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Wharfdale 10.1 speaker: budget superstar or hype??

We generally discuss the pro and cons of various $1000 plus components in these threads. However, I have been seen several over-the-top reviews on the Wharfdale Diamond 10.1 speaker which retails for $349. I am curious if any one has auditioned this budget overachiever, and actually heard it matched against other speakers costing 3 or 4 times as much.

Occasionally, these audio anomolies come along and perform way beyond their price point, or just are reviewers' hype. It will be interesting to hear comments about the entry level Wharfdale 10.1 speaker, and/or other ocassional phenomenon like the NAD 3020; Dynaco A-25, Epos 14; or a Rega Planet CD player just to name a few that take the audio market unexpectedly by storm. Thanks Jim
sunnyjim

Showing 1 response by johnnyb53

johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
If my 13-yr-old Wharfedale Diamond 7.3 2-way floorstanders are any indication (plus my initial impressions of the 1st-gen Diamonds 25 yrs ago), then I'd say the Diamonds have earned some of the hype. The Diamonds I've heard were fast, transparent, and evenly balanced. They sounded real enough to my 8-yr-old that he screamed once when the FM radio announcer's voice came over my Diamond 7.3's. It sounded like someone was in the room and it spooked him.

The 10.1 is probably a serious contender at $349, but it has serious competition in the Paradigm Titan and the lower cost PSB Alpha B1, and probably others.

Given that it's a powered monitor with a Heil-like tweeter, the new Emotiva Pro Airmotive.4 at $399 may be the better deal.
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