Hi-Fi Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee
Wharfedale Diamond Loudspeaker
Introduction
Our next inductee is a little British speaker that delivers a lot of sound for not a lot of money: the Wharfedale Diamond. First introduced in 1982, the Diamond is now in its 12th generation and is still going strong more than 40 years later.
Let’s look at this little “jewel” of a speaker to see why it’s earned a place in the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame.
Wharfedale: a Brief History
Wharfedale was founded in England by a gentleman named Gilbert Briggs and the company has been making Hi-Fi loudspeakers ever since.
Their first production loudspeaker was the “Bronze” driver, which debuted in 1932 priced at “39/6” (39 shillings and 6 pence). Adjusting for the change in currency and inflation, that’s about £176.27 in 2025 British pounds or about $225 in US dollars. Wharfedale didn’t make cabinets in those days, so the hobbyist had to build their own enclosure. You can see the Bronze was equipped with an unusual magnet. Instead of a permanent magnet, the Bronze employed a “field coil” type magnet which required electrical power, which is why there is a transformer attached to the magnet.
Wharfedale has been in business of making Hi-Fi loudspeakers ever since, almost 100 years ago, making it one of the older Hi-Fi companies in the world.
Over the years, Wharfedale produced a number of iconic speakers such as the Linton and the Denton, which are still in production as part of Wharfedale’s “Heritage” series. The company also produced “How to” books for hobbyists who wanted to design their own speakers, and speaker kits for those who wanted to construct their own cabinets.
Click on this link if you’d like to read the official history of Wharfedale.
Wharfedale Diamond First Generation
In 1982, Wharfedale unveiled the original Diamond bookshelf speaker, a compact 2-way unit that would redefine the company’s trajectory. Priced at just £65, this diminutive speaker, standing merely 24cm tall with an internal volume of 5.2 liters, quickly garnered critical acclaim for its exceptional musicality.
The Diamond 1 swiftly became a cornerstone of Wharfedale’s product line, exceeding all expectations. Its success led to various offshoots, including an ahead-of-its-time powered model and the luxurious Super Diamond, which boasted a sophisticated real-wood veneer.
Reviewers were astounded by the Diamond’s performance. What Hi-Fi? magazine noted its “surprising bass weight (for one so small) and… far more finesse than their lowly price suggested.” Stereophile magazine hailed it as “a defining entry-level speaker.” While its sonic balance was slightly rounded at the top end to complement the basic tweeter, the capable 11cm long-throw polypropylene mid/bass unit more than compensated, delivering remarkably entertaining results for its price point when paired with a decent source and amplification. At the time, few speakers could rival its value or performance.
Wharfedale Diamond Second Generation
Given the great success with the first generation Diamond, Wharfedale made few changes to the speaker for the second generation. The new Diamond was equipped with binding posts instead of spring clips for attaching the wires, and the sound may have been “softened” somewhat, likely with a tweak to the crossover network. The new Diamond was a best seller, just like the original.
Wharfedale Diamond Third Generation
The third generation was a refined iteration in the series, built upon its predecessors’ success. It notably introduced a 19mm “Low Mass Polymer” (LMP) dome tweeter for improved high-frequency detail and responsiveness. While the tweeter saw an upgrade, the 110mm mineral-filled homopolymer (MFHP) mid/bass unit and original cabinet volume were retained, maintaining its characteristic compact size and balanced sound. Subtle styling tweaks, including a revised Wharfedale logo, completed this thoughtful evolution, ensuring the Diamond “3” continued the series’ legacy of accessible, high-fidelity audio.
Wharfedale Diamond Fourth Generation
The fourth generation Diamond introduced a significant change to the speaker’s aesthetic design. Instead of the traditional wooden front baffle with separate woofer and tweeter, the 4 introduced a molded front panel with integrated drivers…no more visible screws! Otherwise, it was still a Diamond, delivering good sound from a small package.
Wharfedale Diamond Fifth Generation
Introduced in the mid-1990s, the Diamond 5 featured a new 5-inch woofer with a polypropylene cone and a multilayer voice coil. For high frequencies, a newly designed 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter was employed, utilizing magnetic fluid for cooling and damping. The speaker’s enclosure, ported at the rear, was constructed from 15-millimetre (approximately 5/8-inch) particleboard. Notably, the front panel was more robust, measuring 1 inch thick and further reinforced with a rigid plastic front molding.
