Short answer: the Moondrop M4P MTM for better sound quality, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 for the lower price. The Moondrop M4P MTM ranks #12 of 87 bookshelf speakers at $920. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 ranks #21 at $599, $321 cheaper.
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. 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. 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 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.
What the Moondrop M4P MTM offers: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60° through the midrange and still around ±50° near the tweeter, giving an expansive, enveloping soundstage on well-recorded stereo material. Noticeable mid-bass “thump” around 100-160Hz that adds a sense of punch and kick-drum impact, more pronounced than the reviewer’s Audiofirst Fidelia reference. Rolled-off, laid-back treble (roughly 1-2dB below linear) rather than the 2-5dB high-frequency boost common on speakers marketed as “detailed” - a plus for listeners who find brighter speakers fatiguing. Tonal balance stays consistent whether pointed straight on or toed out about 30°, so side-to-side seating position doesn’t change the sound much. At $920/pair in a compact monitor cabinet (13-14 lbs), reasonably priced for the format. Watch for: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential, because the two woofers cancel each other through the crossover region (classic MTM lobing) - sit above or below that window and the upper midrange loses clarity and detail. SPL-limited: noticeable compression showed up both subjectively (thinner-sounding transients at 80-85dB/10 feet) and in measurements, with roughly 1.5dB of dynamic-range loss and about 3dB of added distortion under instantaneous compression testing. Harmonic distortion jumps substantially at 96dB versus 86dB (mostly second-order, so less audible than it looks on paper), and multitone distortion rides right at the reviewer’s 3% threshold at full output. Low impedance (3.7-ohm minimum, 1.7-ohm minimum EPDR) means a Class AB amp may run hot over longer sessions; a Class D amp is recommended for better thermal headroom. Designed primarily for nearfield use (about 1 meter); farfield listening is more of a gamble since dynamic range drops off noticeably at distance. Slight sibilance and a mild upper-midrange dip give a touch of a recessed, warm character alongside the bass emphasis. Bass reaches only about 50-60Hz in-room, and not with much volume before running into the SPL limits noted above.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Moondrop M4P MTM if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 | Moondrop M4P MTM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 Discontinued | $920 |
| Ranked | #21 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 69Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 12.2"H x 7"W x 10.9"D (310 x 178 x 277 mm) | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5" advanced polypropylene cone woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Power Handling | - | 75W rated / 150W max |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: $599 Discontinued eBay
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 |
- 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)
- Reddit Search for Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Carmody S2000
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- 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 37 comparisons
Moondrop M4P MTM: $920 Shenzhenaudio eBay
Pros: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60° through the midrange and still around ±50° near the tweeter, giving an expansive, enveloping soundstage on well-recorded stereo material. Noticeable mid-bass “thump” around 100-160Hz that adds a sense of punch and kick-drum impact, more pronounced than the reviewer’s Audiofirst Fidelia reference. Rolled-off, laid-back treble (roughly 1-2dB below linear) rather than the 2-5dB high-frequency boost common on speakers marketed as “detailed” - a plus for listeners who find brighter speakers fatiguing. Tonal balance stays consistent whether pointed straight on or toed out about 30°, so side-to-side seating position doesn’t change the sound much. At $920/pair in a compact monitor cabinet (13-14 lbs), reasonably priced for the format.
Cons: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential, because the two woofers cancel each other through the crossover region (classic MTM lobing) - sit above or below that window and the upper midrange loses clarity and detail. SPL-limited: noticeable compression showed up both subjectively (thinner-sounding transients at 80-85dB/10 feet) and in measurements, with roughly 1.5dB of dynamic-range loss and about 3dB of added distortion under instantaneous compression testing. Harmonic distortion jumps substantially at 96dB versus 86dB (mostly second-order, so less audible than it looks on paper), and multitone distortion rides right at the reviewer’s 3% threshold at full output. Low impedance (3.7-ohm minimum, 1.7-ohm minimum EPDR) means a Class AB amp may run hot over longer sessions; a Class D amp is recommended for better thermal headroom. Designed primarily for nearfield use (about 1 meter); farfield listening is more of a gamble since dynamic range drops off noticeably at distance. Slight sibilance and a mild upper-midrange dip give a touch of a recessed, warm character alongside the bass emphasis. Bass reaches only about 50-60Hz in-room, and not with much volume before running into the SPL limits noted above.
Full Moondrop M4P MTM review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 69Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 75W rated / 150W max |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan
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- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
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