Treble guitar notes hit with clarity and some hints of brightness to higher frequencies are soon removed after the speakers are given time to run in. Many people see IAG’s Chinese connections as a bad thing, one that affects the brand name of Wharfedale plus other brands like Audiolab and Leak (two other brands under the IAG umbrella). The extra information around the lower end also provides more presence for even those demure details that can be easily missed. The extra solidity and self-assurance from the Wharfedales means that the sound impresses you. These speakers make music a memorable occasion. 3020i

Both of the Diamond 9.1's drivers have been replaced for the Diamond 10.1. The new mid/woofer has a 4.9" (125mm) cone of woven Kevlar, a nylon-filled homopolymer chassis with an oversized flange, and, in the cone surround, diamond-pattern ribs intended to smooth the acoustic rolloff. The 1" (25mm) soft-dome tweeter has a metal phase corrector and is claimed to offer smooth, clear reproduction of the high frequencies. The two reflex ports on the 10.1's rear panel (in the 9.1, they were on the front) are intended to reduce the effects of distortion. Electrical connection is via two offset pairs of terminals to allow bi-wiring and easy cable dressing.Wharfedale is an elder statesman of the audio world, with decades’ worth of expertise to plough into its hi-fi and home cinema kit. The latest recipient of its sonic wisdom is the DX-1 HCP, a compact 5.1 speaker system priced to lure the budget buyer – hopefully without compromising on sound quality. Both Diamond 12.1 and Diamond 12.0 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring. These improvements have been applied not only to the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1, but also to the rest of the extensive Diamond 10 Series. The full range - details of which will be announced shortly - includes two further stand-mount speakers and five floorstanding designs, plus three centre speakers, a dedicated surround speaker and three active subwoofers for home cinema applications. But these are a different proposition from their bookshelf siblings, and if you're committed to floorstanders, you won't go far wrong at the price with the 10.3s. The fact that you don't find yourself drawn to either the bass or treble of these speakers is testament to their even tonal balance.

Modus Six-Also very detailed with kind of a muddy midrange but got the job done, definitely better for music. I began by comparing the Diamond speakers to my reference Monitor Audio Bronze 50s. The Bronze 50s look smaller and not quite as well finished as the Diamond 12.1 speakers and, frankly, that’s how they sound too.The Wharfedale Diamond range speakers are a truly iconic collection. With almost three decades of critical acclaim, international awards and millions of fans worldwide, you can rest assured that a Diamond speaker will deliveruncompromised quality. Again, the Wharfedale, while good, tend toward the mellow, you might prefer a brighter more forward speaker. I can't know that. Evolution-What I currently use, very well balanced and sensitive, great for both movies and music, the center is the only weak point of the system.

The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers did surprise me. Before this review, I wondered if they could handle the competition. I wondered if they could keep up with the rest. Well, they’ve certainly put that question to bed and how! The Diamond 12.1 speakers provide a balanced and neutral sound but the way they integrate bass into a suite of detailed upper frequencies while maintaining all of the insight and information you might expect and want adds a touch of genius to the overall design. A flavour of Fink, you might say… Emerald-Probably the best kept secret for Wharfedale, very detailed and the cabinet quality was top notch. If space is an issue, our speakers range also includes a range of soundbars, which still giving you a taste of real home cinema surround sound, without the number of speakers and cables necessary for a full 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system and many of these models now also feature Bluetooth connectivity to play music from your phone or portable player, and this section also includes soundbases, which are designed to sit underneath rather than in front of your screen.Sure, that might mean that the Diamond 12.1s may offer a touch less dynamic reach in upper mid terms but, quite frankly, when you hear the Wharefdales you’re not thinking about that at all. You don’t hear anything missing here at all. You only hear the added bass, the well-developed nature of the musical presentation and the extra layers of detail on offer. It would, however, be well worth investing a little more. And if sound per pound is of most importance, then grab the 10.1s, and a pair of stands with the money saved. Wharfedale has also tried to enter other markets. For example, you can buy Wharfedale brand PA equipment. For a while they tried to enter the DJ market with the Valdus and Xarus speaker lines. These were high-powered high-output speakers, that were a bit less refined, but very attractively priced. Perfect for Amateur or small venue DJs. Each satellite uses a two-way driver arrangement, comprising a3in mid/bass driver fashioned from woven propylene, and a 0.75in silk dome tweeter.