured and the old ones won't.
But yeah I don't really have any need to upgrade them as they are my front top atmos channels, but maybe after the new ones drop I'll get a new pair of the originals dirt cheap and I'll replace my rear top channel diamond 220 speakers and enjoy matching four channels of atmos top channels.