Wharfedale Diamond Sixth Generation
Wharfedale went through a number of ownership changes in the 1990s, culminating when the company was purchased by IAG (International Audio Group) in 1997. This group, originally founded in 1991, brought together several audio heritage brands (QUAD, Leak, Castle, Mission, Audiolab and Luxman among them).
The Diamond 6 reflected this change, as there were two versions produced. The “6” was the last model to be labelled as “Made in Yorkshire” (England). This was followed by the Model 6R which did not state a country of manufacture, suggesting that it was likely assembled overseas.
Wharfedale Diamond Seventh Generation
With the change in ownership sorted out, Wharfedale started development of the 7th generation. These were released in 1998, and included some significant changes to the product line.
First, Wharfedale introduced a “Wharfedale Pro” version of the Diamond for professional and serious amateur users. The “Diamond Studio 7-BT” employed a silk soft dome tweeter, a fiberglass composite woofer, plus a wireless Bluetooth input. Each speaker had a pair of Class D amplifiers, one for the woofer and one for the tweeter.
Second, in the standard “Wharfedale” branded line, the company offered three models of the Diamond. There was a conventional small bookshelf (Model 7.1), a larger bookshelf with a deeper cabinet (Model 7.2), and a floorstanding speaker (Model 7.3). These were available in a variety of finishes, including basic black and wood.
Wharfedale Diamond Eighth Generation
The 8th generation Diamonds were released in 2001 and were a big step forward in design and quality. There were two bookshelf models, two floorstanding models, a center channel model for home theatre users, and some “Pro” models.
The Diamond 8.1 was the most compact and arguably the most popular model in the series, serving as the entry point to the Diamond line. It featured a single 5-inch (125mm) Kevlar mid/bass driver paired with the 1-inch silk dome tweeter. Its small footprint made it ideal for smaller rooms, desktop setups, or as surround speakers in a home theater system.
The 8.2 was a step up in size and incorporated a larger 6.5-inch (165mm) Kevlar mid/bass driver, alongside the same tweeter. This larger woofer allowed for greater bass extension and impact, making it more suitable for medium-sized rooms or for those desiring a bit more low-end presence without moving to floorstanders.
The 8.3 represented the entry-level floorstanding option in the series. It featured a single 6.5-inch (165mm) Kevlar mid/bass driver and the standard 1-inch silk dome tweeter. While sharing the driver size with the 8.2, its larger, floorstanding cabinet volume enabled deeper bass extension and greater overall output, providing a more authoritative sound suitable for larger rooms or primary stereo setups.
As the flagship floorstanding model, the 8.4 employed multiple drivers for enhanced performance. It often featured two 6.5-inch (165mm) Kevlar bass drivers (sometimes configured as a 2.5-way design where one woofer handles bass and mid-bass, and the other just bass) and the familiar 1-inch silk dome tweeter.
Beneficial for many home theatre setups, the Diamond 8 Centre was specifically designed to handle dialogue and central effects. It utilized two 5-inch (125mm) Kevlar mid/bass drivers flanking the 1-inch silk dome tweeter in a horizontal MTM (Mid-Tweeter-Mid) configuration.
The Diamond 8.1 Pro Active and 8.2 Pro Active were active (powered) versions primarily aimed at the professional market and designed for “nearfield” studio monitoring. The 8.1 Pro Active, for instance, housed a 5-inch Kevlar woofer and 1-inch silk dome tweeter, but crucially included built-in bi-amplification (separate amplifiers for woofer and tweeter). They typically offered balanced XLR/TRS combination inputs, along with features like a bass cut switch for close-to-wall placement, and magnetic shielding. The larger 8.2 Pro Active followed a similar principle but with a 6.5-inch woofer for greater bass capability, again tailored for studio use.
Wharfedale Diamond Ninth Generation
The ninth generation Diamonds picked up right where the eighth left off. Wharfedale enhanced the speakers with curved cabinets, Kevlar woofers, and superb tweeters. They sounded great, build quality was top notch, and they were available in a range of bookshelf and floorstanding configurations.
A special limited edition of Diamond 9.1 speakers were produced in 2007 to mark the company’s 75th anniversary. These were finished in oiled walnut veneer, just like on Wharfedale’s £14,000 flagship “Airedale Heritage” loudspeaker. Other features included an Airedale-style magnetic grille, and a champagne gold coloured alloy trim around the drivers.
