Oh and greetings from the state of Texas!

Nice speakers congrats

The Rank Corporation (aptly named) destroyed a venerable pioneering company. Driven, like many speaker manufacturers, in pursuit of unsustainable profits, they pandered to acoustic tastes in the US that best served top 40 music and rock. Nothing wrong with either genre but it brought about declining efficiency and nuance while requiring ever more watts to feed them. Hence an entire generation of Americans and others I assume who conflated the mere mention of triple and quadruple digit wattage with a well designed amp. I run my speakers (all Wharfedale 1950s/1960’s drivers) off 3watts. Couldn’t be happier. Oh, I have a pair of BIC Venturi Formula 4’s pulled from the trash that I can drive to ear shattering levels when needed. ;)

Those foam surrounds aren't the same material used in 60es and 70es. Everyone's learned a lesson from history, including driver makers. Unfortunately the push back and the negative responses from the great unwashed made Wharfedale pull back on foam surrounds even though they're sonically a step above the rubber. Sad but true.

@AB CD No they're not. They proved it in the lab too, not just by the listener's ear. Plenty of it being written on this topic over the recent years. There isn't only Wharfedale that moved over the years to the downward firing port, right up to their flagships. You must have ended up with a dud, sorry it made you feel like that.

Can you tells me please if you are happy with QA3020i than WD 12.1 thanks

I didnt look at the specs Joe I put them in place and pressed play and went from there. Then when I checked the specs after things dont always add up like rated bass extension. Which could explain a few things I experienced.

what type of music u listen to ?

Have you tried the Diamond 12.0 on a better, bigger amplifier? They scale up so very well!

Same here. My ears are prone to be fatigued from high-end frequencies. I listed to the B & W 600 and 700 series and for my ears, they were just too bright. I heard the Wharfdale Diamond 225 recently, and I was floored. I think they are quite possibly the best sounding bookshelf speaker I've heard under $1,000. Also, similar to the B & W's, listened to the Focal Chora 706 and felt underwhelmed as it seemed cold and very bright. I'm probably going to purchase Wharfdale 225's or maybe these 12.1's if they ever come to the U.S.

Sorry to dissapoint but to be honest there is no mention anyhwre of that comparison and I have never listened to the diamond 11 so I couldn't make that comparison even if I wanted to

I have just been discussing this as what I didn't explain correctly is how things are organised with the speakers - so Elysian Top is obvious then EVO then Diamond - where I got it wrong is for me because the sound was so good from the Diamond 12.1 I sat it in the middle of pack just below the Linton / Denton and EVO's but in the middle. That is how much impression they made on me man, def not scrap hear far far from it

Hello just wanted to know if you bought the D12.1 as you already have the d320. I'm thinking of buying d320 as it fits my budget. Can you give me an advice between the two if you bought the 11.2. I'm buying this soon. Thanks

Yeah, that's how I feel about the 12.1 and such. Too much compromise in every aspect. I wonder why they sent 12.1 instead of 12.2.

@@MAudiophile Well that's simple actually... They were obviously confident in 12.1's overall sound quality and therefore Hit the Audience that simply cannot afford anything more (or even the 12.1 is a stretch) with the 12.1's and with such a good review those who can afford the 12.2s will surely upgrade. Had the review been for the 12.2s there would have been a few folks not even watching due to the cost, as well as those who did watch having to 'wonder' IF the cheaper 12.1s could possibly be as good and to what level of Bass and other aspects would be lost. So not good. Whereas all folks so impressed by the 12.1 with the cash for the 12.2s won't hesitate to get 12.2s (no questions asked). So a little Sales & Marketing 101 that not all manufacturers Think to employ (or they simply choose not to for whatever reason. Although one reason being that their smaller speaker in the line is in fact much lacking, which is often the case, but obviously not in the case of the 12.1s).

@@johndaddabbo9383 Nice observation

The ".1" is always the initial star attraction its been this way since the 7 series...but it doesn't mean its the best tho....

I can currently get the Denton 80th even a little cheaper than the 12.2's Am torn... unfortunately have to order online, nowhere anywhere near here I could listen to them

No they did send them to me for this review though I didnt buy them, and they went back after. I have created a sound demo video to back up and support everything I said about them in the video - I always do this as I think it helps with authenticity. KZfaq has blocked a few of them after they have been live for months sometimes due to the music that is used in them. I can't control this sadly and I can't repeat the demo as I don't have the speakers anymore. I also might be looking at the 12.3 soon but it won't be for a while

I think that is a good idea man :)

Seriously not a fan of the 6.2's, did not like the treble. Go back and listen to his 10 speaker shootout last month. Probably can't go wrong with a few of those. PSB Alpha P5 is a good entry level speaker.

