New Wharfedale Diamond 12i Series

Wharfedale has refreshed its Diamond 12i speaker lineup, a series that has been essential in the affordable hi-fi market since its inception in 1982. This new range includes both monitor and floorstanding models, which have undergone refinements while maintaining a similar price point as before. The updated speakers present a modern aesthetic, offering three stylish finishes: Deep Black, Stone Grey, and Classic Walnut, which replace the previous four wood options and are designed to enhance the overall look while keeping the series accessible. Since 2020, manufacturing enhancements have allowed for subtle performance upgrades across the board, with engineers utilizing modern techniques like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and laser interferometry to improve bass port tuning and internal airflow. Each model benefits from stricter driver manufacturing tolerances and a redesigned cabinet, made from varying thicknesses of particleboard, and incorporating computer-controlled bracing to manage resonance effectively.

The cabinets feature a rear-firing bass port that has become a standard in this series. Continuing the legacy of the Diamond 12 generation, the new models incorporate Wharfedale’s Klarity composite cones, a combination of polypropylene and mica that enhances stiffness, promoting lower coloration and reduced cone flex. A 25-millimeter woven polyester dome tweeter is used across all models, designed for wide dispersion with a minimal waveguide baffle, while the crossover filters adhere to Linkwitz-Riley topology and utilize air-coil elements to diminish distortion. Adjustments have been made to the magnet structures of the midrange and woofer drivers to optimize these components.

The Wharfedale Diamond 12i lineup includes five models suitable for music and home theater applications, featuring three two-way monitor models and two floorstanding designs, plus a dedicated center speaker for home theater setups. Additionally, there is a Dolby Atmos model that can direct sound upwards; this speaker also offers wall-mounting capabilities, in which case sound projects forward instead of upwards. Importantly, all models maintain the same driver configurations, cabinet dimensions, and sensitivity ratings as the prior Diamond 12 models. Wharfedale has managed to keep pricing at 2020 levels, resulting in a real cost decrease of around 22 percent when adjusted for inflation.