Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 Bookshelf Speakers Black (Pair)

The Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 is the largest bookshelf speaker in the Diamond 12 series, the 14th generation of Wharfedale’s long-running Diamond range. Designed by Karl-Heinz Fink, the Diamond 12 series builds on decades of engineering refinement, offering a step up from the smaller Diamond 12.1 with a larger 165 mm (6.5″) bass driver for extended low-frequency response and greater dynamic range. Sitting below the Evo 4 and Linton Heritage ranges in Wharfedale’s lineup, the Diamond 12.2 delivers serious performance at a budget-friendly price point.

Driver Technology

At the heart of the Diamond 12.2 is Wharfedale’s Klarity™ bass driver — a 165 mm mica-infused polypropylene cone with moulded radial ribs that add stiffness and reduce flexing. This material combines the self-damping properties of polypropylene with the rigidity provided by mica particles, delivering clean, controlled bass output. The high-power epoxy/glass fibre voice coil bobbin ensures thermal stability during sustained listening at higher volumes.

The 25 mm woven polyester dome tweeter features a high-loss damping coating that smooths the frequency response and reduces breakup resonances, producing a detailed yet fatigue-free treble.

Crossover & Cabinet Design

The crossover uses a Linkwitz-Riley 24 dB/octave topology with air-core inductors, minimising distortion by eliminating the magnetic saturation associated with ferrite-core alternatives. The crossover point is set at 2.0 kHz, carefully positioned to keep both drivers operating within their optimal ranges.

The cabinet employs a multi-layered sandwich construction for resonance suppression, with Intelligent Spot Bracing — a computer-modelled, non-standard bracing pattern designed to break up standing waves rather than simply adding mass. A rear-positioned critically tuned bass reflex port extends low-frequency output down to 43 Hz (−6 dB).

What the Press Says

• Best Buy — AVForums