Was looking at buying the 12.1 but with this I gotta say the 12.2 tip it both very good sound I guess the 12.2 has a little more punch but sound slightly better.
The song Time Travelling says it all. There is just something about the 12.1 with this amp that makes it sound constricted, very audible but it doesnt affect the 12.2 as much. Listen to 6:42 and wait for the transition to the 12.1. The 12.1 sounds very thin in the vocals like the singer is singing thru a straw. It doesnt happen as much with the AXA25. For some reason, the 12.1 is very picky when it comes to amps, the 12.2 not at all.
I heard the 12.1's as being thinner, not more shrill, but less nuanced. The 12.2's sounded fuller, more lush and more well rounded. The 12.1 certainly could use a sub in my opinion. If I had not heard them side by side, I would say that the 12.1's were pretty good. and I would enjoy listening to them, but side by side the difference really apparent. I am looking at the 12.2's and the Polk 200's for my first bookshelf speakers. I have Definitive BP- 6' floor standers right now, and I absolutely love them, but I am looking for a different sound profile to listen to from time to time. Thanks for the nice comparison.
@@str3460 I have not purchased the new speakers yet. I had a more pressing expense that came up and I had to do some soul searching. I came to the conclusion that new bookshelf speakers wouldn't give me anything that I don't already have in the way of range or performance. That said, if the prices come down to where I just can't justify not buying them, then I probably will. If the 200's were to come down to the cost of the 12.2's on sale then I would absolutely go with the 200's. For 250.00 to 300.00 less I could easily live with the 12.2's. That however is based on my hearing and not everybody else's. Best wishes and let me know what you decide and how they are working out for you. -- den
I'm looking at both the 12.1 and the 12.2, but few places demo them where I live and this has helped. Of course the 12.2 is a wider and much more mature sound over the 12.1 - by a bit. However, the 12.1 held its ground and can be improved with a sub-woofer, which the 12.2 can get away without one. They both sound great - respectively. Both the 12.1 and 12.2 can be further improved sound wise with some speaker EQ tweaking (as per the Audioscience review and measurements). Thanks for this video... as it helped with decision making. Cheers!
@@caidelander2561 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1... the right size, sound and price. Didn't need to use an EQ (small to medium sized room). Black Friday Sale! 👍🏽
@@caidelander2561 I already have one (part of a +23 year old Nakamichi system) but I plan to replace it with the Cambridge Audio Minx X201 (as part of a complete HiFi stereo system re-modernisation project).
The big brother 12.2's are the much more mature sounding and better balanced speaker.. Midrange response is more smooth, full and revealing... They neither add midrange warmth or lack much. I find them mich more satisfying and real sounding.
@@ec6843 Some of that "bloat" is being caused by the slightly bass sloppy Cambridge amp. Listen to his demo's of them with other amps such the Arcam or Audiolab and there's not so much. Even the 12.0's have less midrange suckout and are more balanced than the 12.1s, who's bass still sounds sloppier and less refined to me than the others, and the 12.2s still reveal the most midrange detail and clarity with the best overall balance. No, they're not LS3/5a's, but possibly you prefer thin, sucked out center and lower mids too, Lol.
![The War of Princes [Whose side?] KEF Q150 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Cambridge AXA35 [SOUND BATTLE]](/img/n.gif)
Wow, that's crazy. The 12.1 is clearly registering lower bass notes on some of those songs : D
12.2 is open, forward , fuller and better. Female vocals sound nice on 12.2.
12.2👍👍👍
Was looking at buying the 12.1 but with this I gotta say the 12.2 tip it both very good sound I guess the 12.2 has a little more punch but sound slightly better.
The song Time Travelling says it all. There is just something about the 12.1 with this amp that makes it sound constricted, very audible but it doesnt affect the 12.2 as much. Listen to 6:42 and wait for the transition to the 12.1. The 12.1 sounds very thin in the vocals like the singer is singing thru a straw. It doesnt happen as much with the AXA25. For some reason, the 12.1 is very picky when it comes to amps, the 12.2 not at all.
If you haven't done it yet, then please listen to the Q Acoustics 3030i, I would be interested in your opinion ... thanks a lot in advance
@@MrJueKa I owned the 3030i before I bought the Diamond 12.2. In my opinion, the 3030i is no match for the 12.2
@@AbsoluteFidelity ok, thanks a lot for your quick response ... Best wishes from Germany !!
I heard the 12.1's as being thinner, not more shrill, but less nuanced. The 12.2's sounded fuller, more lush and more well rounded. The 12.1 certainly could use a sub in my opinion. If I had not heard them side by side, I would say that the 12.1's were pretty good. and I would enjoy listening to them, but side by side the difference really apparent. I am looking at the 12.2's and the Polk 200's for my first bookshelf speakers. I have Definitive BP- 6' floor standers right now, and I absolutely love them, but I am looking for a different sound profile to listen to from time to time. Thanks for the nice comparison.
how is it? did u get ur polk 200? im in between those 2. 12.2 or r200
@@str3460 I have not purchased the new speakers yet. I had a more pressing expense that came up and I had to do some soul searching. I came to the conclusion that new bookshelf speakers wouldn't give me anything that I don't already have in the way of range or performance. That said, if the prices come down to where I just can't justify not buying them, then I probably will. If the 200's were to come down to the cost of the 12.2's on sale then I would absolutely go with the 200's. For 250.00 to 300.00 less I could easily live with the 12.2's. That however is based on my hearing and not everybody else's. Best wishes and let me know what you decide and how they are working out for you. -- den
The 12.1 sounds very recessed, veiled, and muffled in the midrange here
12.1 sound more sonically balances in A to B comparison. The 12.2 sounds too thick in the mid-bass for me.
I'm looking at both the 12.1 and the 12.2, but few places demo them where I live and this has helped. Of course the 12.2 is a wider and much more mature sound over the 12.1 - by a bit. However, the 12.1 held its ground and can be improved with a sub-woofer, which the 12.2 can get away without one. They both sound great - respectively. Both the 12.1 and 12.2 can be further improved sound wise with some speaker EQ tweaking (as per the Audioscience review and measurements). Thanks for this video... as it helped with decision making. Cheers!
What did you end up getting and how's it faring?
@@caidelander2561 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1... the right size, sound and price. Didn't need to use an EQ (small to medium sized room). Black Friday Sale! 👍🏽
Did you get a sub for it?
@@caidelander2561 I already have one (part of a +23 year old Nakamichi system) but I plan to replace it with the Cambridge Audio Minx X201 (as part of a complete HiFi stereo system re-modernisation project).
@@rxt744 I'm gonna be trying the diamonds out with an SVS SB1000 pro. Thank you so much for your input
The big brother 12.2's are the much more mature sounding and better balanced speaker.. Midrange response is more smooth, full and revealing... They neither add midrange warmth or lack much. I find them mich more satisfying and real sounding.
LOL 12.2 add too much mid-bass bloat and congestion. You're wrong on that take.
@@ec6843 Some of that "bloat" is being caused by the slightly bass sloppy Cambridge amp. Listen to his demo's of them with other amps such the Arcam or Audiolab and there's not so much. Even the 12.0's have less midrange suckout and are more balanced than the 12.1s, who's bass still sounds sloppier and less refined to me than the others, and the 12.2s still reveal the most midrange detail and clarity with the best overall balance. No, they're not LS3/5a's, but possibly you prefer thin, sucked out center and lower mids too, Lol.
Esos parlantes se pueden usar de costado? No tengo espacio para ponerlos de pie!
That first song did those 12.1s bad
12.2 Molto meglio