Short answer: the Klipsch RP-500M II for better sound quality, the Wharfedale Diamond 220 for the lower price. The Klipsch RP-500M II ranks #10 of 56 bookshelf speakers at $389.99. The Wharfedale Diamond 220 ranks #19 at $350, $39.99 cheaper.
What the Klipsch RP-500M II offers: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. Watch for: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB.
What the Wharfedale Diamond 220 gets right: Amir found the on-axis response smooth once the grille is removed, calling grille removal “a huge improvement” since the stock grille caused unusually strong comb filtering around 5kHz. The catch: Response rolls off below 200Hz, so a subwoofer is recommended for full-range use.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 220 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-500M II | Wharfedale Diamond 220 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.99 | $350 |
| Ranked | #10 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) | 12.4"H x 6.9"W x 8.9"D (315 x 174 x 227 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn | 5" (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer, 1" (25mm) tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each | 11.7 lbs / 5.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, bottom-firing into secondary enclosure |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Emotiva B1+ vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- KEF Q150 vs Emotiva B1+
- KEF Q150 vs Neumi Silk 4
- KEF Q150 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs JBL Studio 530
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch RP-500M II: $389.99 Amazon
Pros: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. More neutral and linear overall than its sibling RP-600M II, which carries about 2-3dB more high-frequency energy and a touch more bass but less overall balance. Very precise soundstage imaging and instrument placement. Distortion through the midrange is cleaner than the previous generation.
Cons: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies. Horizontal dispersion of about ±40-50° is narrower and more directive than the reviewer’s preference for a wider, more enveloping soundstage. Toeing the speaker out to widen the soundstage or soften on-axis brightness comes at some cost to imaging precision. Slightly less clean in the tweeter region than the midrange, likely tied to crossover placement, though not considered a dealbreaker. Low-frequency output is limited - measured around 95dB at 4 meters for the pair before the woofers started to unload, so a subwoofer is recommended for anyone wanting real bass rather than stepping up to a larger model.
Full Klipsch RP-500M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Revel M105
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs KEF Q150
- See all 17 comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 220: $350 Amazon
Pros: Amir found the on-axis response smooth once the grille is removed, calling grille removal “a huge improvement” since the stock grille caused unusually strong comb filtering around 5kHz. Good horizontal dispersion from the waveguide-loaded tweeter and controlled distortion. After some EQ (a room mode filter and treble shelf), the reviewer called it “a truly hifi speaker” where “every audiophile track…sounded very good,” and said he was “happy to recommend” it for the budget class.
Cons: Response rolls off below 200Hz, so a subwoofer is recommended for full-range use. Some port rattling was noted at high volumes, traced to vibration rather than the woofer itself. Best performance requires removing the grille and applying the reviewer’s EQ filters.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 220 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 12.4"H x 6.9"W x 8.9"D (315 x 174 x 227 mm) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 5" (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer, 1" (25mm) tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs / 5.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom-firing into secondary enclosure |
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 220 vs KEF Q150
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Boston Acoustics A25
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs JBL Studio 530
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- See all 14 comparisons