Wharfedale launches Diamond 12i Series

Wharfedale has launched the Diamond 12i Series. With the price and size of each model identical to the brand’s Diamond 12 equivalent, the Diamond 12i Series comprises five stereo models: three standmount speakers and two floorstanders.

Home cinema applications are catered for by a matching centre speaker and an effects speaker; the latter is designed to wall-mount or sit atop the 12.1i or 12.3i speakers to deliver the height channels in surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos.

The current Diamond line – the Diamond 12 Series, was launched in 2020. While the brand says there was no obvious need to upgrade the Diamond 12 Series, a natural evolution in Wharfedale’s design and manufacturing processes has presented an opportunity to update the speakers’ design.

New finishes and subtle but worthwhile performance upgrades have been applied to every model, triggering a refresh that Wharfedale has named Diamond 12i. Wharfedale has brought these improvements without increasing prices by a single penny.

Freezing the speakers’ prices means that in real terms, after adjusting for inflation, every Diamond 12i model costs around 22% less than the Diamond 12 equivalent did when the range launched in 2020.

The outgoing Diamond 12 range offers a choice of four wood-effect finishes – black, white, walnut and light oak.

The Diamond 12i Series replaces all four finishes with three new ones, updated for a fresher, more contemporary feel: Deep Black, Stone Grey and Classic Walnut.

Whilst developing these new finishes, and at the same time considering advances in production processes five years on from the Diamond 12 launch, Wharfedale reviewed the design of each model to see where improvements could be applied. Critically, the company was determined that any changes must be delivered without increasing retail prices.

With Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau leading the project, alongside engineers Dan Bailey Ornellas and Oliver Davies, the team focused on bass port tuning and airflow control. Their intention was to refine low-frequency performance through extensive empirical testing and listening evaluations, making use of laser interferometry, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and anechoic and in-room measurements to assess airflow and pressure in the port structure.

This research led to a new bass-reflex port design and revised internal damping, the results of which were confirmed over hundreds of hours of listening tests. This has enabled improved bass clarity and control throughout the range, especially noticeable in real-world environments where space is at a premium. Low frequencies are more articulate, with enhanced transitions between bass and midrange and a more consistent spatial performance, no matter where the speakers are placed.

These changes maintain the signature neutrality and transparency of the Diamond 12 Series whilst subtly increasing listener engagement and dynamic flow.

Other incremental improvements have been brought to the new Diamond 12i range through refinements to the manufacturing process. This includes the drive units which, though fundamentally of the same design as the previous Diamond 12 models, benefit from even tighter production tolerances to maximise their impressive sonic potential.

The new Diamond 12i speakers’ bass and midrange drivers incorporate diaphragms made from a composite of polypropylene and mica that Wharfedale calls Klarity. Developed for the Diamond 12 Series introduced in 2020, this cone material is equally fundamental to the Diamond 12i models’ price-defying sound quality.

The Klarity diaphragms are driven by a substantial, precision-made magnet system with an aluminium compensation ring to reduce the effects of variations in inductance caused by the movement of the voice coil. The latter is wound on a bobbin made from a composite of glass fibre and epoxy resin – this performs significantly better than commonly used materials at this price point, offering greater power handling, thermal stability and structural strength. The resulting motor system minimises intermodulation and distortion, producing cleaner and more accurate sound.

High frequencies are produced by a 25mm woven polyester dome with a high-loss damping coating, delivering extended treble response. The front plate has a flat profile and minimal waveguide, exposing the dome as much as possible to enhance dispersion, with a short duct to balance the acoustic load and improve the SPL (sound pressure level) measurement. The result is clear, natural high frequencies with excellent off-axis performance.

The treble unit combines seamlessly with the speakers’ mid/bass drivers via a sophisticated Linkwitz-Riley crossover network, finely adjusted for minimal phase shift and smooth integration. Its design includes air-core inductors – components typically found in high-end speakers, selected here despite their higher cost because they produce the lowest distortion of all inductor types. The magnet structure for the mid/bass driver is modified to address the resistance of these high-quality inductors.

The rear-ported enclosure of each model is precisely sized so that the internal volume works in harmony with the drive unit system to deliver the desired sonic result. The cabinet walls are made from sections of wood fibre board of varying thickness, constructed in such a way as to subdue the identifiable characteristics of the cabinet’s ‘sound’ and ensure the drivers’ output remains unsullied. The resonant properties of each element – even the glue – were considered to determine the ideal combination of materials and placement.

Inside the cabinet, Intelligent Spot Bracing connects opposing walls with a specific form of wood brace to achieve optimal reduction of cabinet resonance. These braces are precisely modelled by computer simulation to improve upon the commonplace ‘figure of eight’ brace, which can have the effect of transferring resonance from one wall to another.