Redesigned to Set New In-Class Performance Benchmarks: Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 Bookshelf Loudspeaker Plays with Insight and Energy, Features Four-Inch Klarity Drivers

Wharfedale's Diamond 12.0 bookshelf loudspeaker cuts to the heart of music with a degree of precision, clarity, and magnitude unimaginable at its price point even two years ago. Akin to all of its Diamond 12 Series counterparts, the most compact model in the range is completely redesigned from the ground up to set new performance benchmarks in its class. Offering generous freedom of placement, the two-way bass-reflex speaker mines prized detail, tonality, texture, depth, and spaciousness from your recordings with thrilling insight and engaging energy.

The hit parade begins with a four-inch bass driver comprised of trademarked Klarity cone material – formulated from a blend of polypropylene and mica to add stiffness while remaining lightweight for low coloration and fast responsiveness. Fitted with a low-damping surround and shaped to achieve a flat response curve, it also produces expressive dynamics even on complex material. Relatedly, Diamond 12.0 also touts a precision-crafted magnet system with an aluminum compensation ring to minimize the effect of variations in inductance as the voice coil travels, ultimately leading to an absence of distortion and intermodulation generated by the motor system. A voice coil wound on an epoxy/glass-fiber bobbin produces higher power handling than those assembled on aluminum machines – and claims a stiffness lacking on Kapton types normally found in this cost bracket.

When it comes to the one-inch soft-dome tweeter, Diamond 12.0 shines. Comprised of woven polyester film with a high-loss coating for open, smoothly extended high frequencies, it boasts an optimized magnet system and flat front plate to attain wide dispersion and uncompressed playback. Architecturally, a very short duct on the front plate balances the acoustic load and serves to improve SPL measurement. Not to be overlooked, Diamond 12.0 utilizes a crossover network with LKR 24dB topology and air-core inductors – the latter commonly found in much more expensive high-end designs due to their low-distortion properties.

Visually, Diamond 12.0 sparkles. Not only does this compact design look gorgeous, it possesses form-follows-function architecture in which Intelligent Spot Bracing connects opposite walls with a custom, computer-modeled wood brace to reduce resonance – and not transfer it from side to another. In addition, the rear-ported enclosure works in harmony with the drive unit to produce the sound you deserve to hear.

All told, Diamond 12.0 rewrites the old adage about drinking champagne on a beer budget. 100% Music Direct Guaranteed.

Klarity Equals Focus

New Klarity cone material for the drivers, formulated from a blend of polypropylene and mica, adds stiffness to reduce flexing, enabling a lightweight cone with high rigidity, low coloration, and fast response. The Klarity cone is fitted with a low-damping surround, thereby achieving both low coloration and expressive dynamics. By simulating many different cone shapes and adding ribs to provide further stiffening, a flat response curve was achieved without resorting to a high-damping surround, thereby striking an ideal balance.

Precision-Crafted Magnet System Keeps Driver Moving as a Piston

A precision-made magnet system with an aluminum compensation ring is employed to minimize the effect of variations in inductance as the voice coil travels. This contributes to an absence of distortion and intermodulation generated by the motor system. In addition, the voice coil is wound on a high-power epoxy/glass-fiber bobbin – highly unusual in speakers at this price level. It has the advantage of not adding eddy currents and delivers greater power handling than an aluminum bobbin, whilst also being much stiffer than the Kapton type associated with Diamond 12 Series' price class.

Going High

The one-inch soft-dome tweeter is made from a woven polyester film with a high-loss coating to deliver open and smoothly extended high frequencies. The magnet system and the front plate have been optimized for wide dispersion and uncompressed behaviur. The front plate is flat and exposes the dome as much as possible; only a very short duct on the front plate balances the acoustic load and improves the SPL measurement.

Crossover in Style

The crossover network uses an acoustic LKR 24dB topology. This includes air-core inductors of the type more commonly found in high-end speakers, selected because they produce the lowest distortion of all inductor types. As the resistance of the coil is higher than a standard laminated steel or ferrite core inductor, the magnetic structure of the mid/bass driver has been modified to compensate, resulting in fast, clean bass with no distortion from the inductor.

Firm and Fair

The rear-ported enclosure is precisely sized so that the internal volume works in harmony with the drive unit system to deliver the desired sonic result. A multi-layered sandwich design subdues the identifiable characteristics of the cabinet. Even the resonant properties of the glue between the layers was measured to determine the optimum combination.

Brace Yourself

Inside the cabinet, Intelligent Spot Bracing connects opposite walls with a specific form of wood brace to achieve optimal reduction of cabinet resonance. These braces are precisely modeled by computer simulation to improve upon the commonplace ‘figure of eight' brace, which may simply transfer resonance from one wall to another.