Best Bookshelf Speaker under 500? A Wharfedale Diamond 225 review, my favorite budget hifi speaker.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- Available online at Musicdirect.com ($299 regular, $249 open box)
Questions/Comments? Ask in the comments or email me at
Twistyflora@gmail.com
System
Amplifier- Croft Phono Integrated
Speakers- Wharfedale Diamond 225
Subwoofer- Bowers and Wilkins DB4S
Streamer- Arylic S10 Wifi Music Streamer, Bluesound Node Music Streamer
Turntable- Audio-Technica AT-LP120USBX
Speaker Cables- Monoprice Pure Copper 12AWG - เพลง
These are really great speakers with a huge stage and rich vocals and are also ideal for small spaces.
I agree with everything you said, I love mine.
Great review, i have model 12.1, from your description it sounds very similar.
I've never heard the 12.1, but I'm glad you're enjoying it. Karl-Heinz Fink knows how to make a speaker. Hopefully I can hear the 12.1 someday!
I've had a pair for about a year. Love them. Replaced the metal connector plate on the terminals with nice 12g jumper and placed them on 36" stands. 24" from back wall and they sound wonderful. Using them with a sub and that makes the system sound much bigger than it is. Add +1 on the treble and it works out nice. BTW, got mine from Music Direct.
They’re great speakers! And adding +1 on the treble doesn’t hurt.
It's the only budget speaker that I've re-purchased. I grabbed a pair of the 240's last fall and they are also a steal
The 240s have been tempting to me. But I already have a pair of Martin Logan 20i.
The 225s really are remarkable.
i have it and for past 5 yrs trying to replace it , but cannot .. - i love it. -note they are not sensitive , they need power to shine, i paired this with cambridge audio arx85 85watt 2 channel amp and then for pre amp i have is small tube ones with bluetooth 5.(another magical component). - sweet holographic sound , it is warm relaxing and long listening comfortable speaker - never gets old.
It is the only speaker that I’ve ever had in the system that everyone in the family can listen to all day. If you knew my entire family, you’d know that is very very high praise.
I bought the D220 first and love it so much I also bought the D225`s. I did add a small spacer on the bottom plate`s where the bass port is. I also took the gold terminal plate off and hardwired the Bi wire connections. These speakers are so natural and realistic with instruments and voices, that`s what sold me on them. The D220`s rule for mid range realism with instruments and sound better than any other speakers remotely close to this price range and if you need more bass kick in the sub.
I think these are the best speakers of all time in every speaker category. I know I sound crazy.. Pair it with bright amplifiers such as a Yamaha and you are in for a treat. Pianos on these are a perfection. I love these soo much.
Woah! Audiophiles are not allowed to think that $299 can buy the best speaker of all time! 😜
I tried it with a yamaha a-s500 and actually you are wrong. I at first agreed with you but then when I a/b compared it to a marantz pm 6005 which is under specced compared to the yamaha a-s500... the glare and brightness of the Yamaha translated to anaemic bass as opposed to balanced trebble! I therefore would recommend you stay away from bright sounding amplifiers with these speakers.
You should check out the Diamond 230
It’s tempted me for a couple years.
I heard the Wharfedale 225 in a local shop a few years back and it sounded nice, warm, relaxed. In comparison, the 11.2 was a bit edgy, nothing really moved me either. I prefer a brighter more revealing speaker but could happily live with the 225. Almost bought a pair. In comparison to a Quad S2, the S2 had more texture and detail but the overall sound seemed close, both being British speakers they had some things in common. The 225 wasn't veiled. The only thing I didn't like was off axis performance in which the sound changed too much and not in a good way for me but if you sit relatively in the "sweet spot", it shouldn't be an issue.
Maybe not the most preferred choice for me but I concur alot of people would really like this speaker. I bought the MartinLogan 15i and like those. Also have Dali Opticon 1, Triangle Zeta and Focal 807W...each are on the better side of neutral or perhaps details and texture more pronounced compared to the 225 to varying degrees. Even the Zetas were more preferred to the S2 so I infer I would prefer my current lineup over the 225 but I can see myself enjoying what these do with certain music. For home theater I would go with 15i with a sub vs the 225 but if you prefer a warmer, easier listen, the 225s fit the bill especially if you like bass which supports the mids and don't need the highs highlighted.
As to where to place the wire if you don't bi-wire, I recommend changing the jumper with something of higher quality or use bi-wirable cables. The ones which come with the speakers do limit performance as you stated.
It is an easy listen. Maybe not an ‘audiophile’ listen, but it’s the speaker that everyone in my family enjoys.
@@twistyflorahifiaudio8741 I generally liked those too, not a difficult speaker to enjoy for many. Personally I like a bit more bite and gravitate towards more resolving and detailed speakers, don't need absolute best in those areas but just enough bite.
I'm really liking the 15i's for the most part and can swap between those and the Triangles I have. Small too. Budget is right and I don't feel the need to go after much more expensive speakers.
But for people that like a warmer presentation, especially for rock and vocals, I think the 225s are a nice choice, can't go wrong at that price.
I bought the 11.2 awhile back for $200 and didn't like them enough to keep those but I did like the 225s. They do change alot in tone when you get too far off axis and while I was tempted, I passed. I need to stop buying now. Unless there's a deal I can't pass up.
Keep up the vids though, I think they help enough people especially when you point out sales/discounts.
These were originally $500 so $300 on music direct is a steal. I bet these would rock with an entry level Cambridge or Rotel amp; perfect way to enter our crazy world of hifi lol.
I used them with a few Rotel amps, and it was great. I had the Cambridge AXR85 in for review and it paired with the 225. Didn't love the Cambridge and sent it back.
