Wharfedale has updated its Diamond 12i series of speakers. First launched in 1982, the Diamond series has become a cornerstone of affordable hi-fi. The updated range, consisting of monitor models and floorstanders, is a refinement compared to the previous version, but retains roughly the same price point.
Wharfedale Diamond 12i: for music and home cinema
The new Wharfedale Diamond 12i series speakers feature a refreshed aesthetic, replacing the four previous wood finishes with three contemporary options: Deep Black, Stone Grey, and Classic Walnut. According to Wharfedale, these finishes offer a more modern look while maintaining the series’ accessible positioning.
Wharfedale says that manufacturing improvements since 2020 have enabled subtle performance adjustments across the entire range. Engineers focused on tuning the bass port and internal airflow using modern development methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and laser interferometry.
Wharfedale Diamond 12i Series: Internal Component Refinements
Members of the Wharfedale Diamond 12i family benefit from tighter driver manufacturing tolerances and a revised cabinet design. The cabinets are constructed from particleboard of varying thicknesses and feature computer-controlled internal bracing to control resonance. The rear-firing bass port remains standard across the entire series.
As with the previous Diamond 12 generation, the new models use Wharfedale’s Klarity composite cones, made of polypropylene and mica. The use of mica increases stiffness, aiming to reduce cone flex and maintain low coloration.
Wharfedale Diamond 12i: tweeter and crossover
All models use a 25-millimeter diameter woven polyester dome tweeter, combined with a minimal waveguide baffle for wide dispersion. The crossover filters continue to be based on the Linkwitz-Riley topology with air-coil elements, chosen to minimize distortion. The magnet structures of the midrange and woofer drivers have been modified to accommodate these components.
Wharfedale Diamond 12i Series: Monitor models, floorstanders, center speaker, and Atmos model
The Wharfedale Diamond 12i speaker series comprises five models suitable for both music and home theater use: three two-way monitor models and two floorstanding models. A center speaker is also available for home theater use, and a Dolby Atmos model, which radiates sound upwards, is also available. The Dolby Atmos speaker can also be wall-mounted, in which case the sound is not radiated upwards.
All models retain the same driver configurations, cabinet dimensions, and sensitivity ratings as the previous Diamond 12 models.
Wharfedale Diamond 12i Series: prices and delivery information
Wharfedale says that by keeping prices at 2020 levels, the real cost after inflation has fallen by around 22 percent.
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