Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 220 for better sound quality, the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 for the lower price. The Wharfedale Diamond 220 ranks #28 of 87 bookshelf speakers at $350. The Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 ranks #79 at $249, $101 cheaper.
What the Wharfedale Diamond 220 offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
What the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 offers: Bass distortion is well controlled per the measurements, and the slow bass rolloff means it can be pushed fairly hard for its size. Ships with a footer that keeps the small cabinet planted despite its light weight. Watch for: CEA2034 spinorama shows severely reduced bass energy between 40-120Hz, a directivity mismatch between the tweeter and woofer, and a severe resonance/interference issue around 14kHz. Distortion at 96dB SPL was so bad the reviewer limited testing to 86dB. Direct comparison to a $118/pair Pioneer SP-BS22-LR left the reviewer calling the $500/pair ProMonitor 1000 “a bad experiment that should be forgotten” and concluding “there is nothing Pro about it.”
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 220 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000. It ranks near the bottom of the 87 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 220 | Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #28 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #79 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5" (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer, 1" (25mm) tweeter | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 5.25" BDSS mid/woofer, 5.25" planar bass radiator |
| Dimensions | 12.4"H x 6.9"W x 8.9"D (315 x 174 x 227 mm) | 10.88H x 6.25W x 6.5D in |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs / 5.3 kg each | 7.3 lbs / 3.29 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review - reviewer noted this vs. a manufacturer spec of 91dB) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms nominal |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom-firing into secondary enclosure | passive radiator |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 117.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 95Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | - | 47Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 AM 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 220: $350 Amazon eBay
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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 117.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| 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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Polk Audio XT15
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs KEF Q150
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Boston Acoustics A25
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs JBL Studio 530
- See all 32 comparisons
Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000: $249.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass distortion is well controlled per the measurements, and the slow bass rolloff means it can be pushed fairly hard for its size. Ships with a footer that keeps the small cabinet planted despite its light weight.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows severely reduced bass energy between 40-120Hz, a directivity mismatch between the tweeter and woofer, and a severe resonance/interference issue around 14kHz. Distortion at 96dB SPL was so bad the reviewer limited testing to 86dB. Direct comparison to a $118/pair Pioneer SP-BS22-LR left the reviewer calling the $500/pair ProMonitor 1000 “a bad experiment that should be forgotten” and concluding “there is nothing Pro about it.”
Full Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 95Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 10.88H x 6.25W x 6.5D in |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 5.25" BDSS mid/woofer, 5.25" planar bass radiator |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review - reviewer noted this vs. a manufacturer spec of 91dB) |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.29 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 vs Polk T15
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- Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 vs JBL Stage A130
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- Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 vs Q Acoustics 5020
- See all 32 comparisons