Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is the newer model that replaces the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, but only the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 has been measured and ranked so far, so this comparison is on specs and features rather than sound. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is discontinued, so it is now a used buy.
The case for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i: Two-way bookshelf with a 5” Klarity polypropylene and mica woofer and a 1” woven polyester dome tweeter, joined by a Linkwitz-Riley crossover at 2.6kHz with air-core inductors.
On the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 side: 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.
On paper: The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is more sensitive, 88dB against 84dB, so it needs less amplifier power to play loud.
Price: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i lists at $499 and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 at $599.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i if you want the newer model, with higher sensitivity, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 per pair | $599 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | - | #21 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5” Klarity polypropylene cone woofer, 1” woven polyester dome tweeter | 5” advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1” textile dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz ±3dB, 60Hz -6dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 84dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4 ohms minimum) | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 20-100W | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | 2.6kHz |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Dimensions | 312H x 180W x 278D mm | 12.2”H x 7”W x 10.9”D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| Weight | 6.8 kg each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.42 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i: $499 per pair Music Direct eBay
Older models: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 (rated 3.9/5), the Wharfedale Diamond 220 (rated 3.7/5) and the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 (rated 2.8/5).
Pros: Two-way bookshelf with a 5” Klarity polypropylene and mica woofer and a 1” woven polyester dome tweeter, joined by a Linkwitz-Riley crossover at 2.6kHz with air-core inductors. Wharfedale rates it at 88dB sensitivity with an 8 ohm load and a 20W minimum amplifier, easy to drive, and it keeps the price of the Diamond 12.1 it replaces.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Rated bass reaches only 60Hz (-6dB), so plan on a subwoofer for full-range listening.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i review and specifications →
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 312H x 180W x 278D mm |
| Drivers | 5” Klarity polypropylene cone woofer, 1” woven polyester dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz ±3dB, 60Hz -6dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 20-100W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: $599 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
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. Measured bass extension of 61Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.
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 |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.2”H x 7”W x 10.9”D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.42 |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Wharfedale 12.1 Budget Bookshelf Speaker with “Laid Back” sound but output limited. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Carmody S2000
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- 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 Revel M105
- See all 38 comparisons