Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 for better sound quality, the KEF Q150 for the lower price. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 ranks #10 of 34 bookshelf speakers at $599. The KEF Q150 ranks #14 at $350, $249 cheaper.
What the KEF Q150 offers: Two-way coaxial (Uni-Q) design with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.25” mid-range time-aligned in a single driver assembly, available in ported or sealed configuration. Watch for: A high-frequency lift in the estimated in-room response makes it sound noticeably brighter in an untreated room than in a heavily acoustically-treated one - a real preference factor depending on your room’s furnishings.
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 KEF Q150 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q150 | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 Discontinued | $599 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.1"W x 10.9"D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) | 12.2"H x 7"W x 10.9"D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 130mm (5.25") aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1") vented aluminium dome tweeter | 5" advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.6kHz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Neumi Silk 4
- Tekton Troubadour vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- Neumi Silk 4 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- KEF Q150 vs Totem Kin One
- JBL Studio 530 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q150: $350 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Two-way coaxial (Uni-Q) design with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.25” mid-range time-aligned in a single driver assembly, available in ported or sealed configuration. Exceptional soundstage depth, a hallmark of KEF’s coaxial designs that the reviewer says few other speakers match. Bass extension reaches into kick-drum territory, respectable for a compact bookshelf speaker. Resonances present in measurements are consistent across on- and off-axis readings, meaning they can be effectively corrected with EQ. Distortion profile is essentially the same whether run sealed or ported, since a subwoofer crossover point sits above where the differences would matter anyway. At its sale price (around $300, sometimes seen at $400), the reviewer considers it a clear step up from his previous budget favorite in this range, the Emotiva B1+, mainly due to the superior soundstage depth.
Cons: A high-frequency lift in the estimated in-room response makes it sound noticeably brighter in an untreated room than in a heavily acoustically-treated one - a real preference factor depending on your room’s furnishings. A mild dip in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal fullness somewhat. Unexplained resonances appear in measurements and persist in both sealed and ported configurations, pointing to enclosure or panel vibration rather than the port. Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer generally prefers from KEF’s lineup, with directivity that widens somewhat around 1.2kHz (near a resonance) and again above about 5kHz. Compression testing at high output (102dB) shows significant nonlinearity, especially at lower frequencies - noticeably worse than a comparable Arendal bookshelf speaker costing over twice as much, which held up better until 80Hz. Not intended for loud listening without a subwoofer - the woofer will over-exert itself without a high-pass filter, and the reviewer recommends crossing over at 80-120Hz. At full retail price (around $600/pair), the value proposition is far less certain than at sale pricing. Discontinued.
Full KEF Q150 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.1"W x 10.9"D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 130mm (5.25") aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1") vented aluminium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Kef’s Cheapest Bookshelf. Is the Q150 worth your money?
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Q150
- GR-Research: KEF Q150… can it get any BETTER?
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Budget Stereo Systems You Will Love
- Reddit Search for KEF Q150 Review
- 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 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 Audiofirst Fidelia
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- See all 9 comparisons