Excellent look at the Diamond 1's, really enjoying the channel. The 2's are very simular. The Diamond 1, 2 and 3's all sound big for a small box and even at 86db my little Sansui 200 Reciever at 5 watts have no trouble in driving these. But its the Diamond 3's that are the best, more detail, resolution and top end. For around £40 second hand these days they are a steal
There is a fully re-capped Rotel RA820B feeding a poair of Diamond IV's here with some serious sources. You wouldn't know those speakers were that small!
I worked in a well known Hi Fi shop in Edinburgh when these were out - we were bored one day, talking about the cage style stands (like Kan ones but with spiked frames holding them down) The Cornflake Shop (IIRC) made for them, to stop their lightweight cabinets moving back and forth, so we put a pair of Target HJ stands upside down on top of them to keep them in place. The improvement was so large (we thought), we ended up ffalling down a rabbit hole....turns out the slightly larger Wharfedale 504s, which had much better drivers, sounded astonishing set up like this, but we had to use a monster Class A power amp like a Perreaux, EAR or suchlike, which rather defeated the purpose....happy days :) Thanks for your excellent content and fine presentation!
I remember taking a train from Glasgow to Leeds through the Yorkshire Dales years ago, my first time in the area. You're not wrong, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. The train driver stopped for slightly longer at a nice little village called Horton-in-Ribblesdale and pointed out the best views for us.
My very first speakers! Yes they were soft but in my tiny bedroom in a nearfield position they were good enough to get me into classical music. The rest of the system I also remember fondly: Rotel RP830 turntable, Nagaoka MP11, Rotel RA820 amp.
Great to see these again, thank you for sharing. I look forward to you trying them with modern equipment. I still have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 3s (bought in the early 1990s) and they sound fine as desk monitors with my PC! My lounge has Diamond 10.1s that I enjoy equally as much. Incidentally, I live in Airedale (the next dale over from Wharfedale). You're right, it is a beautiful area of England 🙂
I had a pair of Glendales and I loved them ,when I bought a Quad amp I upgraded to Roger’s Studio 1’s.I’ve still got some Wharfdale Active Diamonds in my kitchen and they are superb
Remember working a couple of summers when I was a student in the factory that manufactured the cabinets for these. Wonderfully sturdy. Nothing really quite ike them any more. They manufactured for B&W and Mission as well. I guess all the low end manufacturing has been moved off-shore now.
I use a pair of them in the main bedroom where the computer is setup with 5.1 and they are the front stereo !! Bought them for £20 from our local Cash Converters, another great deal from a shop I visit ever time I pass
Excellent video, once the snow clears I will be getting mine out the shed to give them a listen. I think I also have a dedicated subwoofer for them as well.
They were crap. Ae1s and twos pretty good. Spendor sp1s. I bought a pair of the first musical fidelity mc2s. Still got em. Then they thought they didnt need the original designer and made their own. Mk2s. They sunk like a stone. Didn't like the owner. Arrogant git. Yes i met him. My mate worked for pink triangle. Tube technology. Roksan. He had a Pink turntable, roksan xres whatevever it was called turntable ortofon £1000 at the time cartridge. Sme £1300 arm. Two monoblock tube amps and a pip pre amp ran on batteries. Electrostatic speakers. Couldn't hold a candle to my LP12. Ittok arm. Mf cartridge and exposure pre power amps. 😂😂
Excellent look at the Diamond 1's, really enjoying the channel. The 2's are very simular. The Diamond 1, 2 and 3's all sound big for a small box and even at 86db my little Sansui 200 Reciever at 5 watts have no trouble in driving these. But its the Diamond 3's that are the best, more detail, resolution and top end. For around £40 second hand these days they are a steal
Ahh Mr Yates the budget king😁, I concur the Wharfedale Diamond 3 are a loverly little set of speakers
There is a fully re-capped Rotel RA820B feeding a poair of Diamond IV's here with some serious sources. You wouldn't know those speakers were that small!
