Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 bit.ly/3R3qul4 Klipsch RP6000F howl.me/cfRf4mO9KWi Emotiva T1+ emotiva.com?aff=9 check out my other channel www.youtube.com/@cheapwatchman_official Intro graphics by johnvilardi.com Support the Channel! Shop on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Join the best hifi community out there! patreon.com/cheapaudioman TRY ROON www.rofjdjk3ns.com/33G977/2CTPL/ Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P
Hey randy, just today i ordered a pair of elac unifi 2.0 uf52 tower speakers for an amazing price of 600€, what do you think about them if you ever even heard them?
Recently got the Q-Acoustics 3050… can’t get over how amazingly clear those speakers are. Just watched Superman:The Movie in two channels and the dialog was crystal clear, the sound almost wrapped around me… it is impressive.
As a fellow speaker nerd we are very fortunate to have so many great options under $500 and $1000 these days. Towers this good didnt exist at this price 10-20 years ago. Now I enjoy having and trying out different speakers though my wife hates it. This year I finally picked up some Martin Logan elecrostats used for my downstairs theater and then a pair of Heco Auroras for the living room. Ive got Monitor Bronze 100s in the bedroom and Kali LP6 monitors in the studio. And a pair of Jamo C95 and Wharfedales im still trying to figure out what to do with. They all bring something different to the table and have enioyed all of them.
I got the diamond 12.4 and I decided to try bi amping since they have it as a feature. Idk if the bridges were originally sitting weird but it definitely improved the clarity and stopped any popping it was doing before I tried the bi amping. They have solid bass too
I tell all hifi beginners about the Wharfedale 12 series, in particular the 12.2 and 12.4s. They are that good imho, as I say that if you don’t take a l9ng hifi journey, these can be brought and you can happy for many years. Especially with the Marantz pm6007 and cd6007, add streaming (from phone or otherwise) or a TT and you have great listenable quality for not very much moolah (in audio and engineering terms). If i cannever get away from my study being where my highly used Hifi goes to die, then I'm whatever iteration of these is out there. A great review Mr R. Thanks.
If you dont like the "scoop" on wharfedale speakers, or just want a cheap and easy upgrade, replace the included brass bridge plates between the two sets of binding posts with any speaker wire. Even a short length of the cheapest bit of basic, stranded copper wire you have laying around will be an improvement, so you dont necessarily need to go crazy pricewise just to try it out
Thanks for this review and I love how you compare products versus other products. It gives us a better baseline to measure against. I’ve seriously considered the Emotiva and Klipsch in the past as I like a brighter sounding speaker. However, I stumbled on a great deal for Klipsch Heresy speakers and compared those against my reference Heco Celan Revolution 3 speakers. The Heco are $1150 on Audioadvice, but I think they would likely best all of these for just a little more money. They crushed the Klipsch Heresy in my setup and I tried them for months with many combinations of amps and preamps.
Been trying to decide between the RP-6000F or the Emotiva T1+ since they're both on sale this week. Ended up with the T1+ due to your review of them a couple of years ago. Can't wait to get them in!
I have the Diamond 12.4s and yes their current sale price is a very good deal. Spacious EVO line is also on sale, but not Aura. I do prefer Wharfedales over the brash Klipsch house sound at their price point, but not as my main pair. I have more expensive US speakers as well that are more lively and more resolving and project images in front of the speaker; this is the classic live US speaker sound. With some recordings, however, the bigger pair murders my ears and I feel everybody is shouting at me. Wharfedales have a flatter but wide soundstage. Locked in center image is very good and outperforms the more expensive pair Timbre very natural and better than some aluminum woofers. Wharfedales under $2000: good at making you pay more attention to the song and less to the recording. Agree with the Geshelli JNOG2 deep soundstage comment I wish I could have kept that one I had to return it. Looking for another AKM DAC.
I think that's what I'm going for. Reviews are all positive. My room is too small for the R700's. After talking with several people who know much more than I do about hi-fi, they all agree that I'd never realize the full potential of the R700 in the room dimensions I have.