Wharfedale Diamond Tenth Generation
In 2009, Wharfedale again elevated the series with the Diamond 10th generation models. This iteration kept the curved cabinets and refined crossovers, solidifying the Diamond series’ reputation as the go-to reference for affordable, high-quality hi-fi. The Diamond 10.1 bookshelf speaker was one of the most lauded models of this era, with Stereophile magazine praising its “extraordinary value for money, with many strengths that suggest a considerably higher price.”
The Diamond 10 series offered a comprehensive range of 16 models, including bookshelf, floorstanding, center channel, and surround speakers, complemented by three powered subwoofers.
A key to the Diamond 10’s exceptional performance at its price point was its advanced driver technology. The woofers and midrange drivers featured woven and impregnated Kevlar cones, a material typically reserved for more expensive speakers. These cones were also embossed to achieve an optimal stiffness-to-mass ratio, resulting in superb clarity. High frequencies were handled by a neodymium-magnet soft-dome tweeter.
Wharfedale Diamond Eleventh Generation
Eight years later, in 2017, the Diamond series got another refresh, with the release of the 11th generation. The 11 series included three small bookshelf units, the 11.0, 11.1, and 11.2, along with three floorstanding units, the 11.3 11.4 and 11.5. There were also centre channel Diamonds in the series.
The speakers employed sophisticated materials and design in the Kevlar woofers and soft dome tweeters, and the conventional bass reflex ports were replaced with “slot loaded” ports along the base of the enclosure. Eleven generations in, and the Diamonds are still delivering superb sound from small, elegant, and beautiful cabinets.
Wharfedale Diamond Twelfth Generation
Seven years later, and the Diamonds were refreshed again, with the result being the 12th (and current) generation. The latest offering is available in seven configurations: three bookshelf models (12.0 12.1 and 12.2), two floorstanders (12.3 and 12.4), center channel (12.C), and a vertical firing model (12.3D) designed for Dolby Atmos and other surround sound systems.
The 12s employ Wharfedale’s “Klarity™” polypropylene/mica composite drivers, precisely adjusted crossovers, and rigid internal cabinet bracing. Critics were quick to praise the new models. What Hi-Fi? declared the Diamond 12.1 a class leader, highlighting its outstanding detail and dynamic expression. Hi-Fi Choice, The Absolute Sound, and AV Forum all agreed, putting the Diamond 12 at the very top of their recommended lists. More than forty years after the first Diamonds were produced, the 12th generation is better than ever.
Wharfedale Today
Today, almost 100 years after the company’s founding, Wharfedale continues to produce a wide range of excellent speakers. This includes the Heritage series, which are new designs based on some classic Wharfedale speakers such as the Dovedale, Linton, and Denton.
If you’d like to see the Wharfedale Heritage line, just click here.
And if you’d like to see the latest Diamond range, just follow this link.
Wharfedale Diamond: Induction into the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame
The Wharfedale Diamond may not be the biggest, or the best, or the loudest speaker ever made, but it has been a great compact speaker for more than 40 years.
Compact speakers like the Diamond often serve as the “gateway” or entry point to Hi-Fi as a hobby. Bundled in with a starter system at the local shop, or picked up from an online seller, or even handed down from a parent or sibling….the new owner hears how good Hi-Fi can be and they start thinking about upgrading to a new amplifier, or perhaps adding a subwoofer or a turntable.
Wharfedale knew they had a winner when that first model was released in 1982. It was inexpensive, compact, reliable, and sounded great…..an ideal “starter” speaker for people around the world. It got great reviews from Hi-Fi magazines, and it was priced to sell to a large market.
Wharfedale made the decision to keep the Diamond brand, so the engineers kept improving them, the speakers kept selling, and the little speakers evolved with each generation.
Along the way, Wharfedale created many different versions: larger bookshelf models, floorstanding versions, subwoofers, and home theatre systems, but that fundamental Diamond design stayed remarkably consistent.
Now in their 12th generation, the Diamonds continue to serve as an entry level speaker in the Wharfedale line-up, ideal for newcomers to the hobby, for those on a budget, or for those who don’t have the space for larger cabinets.
For all of these reasons, the Wharfedale Diamond has earned a place in the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame.