How are the mids and highs compared to the recently purchased 15i? I find the upper mids and treble detailed but with controlled glare alot of metal domes have more of and for me, while still a bit bright, remains enjoyable most of the time. Something about AMT/FMT tweeters I suppose and the Al mid driver is relatively fast. As to flutter, it isn't any worse than my other small speakers on a few tracks I went back over to listen to.
I like the 15i alot for movies for a small speaker. I prefer my Triangle Zetas for music as it presents a fuller and softer sound in the mids making some instruments sound a bit fuller. There is a bit of fatigue with some music on the 15i when played louder but at night at lower volumes it is fine.
I could see how the Wharfedale 225 could be an easier listen at louder volumes as it would balance out with its stronger bass and midbass but wonder if you give something up with movie soundtracks. It would still be resolving enough but extra resolution and detail come into play with movie soundtracks in my experience. A tricky balance for one to excel in both where someone gets highest performance regardless. The Dali Opticons 1 seem to have this balance but due to their size, the larger speakers outperform those except in the nearfield. For nearfield/desktop, I think its best.
An alternative, albeit to the 225 may be something like the Dali Oberon 3 but don't know how much better, if better at all and there's a sizable price difference. I just seem to remember what some have stated that there is a bit of smoothing of the details or like a blanket being thrown on the speakers, comparatively speaking. I wouldn't say they sound like a blanket is over them but there definitely is some smoothing of the details but I have never heard them in my own space. That little bit of smoothing along with the bass could actually work but I don't want to give up what the 15i can do with soundtracks of movie playback. Although some could think the 15i sounds more like the speakers that come in the TV as to tone, albeit much better. I guess personal preferences come into play and that's different for everyone.
An enjoyable hobby but frustrating when you go down the rabbit hole.
They are pretty different speakers. 225 is warm with a solid midrange and better bass than I’d expect out of a speaker at the price.
The tweeter in the 15i is exceptional IMO. It has air, detail, and great treble.
If I could put the woofer of the 225 with the AMT of the 15i, that’d be interesting.
The 225 is also a 225 is also a larger speaker, so it can move more air for greater extension.
@@twistyflorahifiaudio8741 I remember from the brief demonstration. Given I wanted a smaller speaker, the 15i is still a nice listen and does some interesting things. Different than the Zetas I have which are softer, warmer, more euphonic with music while the 15i lends more weight and makes voices stand out without some of the artifacts I may hear in the other. I can find something to like in either.
You can hear and like things in one you don't get with the other which isn't a bad thing to have in that one can choose between one presentation or the other.
Some people experience being tired of their speaker after a time when sometimes a change in pallette does the trick for a change of pace to freshen up the sound. So in that regard, its nice to be able to choose/swap between the two.
Still have it in the back of my mind to try the 225 but its larger, probably sounds better with grills off but I prefer grills on and while it would give more bass for support, I still think the other two speakers would excel in some other areas over the 225s.
Starting from scratch, if someone needs a standmount, the 225 is still relatively small, would outperform alot of other speakers anywhere near its price and even above, easy to drive and looks nice except for the grills IMO and that aluminum ring around the drivers.
I enjoy listening to the more budget speakers even though I do have a more expensive set that gives more texture, detail, resolution that easily outperforms when you turn the music up. But at lower volumes, budget speakers can perform very well and even surprise.
@@nc3419 I totally agree with you. The 225 is a solid 2-channel speaker that does not necessarily need a subwoofer. But the 15i is a special speaker (needs a sub) that I'd be happy to 'call it a day' and have in rotation with the 225.
Just ordered the diamond 240’s for $600 on Music Direct! Do you think my Yamaha AS801 will be a good match? Thanks for the review.
I wish I could help more, but I haven’t used either of those bits of Hifi. But the 240 has been on my radar for a while and it may just be the best deal in all of Hifi right now (I do love my 225s).
The issue will be impedance. The 240s dip down to 2 ohm. If the 290 watts of dynamic range (Into 2 ohms) for the 801 is accurate, I think this should be an awesome pairing.
The warmth of the Wharfedale, and the clarity of the Yamaha would definitely be something I’d try. It looks good on paper…
Let us know how it works out for you!
@@twistyflorahifiaudio8741 thanks man! Appreciate the response!
Do you think these would pair well with a Yamaha A-S501 integrated amp? I wanna upgrade my bookshelf speakers, but not sure how these would work with my amp. Thanks!
What kind of speakers do you have right now? I haven’t used the 501, but it’s worth trying. I think the clarity of Yamaha with the warmth of the Wharfedale, has the possibility of being great… at least it looks like that on paper.
@@twistyflorahifiaudio8741 the bookshelf speakers I’m running now are the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR’s. They’re great budget speakers, but I’m just looking to upgrade my setup a bit as far as bookshelf goes
what’s your opinion of using the 225 speakers for a small room?
I had them in my office (10x8) for many months, and it was great.
Tharbamer stated better quality bass if you raise the platform from the bass port by adding washers or something where they screw in. Supposedly better with grills off too. Also noting the 440 towers are only double the price but very low resistance will overly tax alot of amplifiers falling below 3 ohms, the 225s are far easier to drive.
@@nc3419 Adding washers does improve bass. Cleaner and tighter. Sounds same with or without grill. Most Wharfedale speakers are designed to leave grills on.
@@arnoldacreman9953 They have been frequency tested and the tweeter covers do tunnel the sound, like talking through a horn
Definitely remove them but woofers can stay
"I like when I put wires on the top, because the bars degrade the sound"...
Yeah, ok, one of those audiophile shows...
I mean, they do. Brass doesn’t conduct sound as well as copper. But, I get your point.