Great review and comparison! Still rocking the 9.1 in my second system. I love them! Of course the mention of the wiim amp is a current thing for me! I was negative Nancy on your previous video but i am very much looking forward to the full review of that amp 😊
Interesting video, enjoyed. I have to agree with this video. I auditioned these speakers along with models from Monitor Audio, Q Acoustics and several others. They all had their strong points but they also all seemed to be lacking in other ways, it wasn't easy making the choice. It didnt happen overnight for me, I had to have 3 visits in all. The more I listened, the more I realised the Wharfedales ticked all boxes, it had no flaws nor did it offend, big loudspeakers, so make sure you have room.
@davidjudd951 I used the cone feet (it's a solid metal bracket, I never once was worried about them being fragile). Perhaps the pad option is, I don't know. As far as likes - mainly the smooth mid range. Its smooth and quite natural sounding. I find they image and stage nicely as well. I'm treble sensitive, and these don't fatigue me. I had them in a 2.1 system, and they rock. I will say the bass left a bit desired when I tested them without a sub. But in 2.1 the 12.3 was perfect for what I wanted. The 12.4 likely will fill the need for a sub a bit more where it's got a larger woofer. I had tried many other (mainly headphones) and some speakers - wharfdale diamonds was closest to my preferred sound signature. They were the first speaker I could sit back and enjoy rather than wondering if X sounded better. I went through about 20K worth of headphones before landing on those.
I have Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 on my desktop system. You can listen to digital streams for long periods of time without fatigue. They also look fantastic. I can’t think of a better value.
I get a kick out of these reviewers....Every other week they have a new speaker that is a 'must have/this is the BEST speaker/ you need this one/ OH until two weeks from now and now there is a new one!!!!
I totally didnt need to but i bought an ex demo pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 just because they were as new and offered at a measly sum of £290 (aka $375). Value for money is off the charts. By far the best speaker ive heard in terms of smiles per pound if not the best ive ever heard or owned (or own). Easy to drive... check. Easy to place... check. No frequency nasties... check. Amazing bass for the size... check. On the end of my Icon Audio Stereo 845PP they SING. Its one of those rare synergies ive found where a cheap speaker can end up sounding better than one 10x its price. You can tell the work that has gone into the cabinet and drivers by the designers (inc Fink i believe) and its payed off royally. I havent heard the Emotiva but ive heard the Klipsch and im sorry but..... (VOMITS). If YOU find a pair of 12.3 at retail id heartily recommend them but at almost half id just BUY and see if they do for you what they do for me!
I personally would rather have floor-standing speakers (Tower speakers) then bookshelf. To me, their just louder & better. It's like ya get more BANG for your buck! 🤘🏻
@@NightFlight1973 I’ve got an old set of B&W DM 601 S2 from the late 90’s that I bought in high school. They’re my favorite speaker I’ve owned so far. I wasn’t impressed with the 600 and 700 S2’s but the S3’s for both levels sound better to me. I’d like to move up to 700’s though rather than get newer 600’s.
@@NightFlight1973 I just picked up an Arcam SA20 and some Emotiva T-Zero+ this weekend and I’m looking forward to trying those out in a 2-channel setup.
I just bought the RP8000s for $840 a pair with 'six' RP5000Fs for $400 a pair (plus the 504C for $430) for my bed layer in my 7.3.4! Whish you could hear it Randy. Got the 8000FS bi-amped from a MM8077 (300+ watts per fronts). All speakers bran new.
Great video. Love the editing. I'm selling my ProAc D20R and considering buying a pair of wharfedale diamonds. I heard the 11 series and was impressed. The ribbon tweeter on the ProAcs has same problem as the Emotivas - the awful vertical dispersion. Unless your sitting down the mids and highs suck out.
That’s about the size of my living room. They sound great to me, and I’ve had the 4.2’s and Infinity R153’s. I really the way the ribbon sounds on the highs. The down port lets me get them closer to the wall.
Wharfedale 4.3, with the port at the bottom is super good for smaller living rooms. I did emotiva surrounds and heights, but retired the B1+ to the bedroom.
I believe that the Monolith encore t6 should be in the mix as well for affordable, stylish, and great sounding speakers. Unfortunately the outrageously priced JbL studio 5xx series is behind us, glad i snagged a couple!
