Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers (Walnut Pearl)

Product Information

OPUS-Definitely the class of the wharfedale line, need good dedicated amp to get the most out of this line. The Diamond 100 Series is the latest incarnation of Wharfedale’s award-winning Diamond range, and a culmination of the lessons Wharfedale have learned throughout the 30 years of rich heritage. Featuring 4 floorstanding models, 2 bookshelf models and 2 centre speakers, the new Diamond 100 series has something for everyone, and is at home in a multi-channel surround sound system as it is a conventional hi-fi stereo setup.

We have had the smallest floorstander, the Diamond 155 on demonstration in our showroom for the past week, and have been thoroughly impressed with it. Build quality and design is impeccable, while stereo image and soundstage is much greater than you would expect from a speaker at this price. Despite the Diamond range’s billing as an entry-level speaker series, the Diamond 100 are much more capable and adept, and would be hard to beat without spending some serious money. sarjan kaiuttimissa klassiset linjat yhdistyvät kiiltävänmustaan etulevyyn. Kotelon pyöristykset ovat syntyneet mdf-laminaattia lämpökäsittelemällä jolloin kotelosta on saatu jäykkä ja akustisesti vaimea. Refleksiputket on suunnattu taaksepäin. Elementtien trimmilevyt on valmistettu timanttileikatusta alumiinista. Takaosan liitinpaneeli on mustaksi viimeisteltyä valettua alumiinia. Lopputuloksena on saavutettu luonnollinen äänikuva sekä upea ulkonäkö. The cabinets feel substantial and robust. Affordable they may be but Wharfedale has clearly channelledas much of the cost as possible into their construction – a foundationon which good sound quality is always built. They are what they are and they do what they do, but they are not what they are not, and they don't do what they don't do.

Tech Specs

Improvements to the mid/bass drive unit: To make the most of the stronger cabinet, the main drive unit chassis has been enhanced with a massive flange that is secured using six screws, thus improving its stability. A diamond pattern has also been moulded into the surround of the Kevlar cone; this is more than just cosmetic as the pattern reduces and damps standing waves in the surround, yielding a cleaner high-frequency acoustic roll-off and enhancing the ability of the mid/bass unit and tweeter to work as a cohesive whole. Once the company settled down and moved into further development, it produced the then new Diamond 8 series in 2001 which triggered a steady improvement process to the Diamond 12 series I’m looking at today. CHINA Blended SRBP Cone Surrounds: The new textured surround allows a large ‘vMax’ apart from providing a compliant driver gasket, which dramatically improved dynamic response. The diamond profiled surround features rim-edge stiffeners which effectively damp cone resonances. The Diamond 12.1 speakers are set up for bi-wire use with the upper terminals reserved for treble use and the lower terminals aimed at mid-bass driver use. Metal straps are included is bi-wire is not required. The terminals themselves have a screw thread and will take banana plugs, spades or even bare wire.

The first speaker to emerge from the Diamond 10 Series is the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 - the latest evolution of the classic Wharfedale Diamond 'bookshelf' speaker. Replacing the hugely successful, multi-award winning Diamond 9.1, the new speaker aims to build upon its exceptional heritage by delivering even better sonic value. Partly that’s because it’s been going since 1932, when Gilbert Briggs built his first design in his basement in Ilkley in Yorkshire, England. A market town by the river Wharfe, a part of the world generally known to this day, as The Dales. Wharfedale being just one of those. In fact, I seriously considered living in Wharfedale at one time – the perfect place for an audiophile to dwell, eh?Every product and process in speaker design and manufacturing is handled in-house making it the most advanced research and development program, meaning that Wharfedale are able to design exactly to their own spec without limitation - and can exact this vision to perfection. Such design principles are evident in the finished product.

The Diamonds boast a curved cabinet, which helps to minimise unwanted internal interference, and even the surround of the Kevlar mid/bass driver has a moulded pattern to help reduce the effects of standing waves.

Often compared with Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

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. 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 standmounters in particular. But designing, building and distributing loudspeakers in this particular market sector is no easy task, so the new Diamond 12 range has its work cut out.