WHARFEDALE Diamond 12.2i Bookshelf Loudspeakers

More Than Skin Deep
Known for quality, affordability, and exceptional build quality, the Wharfedale Diamond series has always prioritised fit and finish. The new luxurious finishes enhance the loudspeaker’s premium look and feel, matching its impressive sound performance.

Incremental Acoustic Enhancements
Along with the aesthetic upgrade, Wharfedale’s engineering team revisited the speaker’s internals, paying special attention to bass port tuning and airflow control. Small but significant changes to the port design and internal damping have improved bass clarity and low-frequency control—especially in real-world environments. Listeners will notice the difference.

A thorough port design effort led by Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, and senior engineers Dan Bailey Ornellas and Oliver Davies aimed to refine low-frequency performance through extensive empirical testing and listening evaluations. The development process lasted several months and included advanced techniques, such as laser interferometry, extensive anechoic and in-room measurements, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess airflow and pressure in the port structure. Critical listening sessions—totalling hundreds of hours—were held to confirm the results. The outcome is a bass response that is better controlled and more articulate, with improved transitions between low and mid frequencies and consistent spatial performance, no matter the placement. These changes maintain the DIAMOND 12’s signature neutrality while subtly increasing listener engagement and dynamic flow.

At the Core: Klarity™ Cone Technology
The DIAMOND 12i mid/bass driver cones remain unchanged and are made from Klarity™, a special blend of polypropylene and mica that provides excellent stiffness and low distortion. This results in a cone that is lightweight, well-damped, and very responsive, delivering natural, expressive dynamics and precise transient response.

A low-damping surround enhances the cone’s efficiency and dynamic range, while ribbed shaping and profile simulation ensure a smooth, linear frequency response without added distortion.

Advanced Magnet Assembly
Each mid/bass driver features a precise magnet system with an aluminium compensation ring to reduce the effects of inductance changes as the voice coil moves. This advanced motor system minimises intermodulation and distortion, producing cleaner, more accurate sound.

The voice coil is wrapped around a high-power epoxy/glass fibre bobbin, which performs significantly better than standard materials at this price point, offering greater power handling, thermal stability, and structural strength.

25mm Textile Dome Tweeter
High frequencies are produced by a 25mm woven polyester dome with a high-loss damping coating, resulting in extended, smooth treble response. The front plate is designed acoustically with a flat profile and minimal waveguide to enhance dispersion and output. The result is clear, natural high frequencies with excellent off-axis performance.

Low-Resonance Cabinet Design
Each enclosure features a multi-layered sandwich construction that reduces panel resonance and distortion. Even the adhesive properties between the layers have been acoustically tested to optimise damping.

Inside, intelligent spot bracing connects opposite cabinet walls using computer-modelled braces that reduce vibration without passing it from one surface to another. This contributes to the solid and authoritative sound signature of the Diamond 12i series.

The outgoing Diamond 12 range offers a choice of four wood-effect finishes – black, white, walnut and light oak – giving the speakers a smart, ‘classic’ appearance. The Diamond 12i Series replaces all four finishes with three new ones, updated for a fresher, more contemporary feel:

Deep Black: a rich, semi-matt finish giving a sleek, modern look – subtle and sophisticated.
Stone Grey: another smooth semi-matt finish that makes a striking contemporary design statement whilst complementing a range of décor styles and colours.
Classic Walnut: this update of a timeless classic contrasts the natural warmth of walnut with a semi-matt black front baffle for a distinctly premium appearance.

The quality of these finishes, and the overall build quality of the speakers themselves, is unmatched at such accessible retail prices.

SPECIFICATIONS