Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Floorstanding Speakers Walnut (Pair)

The Diamond 12.3 is the mid-range floorstanding model in Wharfedale's acclaimed Diamond 12 series, sitting between the compact 12.1 bookshelf and the flagship 12.4 floorstander. Configured as a 2.5-way design with dual 130mm bass/midrange drivers and a 25mm soft dome tweeter, the 12.3 delivers extended bass response from a slim cabinet that fits comfortably into most living spaces.

Driver Technology

Both 130mm drivers use Wharfedale’s Klarity cone technology — a mica-infused polypropylene construction with moulded radial ribs that reduce cone flexing and improve transient response. The voice coils are wound on epoxy and glass fibre bobbins rather than aluminium, providing better thermal stability and a more controlled magnetic gap.

The 25mm tweeter uses a woven polyester film dome with a damping coating to extend the high-frequency response smoothly to 20kHz. A flat front plate around the tweeter minimises diffraction artefacts that can colour the treble.

Crossover Design

The crossover operates at 2.2kHz using a Linkwitz-Riley 24dB/octave topology — a design approach more commonly found in speakers at significantly higher price points. Air-core inductors are used throughout, avoiding the saturation effects associated with ferrite-core alternatives and maintaining linearity at higher volume levels.

Cabinet Construction

The 26.6-litre cabinet employs a multi-layered sandwich construction with Wharfedale’s Intelligent Spot Bracing system, which connects opposing cabinet walls at calculated points to suppress panel resonance. A rear-mounted bass reflex port, tuned through computer simulation, extends the low-frequency response down to 40Hz at -6dB.

What the Press Says

• "Refined, entertaining and affordable floorstanders" with a "superbly balanced presentation" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★★
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winner