Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)

Get a Taste of Champagne Performance on a Beer Budget: Wharfedale Diamond 12.0i Bookshelf Loudspeakers Perform with Insight and Control, Features Four-Inch Klarity Drivers and Compact Footprint

Wharfedale's Diamond 12.0i bookshelf loudspeaker cuts to the heart of music with satisfying degrees of precision, clarity, and magnitude off-limits to most models of its size and price range. Akin to all of its Diamond 12i Series counterparts, the most compact model in the range sets performance benchmarks in its class.

Offering generous freedom of placement, the two-way bass-reflex speaker features a redesigned port crafted using laser interferometry, anechoic measurements, and computational fluid dynamics to access airflow and pressure in its structure. As a result, the 10.43 x 6.3 x 8.98-inch (HWD) Diamond 12.0i offers articulate and controlled bass responsiveness as well as consistent spatial performance. 

The hit parade continues 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 12.0i 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.

When it comes to the one-inch textile-dome tweeter, Diamond 12.0i 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 12.0i utilizes Linkwitz-Riley crossover with air-core inductors – the latter commonly found in much more expensive high-end designs due to their low-distortion properties.

Visually, Diamond 12.0i 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. All told, Diamond 12.0i rewrites the old adage about drinking champagne on a beer budget. 

Curious about Diamond 12.0i or its siblings? Give us a call at 312-433-0200 and let's talk.

Driver Magnet Systems
Each mid/bass driver features a precise magnet system with an aluminum compensation ring to reduce the effects of inductance changes as the voice coil moves. This advanced motor system minimizes intermodulation and distortion, producing cleaner, more accurate sound. The voice coil is wrapped around a high-power epoxy/glass-fiber bobbin, which performs significantly better than standard materials at this price point, offering greater power handling, thermal stability, and structural strength.

High-End Crossovers
Wharfedale engineers use a sophisticated Linkwitz-Riley crossover design complete with air-core inductors — components typically found in high-end speakers. The crossover network is finely adjusted for minimal phase shift and smooth integration between drivers. The magnet structure for the mid/bass driver is modified to address the resistance of the high-quality inductors, ensuring
fast, clean bass without compromise.

Low-Resonance Cabinets
Each enclosure features a multi-layered sandwich construction that reduces panel resonance and distortion. Even the adhesive properties between the layers have been acoustically tested to optimize damping. Inside, intelligent spot bracing connects opposite cabinet walls using computer-modeled braces that reduce vibration without passing it from one surface to another. This contributes to the solid and authoritative sound signature of the Diamond 12i series.