@@richardpeters2193 Sound demo for these coming tomorrow all being well :)

@@PursuitPerfectSystem not the old Debut 6.2's I assume? I'm interested in Dynaudio Evoke 30, and Dali Rubicon 5's. As my dealer says there are 60,000 speaker companies in the world. You have to pick a lane and go down it. So few stores to demo I pick a person I like to work with and follow their advice unless I see something better. I admit I try to stay out of China. I also try not to support online only direct sales because more of that and everyone will close up. Then on top of everything there is the wife... "What's wrong with the Bose radio on top of the refrigerator?"

I got the 6.2’s and I love them so far!! I also picked up an old pair of wharfedale Denton 2’s which were being scrapped for free which will go well in my upstairs system :)

Hi John I think there is always a relationship between speakers end result and the gear before them, however certain speakers instantly make you feel getting the right system is critical these are not that type of sounding speaker.

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I think you had alluded to that on a certain level, but thank you for clarifying that directly. Would LOVE these for an office system.

Thanks Chris man

If you can replace the capacitors in your speakers they would sound much better. They do get old. No way to tell how they would compare without listening.

The 3030i may give the illusion of being easier to drive because of the bigger sound but I dont think they are. I turned the wharfedale up slightly more but that was more me being greedy I think. I think I would pick the speaker more on the type of sound I want rather than which is easier to drive. Hope that comes across in the right way :)

Thanks Terry, Yeh I was just a bit worried the little AMP might struggle if paired with the wrong speakers but they both seem to be rated around 88db so will probably go with the wharfdales Thanks!

pretty much yes

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Thank you. Your response and video review is much appreciated. It is important to a multitude of music lovers & musicians, to have a system which is forgiving enough ( not sharply analytical in it's presentation of the music), to convey musical justice to lesser recordings. Realistically, we all love such a wide variety of music and genres. I can't imagine anyone only interested in listening to the top 20 highest quality recordings of all time. I believe it is a much more helpful real world representation for reviewers to play a variety of " quality diverse " recordings and types of music. Thanks again!!

Smurring might be a new thing - I remember friends at UNI inventing "sminking" - smoking and drinking. sminking is cooler though right haha :)

Pardon me for jumping in. I would say a small and audiophile subwoofer would be a great upgrade for the D220. I have a the D225 and have hard time finding any better sounding speaker below £1k. One big difference between the new and old Dimonds are the base port. I think the downwards port is better but propably more expensive to produce. You can widen the space between the baseplate and cabinet to open up the sound on old Dimonds. And try bi-wiring - did a great boost on mine. Cheers.

oh yes

Yeah I created one and it was watched about 10,000 times then KZfaq blocked it for a song that I used in it - I am sorry I did make it and it was out there bloody impressive as well

I am considering another stand mount speaker group test at a different price point so we will see :)

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Thanks..

The 12.1 is better. Wider sound stage and better separation, and instruments like strings sounds more natural. I have the 3030i, had more of a presence and bigger sound, but for classical music I would prefer the 12.1

Yeah I get that totally, can be a room acoustics thing too, it works in my room with all the treatment. I am pretty sure the cabasee website shows a dealer in London if you are UK based. It would also be worth demoing the Klipsch and EVO 4.2 if you can because then you get different takes on it and in a more normal rooms acoustics it will be a little different too :)

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Yes RP 600m on list. I am in Germany. Actually a site in France have the Cabasse in black for 399euro, good price. RP 600m, 466 euro, Amazon.de Actually using ELAC B6,2 now, budget speakers, bought them in a hurry while setting up here, however treble is a bit muted for me, otherwise sound good with sub. Cheers !!

They are literally brand new out so they will be available soon in the US I am sure

Francisco, I'd be really surprised if these 12s beat your 11.2s in any shape or form. I also own the 11.2. These 12s are the stripped down 11 series, at best. I am one of those who wouldn't fall for the marketing spiel types of "the best Diamond yet" :) Cheers.

@@drazenbabich just because you own an 11 doesnt mean the 12 is inferior. Ive heard the 12.0, 12.1 and 12.2 compared to the 11.1 and 11.2 and nearly in all ways the 12 is an improvement. Many that have actually heard both share this same sentiment. But if you insist that what you own is superior, more power to you.

