The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 may be a small bookshelf speaker with a very modest price tag but don’t let these fool you. They are excellent entry-level speakers and have won quite a number of awards. If you are on the lookout for a pair of stand-mounters on a budget, you should certainly pick Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 as one of your choices.
Whether you are using the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 as part of your stereo setup or home theater system. You will need an amplifier that has sufficient power to drive the Diamond 12.1s. The amp will need to match well with the bookshelf speakers and/or based on your sound quality preference. Let us learn more about the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers now.
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Sound Characteristics and Merits of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
As mentioned earlier, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is a small speaker and will be compact enough to fit into any bedroom. It is an ideal choice for a bedroom stereo setup or desktop sound system. As it is rear-ported, you will need to have sufficient space away from the rear wall. This is to ensure the walls won’t reinforce the bass reproduction of the Diamond 12.1 by too much, offsetting the balance in the process.
Its nominal impedance is 8 Ohms and the recommended amplifier power is between 20 to 100 Watts. The speaker sensitivity of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is 88dB. Based on these specs, we can tell they are rather easy to drive and this gives us plenty of amplifiers to choose from. They are able to reach down to 65Hz (+/-3dB) which is impressive for compact stand-mounter. You will still likely need a subwoofer to supplement the bass especially if you are setting up a home theater system.
Find out more about Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 at Amazon
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is capable of unveiling a high amount of details and it is more than we expect from an entry-level speaker model. What’s even more impressive is the weight of its delivery and punch which belies its size. The soundstage is well-focused and the stereo imaging is amazing for the price. Bass delivery is tight and full but as explained, they are small speakers and will need a sub if you want more low-end oomph.
They are easy on the ears and don’t sound cringe no matter how you push them. You can easily listen to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers for hours without feeling the listener’s fatigue. At this price point, it is difficult to find faults with them. They are certainly a very good speaker choice within their price range. We have listed out the best amplifiers which you can choose to match with your Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, please take a look at them below.
Best Amplifiers for Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
The Marantz PM6007 is one of the best amplifiers to match your Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers. Like the Diamond 12.1, the PM6007 is also an award-winning product. This entry-level integrated amplifier will add a bit more punch to the overall sound reproduction without compromising clarity. The Marantz PM6007 matches well with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 stand-mounters’ smooth sound quality without making the music delivery too dull sounding.
More details about Marantz PM6007 at Amazon
The Denon PMA-800NE is slightly more powerful than the Marantz PM6007. Moreover, the PMA-800NE has a more balanced overall sound reproduction where its neutrality doesn’t overshadow the sound signatures of your Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers. It is a fantastic all-rounder, great for listeners who like to stream digital music and listen to vinyl recordings. The price point of the Denon PMA-800NE integrated amp is modest and should fit most Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speaker owners’ budgets.
More details about Denon PMA-800NE at Amazon
For Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 owners who have a slightly higher budget. You might want to check out the award-winning Audiolab 6000A amplifier. This stereo amplifier will help expand the soundstage, providing you with a more spacious music presentation. It will also add more clarity, giving you a clearer sound quality and allowing you to hear more details with your Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers. The articulate music delivery will give you a bit more excitement when listening to your favorite songs.
Find out more about the Audiolab 6000A at Amazon
If you have a tight budget, the Onkyo A-9110 will be an excellent choice for you. It is a budget integrated amplifier with just enough power to drive the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 bookshelf speakers. The Onkyo A-9110 has a clean aesthetic look and will fit right into most modern listening rooms. The overall sound reproduction is clean sounding too. Bass performance is tight and goes well with the Diamond 12.1 speakers. For more low-end output, you can always connect an active subwoofer to the Onkyo A-9110 amplifier.
Find out more about the Onkyo A-9110 at Amazon
The Yamaha A-S301 is also one of the best amplifiers to go for when you don’t have a high budget. Its midrange performance will be a good match with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers, giving you fuller mid-reproductions. The low-ends have weight and can punch hard when set accordingly. Yamaha A-S301 has a wide dynamic and generally a neutral-sounding amp. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 bookshelf speakers do add a bit of warmth and smoothness to the overall sound reproduction.
More details about the Yamaha A-S301 at Amazon
Are you planning to play your Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers at high volume levels? Then take a look at the Cambridge Audio AXR100. This stereo receiver is able to pump 100 Watts (8 Ohms) per channel, driving the Diamond 12.1 speakers with ease. The smooth music presentation of the Cambridge Audio AXR100 matches well with the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1s. It is easy on the ears and you can listen to your favorite music for a long period of time without fatigue.
Find out more about the Cambridge Audio AXR100 at Amazon
To Conclude
These are amazing amplifiers and are worth your time to take a further look. It would be even better if you could find some time to arrange an audition with the ones that best suit you. During the auditioning of the amplifiers, you will be able to tell how they really sound with your own ears. We highly suggest using your own Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers if possible as this will give you a more accurate result.
