Short answer: the Audiofirst Fidelia. It ranks #1 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 ranks #10.
What the Audiofirst Fidelia offers: Kit speaker offering exceptional value and tonal accuracy; chosen by reviewer as reference standard for future speaker tonality comparisons despite 1,250 USD price point. Watch for: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power.
What the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 offers: A budget two-way bookshelf speaker (5” polypropylene woofer, 1” textile dome tweeter) that measures well for its price: harmonic distortion at 86dB stays under 1% THD down to about 60Hz, genuinely good for a 5” mid-woofer. Watch for: A dip of about 3dB in the 1-3kHz crossover region (on-axis, in the predicted in-room response, and even off-axis) gives the speaker a soft, “laid-back” character that noticeably saps attack and transient bite from drums, guitar…
Buy the Audiofirst Fidelia if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audiofirst Fidelia | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £950 for the flatpack kit (assembly required) | $599 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1560Hz | 2.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 11.7"D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) | 12.2"H x 7"W x 10.9"D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB | 84dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 5" ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1" ceramic-aluminum tweeter | 5" advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- Philharmonic Ceramic Mini vs Tekton Troubadour
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- JBL Studio 530 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
The Two Speakers In Full
Audiofirst Fidelia: £950 for the flatpack kit (assembly required)
Pros: Kit speaker offering exceptional value and tonal accuracy; chosen by reviewer as reference standard for future speaker tonality comparisons despite 1,250 USD price point. Achieves bass extension to 53 Hz (F3) and 38 Hz (F10) from compact cabinet. Direct-from-manufacturer availability eliminates retailer markup.
Cons: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power. Only available direct from UK manufacturer with associated shipping costs and lead times. Trade-off between compact driver configuration and maximum dynamic output.
Full Audiofirst Fidelia review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1560Hz |
| Dimensions | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 11.7"D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1" ceramic-aluminum tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84dB |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: $599 Discontinued
Pros: A budget two-way bookshelf speaker (5” polypropylene woofer, 1” textile dome tweeter) that measures well for its price: harmonic distortion at 86dB stays under 1% THD down to about 60Hz, genuinely good for a 5” mid-woofer. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60° up to roughly 5kHz before the tweeter starts to beam. Tonally smooth and easy to listen to at moderate volumes, with a pleasant, non-fatiguing character the reviewer said he’d happily recommend to someone who wants noticeably better fit, finish and looks than typical speakers in the $300-400 range. A high-pass crossover around 80Hz meaningfully cleans up midrange multitone distortion, so pairing it with a subwoofer helps more than usual for a speaker this size.
Cons: A dip of about 3dB in the 1-3kHz crossover region (on-axis, in the predicted in-room response, and even off-axis) gives the speaker a soft, “laid-back” character that noticeably saps attack and transient bite from drums, guitar and other percussive material - possibly an intentional BBC-style dip, but one the reviewer would still prefer tuned flat. Vertical directivity is unusually tight for this class of speaker, holding together only within about ±5° of the tweeter axis before a real hole opens up in the response, so seating height matters a lot more than on most bookshelf designs. Diffraction artifacts around 3kHz and 5kHz show up as differences between the listening-window and on-axis curves. Distortion climbs well past acceptable levels at higher output - harmonic distortion exceeds 3% around 150Hz at 96dB (versus under 1% at 86dB), multitone distortion tops 10% at 96dB/1m, and real compression sets in between 96-102dB (about 1.5dB of lost dynamic range around 300Hz at 102dB/1m, roughly equivalent to 92dB for a pair at 4m in a room) - a genuine limitation on how loud or how far away this speaker can be pushed. Measured average sensitivity (84dB) runs a few dB below the 87dB spec. Only a 5” woofer, so a subwoofer is required for real bass. Discontinued.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.2"H x 7"W x 10.9"D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 5" advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured by Erin's Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs KEF Q150
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs JBL Studio 530
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- See all 9 comparisons