Which Studio speakers do you have? I have a set of the 530 bookshelves. I really want to get a set of the 570’s but they don’t go on sale like they used to. Had a chance to get some 580’s for $500 but I slept on that one.
If budget allows, how do you feel about the Evo 4.4 vs the Diamond 12.4's? I tend to agree with the review of the Klipsch. I find that horn tweeter can sometimes make Klipsch sound a bit "shouty" at higher volumes, and I have found them a little fatiguing.
Another informative review... Purchased the Emo T1+ along with their subwoofer and 3 Ch Amp per your recommendations (AWESOME !!) . My question now is, what center channel should I consider now that the Emotiva center channels are not available? Would like to integrate one for music first then theater sound.
Emotiva Canada you can add them directly to your online cart, but if you drill down to the product page they all say they are temporarily unavailable. Not certain what that means, as I'm not planning to buy.
A lot of claimed 8 ohms speakers drop down to nearer 4 ohms if you run them as large or without a sub. I have 7 Monitor Audio as my bed layer, (A Gold C350 centre I got for £500 on Ebay, two Bronze 500's and four Bronze 100's for surround and rear surrounds) they claim 8 ohms, but can drop to about 4.2 ohms. I have Emotiva BasX A3 and A4 amps powering them, and let my Denon 6700h power the 6 B&W M-1 heights. I also have two SVS PB1000 subs, which is more than enough immersion and bass for my room. But getting back to the Wharfedales, My wife has all Wharfedale in her home theatre bedroom set-up, and they sound great for the money spent.
If I replace my L/R speakers do I need (or would it be better) to replace the center channel at the same time and/or with the same brand? Right now they're RP-600Miis and an RP-504Cii. The rest of my 7.2.4 system is a mix of Klipsch and Polk.
that Hurt sung by Johnny always hits hard. especially watching the video clip what was it? 3 months after recording it he died? sheesh terrific cover though pitty about the distortion :(
I let the pressure of the sales get to me. I want to set up a 2.0/2.1 in the bedroom and I grabbed an Arcam SA20 for $825 from BB and a pair of the Emotiva T-Zero+ for $299. Also grabbed the Wiim Pro from Amazon for the 20% off or whatever they’re selling it for. Hoping I like the Arcam. I’m curious to pair it with numerous speakers to see how it does. My B&W DM 601 S2, B&W M-1 mk2, JBL Studio 530, Jamo S 803, Polk T15, Polk Monitor 4…do my own little AB to see how my cheaper receiver or amps sound compared to something not “cheap”.
The best speaker under $1K is a studio monitor, The Kali Audio IN-8. MSRP is $800/pair and you don't need an amp -- you can drive it directly with any (XLR or RCA) line level-device with a volume control, e.g. a DAC or preamp -- because they have three channels of top-notch amplification and DSP built-in. The only drawback (for some of us) is cosmetic -- many a spouse will veto their plain matte black, no-grille appearance -- and the fact that they're designed for near and mid field use, making them unsuitable for larger listening spaces.
You are correct, though from what ive read the Kali LP6 is almost its equal in both measurements and performance some people even preferring it. Either way both lines are probably 2 of the best you can buy under 500 and 1000. That said, I still just bought a pair of Heco aurora 700s for my living room. Wife liked the looks of my Kali LP6s also being white with black woofers but I always liked a good tower so picked these up. They sound excellent even with a cheap Onkyo receiver. Lots of low end and pretty neutral otherwise. No complaints! But if neutrality, extension, bass and clarity is most important its almost impossible to beat the Kalis especially considering the built in amplification and dsp. Only issue is it becomes expensive to create a home theater or even 3.1 with them as they require expensive electronics with preamps. For stereo or 2.1 though they are phenomenal choices.
@@st.thomas5802 -- Yeah, I created my 7.1 system with the IN-8s as the main L+R speakers and an IN-5 for the center channel, with a modest 12" SVS sub, and four passive speakers (driven by two Aiyima A07s and a Dayton DSP-408) for the surround/ambience channels. Active speakers in the far corners of a listening space can be a PITA when you want to control AC to the entire system from a power strip and the surround/ambience role is relatively undemanding, so that "hybrid" setup has worked out very nicely here.
