Wharfedale Diamond 7.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Black Ash)

by Wharfedale

Product Details

Data Sheet [248kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7.5 x 11.6 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 16 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004SY5D
• Item model number: Diamond 7.1
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,762 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2000

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

British loudspeakers are known and cherished for their precision and detail, and Wharfedale brings hefty helpings of both to a tiny, affordable speaker with astoundingly beefy low end. This two-way speaker is ported at the back--as it would have to be to pump out sound below 50 Hz. The amazing thing is that Wharfedale resorts to porting without also defaulting to a tubby, muddy, or grievously unbalanced tonal character. The Diamond 7.1s are cheery little things, extremely well suited to rear-channel home theater service or front-and-center bedroom, office, or kitchen placement.

These speakers are so small and lightweight that we questioned their ability to render even a facade of full-bodied sound. However, we were happily impressed. The Wharfedale 7.1s are detailed, effortless, warm, and punchy; what bass they can muster is firm and taut, like you'd want from a small speaker. Most speakers have trouble recreating the deep and woody sound of an acoustic upright bass; on the Diamond 7.1s, recordings of this instrument sound articulate and musical, if not necessarily six feet tall.

The Diamond 7.1s sound best at medium-to-loud levels, but you do get more bass as you crank them up, and distortion doesn't seem to be a worry (see our accompanying FAQ for more on Wharfedale's antidistortion measures). The speakers are fairly dynamic, though they do compress a little under high-power, bass-heavy material. They also sound a little piercing at the level where the low end sounds right for rock listening--in this respect the removable grilles help, so if you're going to listen loudly, leave 'em on.

Imaging is good, and the Diamond 7.1s offer a good sense of low-level ambient detail, especially with ambient recordings commonly found on classical CDs. Often small speakers, even very good ones, will really dry up ambient recordings--that is, shrink the perceived room size where the musical performance is taking place. This is largely because so many bookshelf speakers have little deep bass, and many ambient or spatial cues live in low tones and in room resonances that make up the atmosphere of a recording, rather than in specific musical tones.

If pressed to name shortcomings, we'd say the Diamond 7.1s' high frequencies are not as smooth or effortless in quality as those from pricier speakers and are a little too pronounced (emphasizing, for instance, the tape hiss present on CDs mastered from analog tapes). And the bass, for all its pleasing qualities, is a little muddier than one would want in an ideal speaker. But considering the per-dollar level of quality here, these quibbles are easily forgiven.

For a budget sound system or merely a compact, secondary-use pair, we highly recommend Wharfedale's Diamond 7.1 bookshelf speakers. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Great sound
• Well suited to different musical styles
• Small size
• Remarkably deep bass output
• Quality design
• Can be used with banana-plug-terminated speaker cable

Cons:

• Slightly muddy low end
• Slightly pronounced high frequencies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbeatable for the price, March 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Wharfedale Diamond 7.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Black Ash) (Electronics)

I read the favorable customer reviews of the Wharfedale 7.1 speakers before deciding to buy. I wanted the speakers to bring sound to my kitchen as I like to cook to music. I tried the speakers out with the opening of Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra. The low C on the organ came through remarkably well, the tympani were reproduced crisply, and the brass was clean. Next I put on a Bill Evans jazz disc. The brushes were reproduced almost as well as on my main system. The similarly sized speakers I put in my wife's painting studio cost twice as much but do not compare with the Wharfedale 7.1.

The speakers might not do as well in a larger room, and they get a little muddy if the volume is cranked up too high. But for smaller spaces, they deliver nice sound at an unbeatable price.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wharfedale 7.1, January 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wharfedale Diamond 7.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Black Ash) (Electronics)

Ever Heard of Warfedale? Well me neither (unless u live in Britain). I had a little extra cash to burn after the holidays so i decided to log on to amazon and see what their was for some cheap but good bookshelf speakers. The 7.1's by wharfedale stuck in my mind mainly because of their cheap price and the raving editorial reviewer who i thought was just a bit crazy. So i decided to purchase a pair. When they came and i first hooked them up i was a little skeptical. Not after i cranked up the volume on my stereo however. These things are incredible! They sound like they are coming from speakers 3 times their size. The bass is nothing short of amazing for the tiny woofers. And furthermore i dont think i could blow these things w/o first blowing my ears. I highly recomend these for anyone looking for a cheap pair of speakers with high performance.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wharfedale 7.1, June 9, 2001

By 

Cathleen Francis (Gods Waiting Room-Venice,Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wharfedale Diamond 7.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Black Ash) (Electronics)

I have read about Wharfedale Diamonds for years ,they have always been highly regarded by audiophiles.They offer great value for the money......but $63.99??????....you have got to be kidding!..for the pair?....Nothing touches these speakers for at least 3 times this price.I bought the 7.1's .They sound so great I do kinda wish that I had spent the extra 20 bucks or so for the 7.2's just to see what the slightly deeper cabinet would do.The brochure claims that the 7.1's can reproduce lows down to 50 hz.......the 7.2's 40hz!I cannot recommend these speakers highly enough especially at a little over $30 dollars each.I have matched the 7.1's with a NAD 3020 integrated amp with Monster Cable.