Short answer: the Polk Audio XT35. It ranks #14 of 98 center channel speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $279; the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci ranks #53, rated 3.6/5, and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Polk Audio XT35 is the better-sounding option. A slim center only 106mm tall, built to sit under a TV, with a 1” Terylene dome tweeter between four 3” woofers. Watch for: Small woofers limit bass to 85Hz (-3dB) and about 59Hz (-10dB), so it really needs a subwoofer with a crossover around 100Hz.
Why pick the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci: 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. Watch for: 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 Polk Audio XT35. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio XT35 | Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 each | $399.00 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 98 in Center Channel Speakers | #53 of 98 in Center Channel Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 4x 3” bi-laminate paper woofers | 1” textile dome tweeter, 2x 5” advanced polypropylene woofers |
| Frequency Response | 84Hz-26kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4.2”H x 24.4”W x 5.6”D (106 x 620 x 141 mm) | - |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 59.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.43 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Polk Audio XT35 vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio XT30
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Aperion Audio Novus N5C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R300
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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
Polk Audio XT35: $279.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: A slim center only 106mm tall, built to sit under a TV, with a 1” Terylene dome tweeter between four 3” woofers. Erin’s Audio Corner measured very low on-axis deviation (0.19, among the flattest of any center here) and a listening window within 2.2dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, for a preference score of 4.43 that reaches 7.34 with an ideal subwoofer. That is a remarkable result at $279. Measured bass extension of 85.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Small woofers limit bass to 85Hz (-3dB) and about 59Hz (-10dB), so it really needs a subwoofer with a crossover around 100Hz. Its predicted in-room response is less smooth (0.57) than the top centers here, so reflections color the sound more in a lively room.
Full Polk Audio XT35 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 59.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 4.2”H x 24.4”W x 5.6”D (106 x 620 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 4x 3” bi-laminate paper woofers |
| Frequency Response | 84Hz-26kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Klipsch RP-500C II
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio XT30
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Aperion Audio Novus N5C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Reserve R300
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Paradigm Monitor SE 2000C
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30
- Polk Audio XT35 vs Klipsch Reference R-50C
- See all 12 comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 12.Ci: $399.00 each Estimated Wharfedale eBay
Older model: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.C (ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5).
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 →
| Drivers | 1” textile dome tweeter, 2x 5” advanced polypropylene woofers |
|---|---|
| Maximum SPL | 96dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| 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.