Short answer: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52. It ranks #45 of 131 center channel speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $399; the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci ranks #69, rated 3.6/5, at $399. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
What the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 does well: A three-way center channel from Andrew Jones with two 5.25” aluminium woofers and a 4” concentric midrange with a 1” soft dome tweeter at its center. The catch: The on-axis response is less even (0.60 average deviation) than the listening window.
What the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci does well: The refined Diamond 12 center swaps the 12.C’s Kevlar woofers for 5” polypropylene cones and reworks the port and internal damping, raising rated sensitivity from 87dB to 90dB and peak output from 90dB to 96dB in a smaller cabinet. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured centers; the rating is estimated from its predecessor and lineup siblings.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Worth knowing: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.2 to 4.0, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 | Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 each | $399.00 each |
| Ranked | #45 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers | #69 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers Estimated |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (manufacturer specified) | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 7.3”H x 21.5”W x 10.8”D (185 x 545 x 275 mm) | 7.1”H x 18.9”W x 8.2”D (180 x 480 x 208 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” aluminium woofers, 4” concentric midrange with 1” soft dome tweeter | 1” textile dome tweeter, 2x 5” advanced polypropylene woofers |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 41.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.92 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Weight | - | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52:
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 vs Klipsch RP-404C II
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R300
- Polk Audio Reserve R400 vs Polk Audio Reserve R300
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52: $399.00 each Amazon eBay
Same family: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 (bookshelf, rated 2.4/5) and the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UF52 (floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5). See every ELAC Uni-Fi generation.
Pros: A three-way center channel from Andrew Jones with two 5.25” aluminium woofers and a 4” concentric midrange with a 1” soft dome tweeter at its center. Erin measured a preference score of 4.92 that reaches 7.06 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.38 listening window deviation. Measured bass extension of 71.8Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The on-axis response is less even (0.60 average deviation) than the listening window. Bass reaches 71.8Hz (-3dB) and about 42Hz (-10dB).
Full ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 41.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 7.3”H x 21.5”W x 10.8”D (185 x 545 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” aluminium woofers, 4” concentric midrange with 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci: $399.00 each Estimated Wharfedale eBay
Older model: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C (ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5). See every Wharfedale Diamond generation.
Same family: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i (larger bookshelf, estimated 4/5), the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4/5) and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.4i (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: The refined Diamond 12 center swaps the 12.C’s Kevlar woofers for 5” polypropylene cones and reworks the port and internal damping, raising rated sensitivity from 87dB to 90dB and peak output from 90dB to 96dB in a smaller cabinet.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured centers; the rating is estimated from its predecessor and lineup siblings. Like the 12.C it is a two-woofer horizontal layout, which tends to narrow horizontal coverage.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2025 (10 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 7.1”H x 18.9”W x 8.2”D (180 x 480 x 208 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” textile dome tweeter, 2x 5” advanced polypropylene woofers |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons