Short answer: the Carmody S2000. It ranks #18 of 63 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $250; the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 ranks #19 and costs $599, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Carmody S2000 side: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. Watch for: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region.
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. The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the Carmody S2000. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Carmody S2000 | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $599 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 84dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | below 4 ohms minimum | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Drivers | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) | 5" advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | not published (DIY kit) | 12.2"H x 7"W x 10.9"D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| Weight | not published (DIY kit) | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Baltic Birch plywood | ported |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.6kHz |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Polk Audio XT15
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Boston Acoustics A25
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Boston Acoustics A25
The Two Speakers In Full
Carmody S2000: $250
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. A DIY kit built around a small woofer and tweeter with a 3kHz crossover, priced around $250 per pair before assembly labor.
Cons: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region. Low 84dB efficiency and an impedance that dips below 4 ohms both call for a capable amplifier. Vertical listening angle is sensitive - move off axis and you fall into a response “ditch” that loses energy.
Full Carmody S2000 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | not published (DIY kit) |
| Drivers | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | not published (DIY kit) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Baltic Birch plywood |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Wharfedale 12.1 Budget Bookshelf Speaker with “Laid Back” sound but output limited.
- Audio Science Review Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
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- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs KEF Q150
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Polk Audio XT15
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Revel M105
- See all 21 comparisons