Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 220. It ranks #19 of 56 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $350; the Dynaudio Emit M10 ranks #28 and costs $800, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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.
On the Dynaudio Emit M10 side: CEA2034 spinorama shows impressive, headphone-level distortion through the midrange and tweeter at 86dB SPL, with a well-executed port that keeps resonance low below the crossover. Set against that: Tuned toward a mild showroom sound with boosted upper bass and treble and a recessed midrange - the reviewer prefers speakers that get the 100Hz-3kHz range right, which this doesn’t.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 220. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Emit M10 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 220 | Dynaudio Emit M10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 | $800 |
| Ranked | #19 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5" (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer, 1" (25mm) tweeter | 28mm soft dome tweeter, 14cm MSP mid/bass driver |
| Dimensions | 12.4"H x 6.9"W x 8.9"D (315 x 174 x 227 mm) | 11.5"H x 6.7"W x 9.4"D (292 x 170 x 240 mm) |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs / 5.3 kg each | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 83.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms nominal |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom-firing into secondary enclosure | ported |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL Stage A120
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs ELAC BS U5
- Sony SS-CS5 M2 vs ELAC BS U5
- KEF Q150 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
The Two Speakers In Full
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
Dynaudio Emit M10: $800
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows impressive, headphone-level distortion through the midrange and tweeter at 86dB SPL, with a well-executed port that keeps resonance low below the crossover. 28mm soft dome tweeter and 14cm MSP mid/bass driver.
Cons: Tuned toward a mild showroom sound with boosted upper bass and treble and a recessed midrange - the reviewer prefers speakers that get the 100Hz-3kHz range right, which this doesn’t. His verdict: cheaper speakers deliver much more balanced tonality, so he wouldn’t buy it for himself.
Full Dynaudio Emit M10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 6.7"W x 9.4"D (292 x 170 x 240 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm soft dome tweeter, 14cm MSP mid/bass driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs ELAC BS U5
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Dynaudio X14
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL Studio 530
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- See all 17 comparisons