@@AbsoluteFidelity Yuo need to do your "test" again buddy. This time try to take your "new is better" blinkers off. Many of us also tested 11s vs 12s and concluded 11s haven't been matched yet in Diamond range. So what gives. To each his own.

@@drazenbabich you need to stop being sour grapes about newer products after the ones you own. Newer is not always better but the 12s are definitely an improvement over the 11s sonically. But you can keep standin in your corner all day, one man's toilet is another man's bowl.

What is confusing my review or choosing the right speaker?? I hope not my review sorry if it is

@@PursuitPerfectSystem NO no, your reviews are perfectly clear. I mean you are making it easier for me at least to under the difference between the speakers. So you are making it easier to pick the right speaker. Very thorough reviews, Thank you !!

@@andrewforsythe7240 Hi Thanks I am my own biggest critic never totally happy with the way my videos come out so hoped I wasn't giving out wrong messages as well. Thanks very much for the feedback

Agreed :)

I would suggest checking out my EVO 4.2 review then Suraj

I am also delighted to know !, I am torn between 12.2 to Klipsch RP600M

@@RanTausi 12.2 wins against rp600m no contest

@@HansProbs That is a bit surprising. In what respect? Midrange, Treble or Bass?

@@sanonmars in all the respects plus soundstage/imaging. Treble on klipsch is fun! but its enhanced and not natural sounding. There is a dip in the klipschs midrange around crossover point that is its major flaw compared to full mids on wharfedales. Bass on rp600m isnt as punchy as wharfies, especially at lower volumes

@@HansProbs Thats great.👍Midrange is important but ignored I think. I recently got Klipsch RP450c used for dialogues clarity (upgraded from Wharfedale D 220C). Have Wharfedale D220 LC. My friend was selling Klipsch R62 II at good price ( approx 700US $- new is double price in India). But I did not go for it. He upgraded to SVS Ultra towers used. He said he is getting great midrange now which was lacking earlier. I am looking for 3 way towers, even used. Which would be great upto 1000$ ? Would prefer 8 ohm, at least 87 db sensitivity. Looking for SVS prine towers.

No idea I know the diamond 12 is a new designed speaker but I havent heard the 11 range to know sorryb

I am sorry Paulo I havent heard the axr100 to know mate sorry about that

@@PursuitPerfectSystem No problem, man> Thanks anyway. Any suggestions on amps?

@@paulo1901 I think the nature of the 12.1 being easy going they will work well with loads. Maybe a faster sounding one but that's true of all speakers :)

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Got it! Thanks, man. I'm guessing the Diamond 12.2 will be it for me. I hope it gets into the US before Xmas!

I found them to be extremely balanced sounding as I mentioned that is the bit that leaps out at you - its a smooth clean and clear overall very engaging speaker to listen to. Sound Demo should be up tomorrow all being well

Normally its the other way around we pay more in the UK - will still be worth it though

A lot of people have asked about that, I am sorry I really dont know

Hi, that is a very hard question for to me to answer because you are going to listening for different things in music to me I feel from what you have said, however complex music is not a problem for the Diamond 12.1 as I mentioned they sound clean clear and organised all the time from my listening to them, that was one of the things that stood out to me that I liked and really appreciated

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Well it looks like the BBC dip will make them easy sounding at least ) Thanks for the reply!

@@user-vy8jn9mc6g I found them def easy listening but also engaging as well really nice balance

I am based in England

You want bigger speakers for dance music, spend more get bigger ones

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Thanks for the reply but I am limited to the Denon M41 at present so could you recommend something...maybe with a 6inch bass cone and not even the latest on the market...otherwise I think i will have to settle for the 3020i to stay in budget. Thankyou.

@@Panslapper Diamond 12.2 if you insist on a bookshelf or 12.4 if you have the space for floorstanders. There is always the Evo line if your budget is higher. And get a sub. Dance music is nothing without a sub, even with speakers that have a 6 inch woofer.

I dont see why not, they have the right form factor but I haven't tried it to know for sure

You consider the rega io?

Rega brio matches well

It can mean less definition or it can mean a good amount of bass those are totally different things. You can have warm and detailed no problem just not for entry level prices as normally there is too much trade off

Sorry haven't heard either

I think they will pair well with most amps that are half decent in terms of sound quality