I worked in a well known Hi Fi shop in Edinburgh when these were out - we were bored one day, talking about the cage style stands (like Kan ones but with spiked frames holding them down) The Cornflake Shop (IIRC) made for them, to stop their lightweight cabinets moving back and forth, so we put a pair of Target HJ stands upside down on top of them to keep them in place. The improvement was so large (we thought), we ended up ffalling down a rabbit hole....turns out the slightly larger Wharfedale 504s, which had much better drivers, sounded astonishing set up like this, but we had to use a monster Class A power amp like a Perreaux, EAR or suchlike, which rather defeated the purpose....happy days :) Thanks for your excellent content and fine presentation!
I wonder how many lifelong passions for hifi began with a pair of Wharfdale Diamonds?
I remember taking a train from Glasgow to Leeds through the Yorkshire Dales years ago, my first time in the area. You're not wrong, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. The train driver stopped for slightly longer at a nice little village called Horton-in-Ribblesdale and pointed out the best views for us.
My very first speakers! Yes they were soft but in my tiny bedroom in a nearfield position they were good enough to get me into classical music. The rest of the system I also remember fondly: Rotel RP830 turntable, Nagaoka MP11, Rotel RA820 amp.
Do you remember the JPW Sonata? These were my first ever loudspeakers purchase
Great to see these again, thank you for sharing. I look forward to you trying them with modern equipment. I still have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 3s (bought in the early 1990s) and they sound fine as desk monitors with my PC! My lounge has Diamond 10.1s that I enjoy equally as much. Incidentally, I live in Airedale (the next dale over from Wharfedale). You're right, it is a beautiful area of England 🙂
I have a pair of 2's. The tweeter in the Diamond 2 is a Audax TW74a. I'm guessing it's the same in the original.
*PromoSM*
I had a pair of Glendales and I loved them ,when I bought a Quad amp I upgraded to Roger’s Studio 1’s.I’ve still got some Wharfdale Active Diamonds in my kitchen and they are superb
Good morning from New York City👍
Thank you thank you
Since I discovered "real hifi" 25 years ago, I have only owned Wharfedale Diamond speakers. Love them. Great video.
Still got a pair of these hooked up to a Nad 302 in my son's bedroom. To me they sill sound good.
Remember working a couple of summers when I was a student in the factory that manufactured the cabinets for these. Wonderfully sturdy. Nothing really quite ike them any more. They manufactured for B&W and Mission as well. I guess all the low end manufacturing has been moved off-shore now.
Unbelievable these were my first speakers in 85 with a rotel amp and a rega p2,blew me away 👍
I remember the 3’s and then the 4’s which were vastly different looking
I use a pair of them in the main bedroom where the computer is setup with 5.1 and they are the front stereo !! Bought them for £20 from our local Cash Converters, another great deal from a shop I visit ever time I pass
Great little speakers the diamonds , i think one retro review that would be interesting is your opinion on the B&W dm110s
Great well made speakers even Today. Up therei with the best.
Excellent video, once the snow clears I will be getting mine out the shed to give them a listen. I think I also have a dedicated subwoofer for them as well.
I have a pair of diamant 2 and i love them.
You need progressive lenses😅
They were crap. Ae1s and twos pretty good. Spendor sp1s. I bought a pair of the first musical fidelity mc2s. Still got em. Then they thought they didnt need the original designer and made their own. Mk2s. They sunk like a stone. Didn't like the owner. Arrogant git. Yes i met him. My mate worked for pink triangle. Tube technology. Roksan. He had a Pink turntable, roksan xres whatevever it was called turntable ortofon £1000 at the time cartridge. Sme £1300 arm. Two monoblock tube amps and a pip pre amp ran on batteries. Electrostatic speakers. Couldn't hold a candle to my LP12. Ittok arm. Mf cartridge and exposure pre power amps. 😂😂