WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 12.1 > review in StereoNet
Cost-conscious British audiophiles have traditionally gravitated to a handful of well-known brands offering lots of sound-per-pound. One of these is Wharfedale, and since 1982 that means its Diamond series of small stand mounters in particular. But designing, building and distributing loudspeakers in this particular market sector is no easy task, so this one has its work cut out.
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The humble Diamond 12.1 certainly has no easy road ahead of it. As well as being made to sell to those on a strict budget, it also has to impress whether it's plugged into a PC soundcard, mini Hi-Fi or bargain pre-loved full-sized amplifier. This mid-sized bookshelf/standmounter is just fifty notes more than the 12.0, and so is prime upselling territory. It's still compact enough to sit where the 12.0 would, more-or-less, but offers extra cabinet capacity for beefier bass. Nevertheless, according to Karl-Heinz, the larger 12.2 will be the better seller. Really?
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THE VERDICT
Respect due to Karl-Heinz Fink and team Wharfedale, then. Once again, the Diamond series shows just what is possible for minimal outlay. The new 12.1 is an impressive performer and manages to undercut other respected budget boxes by no small margin, yet still delivers excellent overall performance. It's an extremely competitive arena with an almost endless list of possibilities, so in the end, it comes down to personal preference, music taste and partnering electronics. Yet this stands out as a great baby box, so hear it if you possibly can.