The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 are modern classics, one of the best budget stereo speakers ever designed, and have even garnered a few prestigious awards over the years. They are still holding up as one of the go-to entry-level bookshelf speakers due to their talented sonic performance and their affordability. The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 will still require matching amplifiers to sound their best though.
Are you a proud owner of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 and currently searching for the best amps you can pair with your beloved bookshelf speakers? Then you are in luck, we will be sharing with you the list of amps that you can go for but before we do. Let’s have a rundown on the Diamond 10.1 strengths and limitations. We also need to know what are their sound characteristics. Once we have this information, we will then be able to get the right matching amplifiers for them.
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Sound Characteristics and Limitations of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 has that elegant curve which makes it look premium and cost more than the actual price. But when you take off the speaker grill, the elegance starts to fade off a little due to the metallic aesthetics. It will be easier to blend in with most home decors and modern amps with the speaker grills on. There is a 1 inch (25mm) soft dome tweeter with a metal diffusion grid over it, and a 5 inch (125mm) woven Kevlar cone bass driver. At the back of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1, you will notice two bass ports which probably makes it difficult for speaker placements as we likely can’t place them too near to a rear wall. We will find that out soon enough though.
The Diamond 10.1 frequency range is 48Hz–24kHz which is simply astonishing for a speaker this size. This is when we start to wonder if is because of the two bass ports situated at the back of the speaker. The speaker sensitivity is 86dB which is really low. The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 requires amplifier power between 20–100 Watts and their nominal impedance is 6 Ohms. These data indicate that they are not efficient speakers and if you want to play them at loud volumes, a high power output amplifier is required. This also does affect the potential amps we can go for.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 10.1
The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 may be a compact size bookshelf speaker but their bass response is no slouch. The bass reproduction never sounded muddle or flabby, it is always tight, controlled, and with precise timing. It is just incredible how these small speakers can do so well in the bass department. The Diamond 10.1 bass quality for music is definitely above average at their price range but for movies, they definitely lack the mid-bass punch. The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 definitely can dig deep but you can’t expect room-shaking rumbling. For such bass performance, it is recommended to integrate a subwoofer into the sound system. It will significantly improve the overall sound quality.
You can actually place these standmounters nearer to the rear wall than expected, which makes Diamond 10.1 ideal surround speakers and should be good as height wall mounted speakers as well. The agility of the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 also applies to the higher frequency, able to keep up with most music transients without losing any clarity. The treble doesn’t sound harsh and is actually easy on the ears. The midrange of the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 is detailed as well, and natural sounding. All in all, it is a talented bookshelf speaker with neutral warm sound characteristics.
The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers will make a great pair of desktop speakers too due to their unfussy speaker placement and size, not to mention, placing them nearer to walls may even help reinforce their bass output. They definitely need a subwoofer if you are using them as the L/R main speakers for your home cinema. For music and non-bass-heavy soundtracks, the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 are more than capable of handling most genres of music. Alright, now we have all the necessary information, and by using them, we are able to list the best amps to match with the Diamond 10.1 bookshelf speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-way reflex (down-firing)
- Drive Units: 25mm (1 inch) soft dome tweeter with metal diffusion grid and a 125mm woven Kevlar cone bass driver
- Frequency Response: 48Hz–24kHz
- Recommended Power: 20-100 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m): 86dB
- Dimensions (H x D x W): 296mm x 278mm x 194mm, 11.5″ x 10.8″ x 7.6″
- Weight: 5.2kg (11.4lbs)
Best Amps to match with Wharfedale Diamond 10.1
The NAD C 316BEE V2 will be a great starting integrated amp for your Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers. The RMS power output is already high enough to drive your speakers and with the IHF dynamic power, it can further pump in more power during music peaks. NAD C 316BEE V2 delivers a clean and smooth sound quality that complements well with the Diamond 10.1 speakers. If you have a turntable, you will be delighted to know that the amp has a moving magnet phono input. It is an amazing entry-level NAD amp for a talented pair of budget Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers.
More Details at Amazon – NAD C 316BEE Integrated Amplifier with Phono
If you want a slightly more lively and transparent sound, the Yamaha A-S501 will be an amazing amplifier for you. It is not bright sounding but it has plenty of details and clarity. The musicality of A-S501 will be a great asset and the high power output of 85 Watts per channel will easily unlock your Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 full potential. The overall music delivery is smooth and clean, with ultra-low distortion, the peaks and lows are handled with impeccable timing. Furthermore, there is a subwoofer output, which is icing on the top. Worthy of your time to hear them out.
More Information at Amazon – YAMAHA A-S501BL Natural Sound Integrated Amplifier
Planning to use Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 as desktop speakers, then check out this compact all-rounder digital amplifier, the NAD D 3020 V2. It comes with a built-in DAC and has a plethora of other features such as a Phono (MM) input, Pre-Out, and more importantly, a subwoofer output, which basically allows you to connect a subwoofer and providing you with a full-range sound system. For nearfield listening at moderate volume, the D 3020 V2 is more than sufficient but we will suggest integrating a sub for better measure and sonic performance. If you do not wish to get a subwoofer, then probably you might want to check out NAD D 3045 which has higher power output than D 3020 V2 but it will cost more than the latter though.
More Info at Amazon – NAD D 3020 v2 Digital Integrated Amplifier
Rega Brio could probably be the best amp for your Wharfedale Diamond 10.1, it is an amplifier with muscles not because of its high-quality power output but the amazing sense of rhythm and exciting music presentation. The agility and precision timing are what make this amp sounds so fun, not to mention, it has a fast and taut bass response. The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 complements the Rega Brio as well and does tame a little of the bright treble, allowing you to listen to an incredibly entertaining music delivery of your favorite tunes for a longer period of time without feeling listener fatigue. You should really check them out and have a listen.
More Information at Amazon – Rega Brio Integrated Amp
Denon PMA-600NE is one of the best budget amps for your Wharfedale Diamond 10.1, it has more than enough power to drive your speakers and there is also a subwoofer output if you want to mix in a sub for better bass performance. The sound quality at this price point is remarkable as well, big soundstage and smooth music delivery with a warmth that is relaxing and easy on the ears. If your favorite music is from vinyl recordings, the Denon PMA-600NE and Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 will be an amazing sound system for analog sources. When connected to a subwoofer, it is a musical audio system that can handle almost all genres of music.
More Info at Amazon – Denon PMA-600NE Stereo Integrated Amplifier
Denon AV receivers are also well matched with the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers, you can check out Denon AVR-S750H. Marantz amplifiers are also usually compatible with Wharfedale speakers, for their AV receivers, you might want to take a look at Marantz SR7013 which is a 9.2 channel AV receiver. A subwoofer is quite crucial for an elevating home cinema experience, we will suggest getting a ported subwoofer as they are more efficient in terms of bass output, and will significantly enhance the bass performance which makes the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers ‘sound’ like a full-range speaker. When it comes to music sources, the sealed subwoofer will be hard to beat as they have tighter control and better bass response timing than the ported subwoofer.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-S750H Receiver 7.2 Channel
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best amps you can pair them with your Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers, each has their own unique feature to cater to your current situation. They are definitely worthy of your consideration and is best to audition them first before seriously deciding. You may also use this as a reference to look at other models and as well as other brands that you are fond of. No matter which brand or model you choose, just remember to hear them out first.
