Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 220, since the JBL L52 Classic’s distortion behavior is the bigger problem. The L52 Classic brings a walnut veneer and retro Quadrex foam grille with a pulp cone woofer and 0.75-inch titanium dome tweeter, but measured compression and distortion from about 1-5kHz was inconsistent and a sub high-pass did not fix it. The Diamond 220 is smooth on axis once the grille is removed, though it rolls off below 200Hz.
Buy the JBL L52 Classic new; the Wharfedale Diamond 220 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 220 | JBL L52 Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 per pair Discontinued | $999.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #28 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5” (130mm) woven Kevlar woofer, 1” (25mm) tweeter | 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer, 0.75” titanium dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Dimensions | 12.4”H x 6.9”W x 8.9”D (315 x 174 x 227 mm) | 13-1/16”H x 7-13/16”W x 8-11/16”D |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) each | 11 lbs (5 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom-firing into secondary enclosure | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 117.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 62Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 45Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.40 | 4.54 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.64 | 6.96 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 47Hz - 24kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 10-75W RMS |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.8kHz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Wharfedale Diamond 220:
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Revel M105 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Diamond 220: $299 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: 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. Measured bass extension of 117.2Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.9dB.
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. Discontinued, with only limited remaining stock available direct from Wharfedale.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.40 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.64 |
| 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 Revel M105
- See all 33 comparisons
JBL L52 Classic: $999.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuine walnut wood veneer cabinet with a retro Quadrex foam grille (black, orange, or dark blue) reviving JBL’s classic L-series look. 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer and 0.75” titanium dome tweeter on a waveguide, front-firing bass reflex port, in a compact stand-mount cabinet. A pronounced upper-bass bump around 100 Hz gives kick drums a punchy, textured character. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Measured compression and distortion behavior from about 1-5 kHz was inconsistent (“wonky”) across output levels, and didn’t clean up even at lower volume; adding a subwoofer high-pass didn’t fix the high-frequency distortion either. Response rolls off quickly above the upper-bass bump, so there’s punch and impact but not real low-end rumble or fundamental weight below about 60 Hz without a subwoofer. Soundstage width was inconsistent track to track, with imaging not staying locked to where instruments should be. Vocals could sound hot and slightly grainy in the 2.5-5 kHz region; pointing the speakers off-axis reduced that sharpness but also killed high-frequency air.
Full JBL L52 Classic review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.8kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13-1/16”H x 7-13/16”W x 8-11/16”D |
| Drivers | 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer, 0.75” titanium dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 10-75W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.54 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL L52 Classic vs JBL Stage A120
- JBL L52 Classic vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- JBL L52 Classic vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- JBL L52 Classic vs KEF Q100
- JBL L52 Classic vs Dynaudio X14
- JBL L52 Classic vs Q Acoustics 3020i
- JBL L52 Classic vs ELAC BS U5
- JBL L52 Classic vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- See all 34 comparisons