I've set ~3000€ aside for speakers. Does anyone have any suggestions? Willing to look at the used market. "Detail monsters" preferred. (Gamut D200, sort of small living room, acoustically treated)
The best speaker under $1000? I say Tekton Lore Reference. I know people are pissed at Eric Alexander right now (for good reason), but those speakers can't be beaten for the price.
YOU SHOULD ADVICE EMOTIVA TO SPEND A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE ON THEIR SPEAKERS SO THAT THEY BECOME A SALES SUCCESS INSTEAD OF BEING A PRODUCT ONLY THOSE WHO KNOW THE PRODUCT BUY
Does anyone have an opinion on Cambridge or nad? I have the diamond 12.4 and I’m using the denon AVR s540bt but I only listen to music on it. Was wondering how much I would benefit out of an amp from those companies
That's what I ended up with and so far no regrets! I seriously considered all the speakers mentioned here plus the Klipsch rp8000f gen 1. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 and Emotivas were the strongest contenders to the Hecos but decided to pass on the Emotivas bc of their limited height dispersion and possible brightness of the AMT tweeters. I have demod Adam Audio T5/T7v and certain high frequencies just stood out in a way I didn't like so I'm not sure AMTs are for me. I still might order a pair of T-zeros to hear what they sound like and no question that's a phenomenal price even for budget towers. I have had the Diamond 12.1 for about 8 years now and always enjoyed it for its warm mids and smooth, non-fatiguing highs. Paired with a subwoofer and they are impressive for music especially. I still might try a pair of 12.4 as they're priced so well at the moment but I've watched some reviews saying the treble can be a little peaky, even slightly distorted which I found surprising considering Wharfedales tradition of warmth and rolled off highs. They are also beautiful looking speakers for the money. My instincts just told me the Heco 700 would outperform them for the same money but the only way to know for sure is order a pair and try them. Unfortunately this probably won't happen as my wife is going to kill me if I add 1 more pair of speakers to this house! 😂
Thank you Randy for another great video. One thing I miss in your videos though and could really help me out now as I'm shopping for speakers, is the type of music you think each speaker would excel at. So that being said, can you (or anyone) help me out in which of these would be best for classical music ? Was also considering the lumina ll (don't really care if it's tower or bookshelf...) Any thoughts ?
Went with the tzero+ and a pair of a1 instead since I have a monster sub cable of 132db. Maybe should have gone with the t1+, or wait for the new line next year? t4++? Either way the price was right my friends
These cost a lot of storage space so they have to get rid of them so the space can be used for newer models that will earn more margin. So a fire sale.
@@robognu5000 I thought the same thing and the T2+ was more readily available. I jumped on the close-out sale on the B2+ months ago and they're being driven by an Emotiva BasX A3 which is also driving an Emo C1+. I'm really enjoying the set-up but I'm also chomping at the bit to see Emo's new tower speakers when they're released in the upcoming weeks.
They actually use a different measurement than is common, they don't advertise that, but it is noted on the specs. So in essence, it does appear to most everyone that they are skewered to be more efficient than they would be if tested as most other manufacturers test.
I would say. Stop trying to over produce your production. I don’t know what audience you’re attempting to attract. I know you’re trying to be more succinct, but we’re chilling listening to you. If you have to do a dry run, that’s ok. Just makes watching you hard to do. But, if just listening it’s fine. Weird admitting this, I never just listen to your show. I actually sit and watch you. So the cutting process you do, makes it disorienting.
Lots of editing. If you watch him live he kinda rambles a bit or stumbles over words, Which is completely normal when you’re effectively talking to yourself staring at a camera. but to shorten his videos to manageable lengths, he has to cut them down.
Just to make it clear, because I thought I was clear when I said, I like to watch his show and not only listen to it. That means something very positive. This is the only audio reviewer that gets my extended attention. The kind of attention that is reserved for actual movies and tv shows. That is saying something positive. Great personality and jokes and his body movements all contribute to making the videos with watching. So to me, they are very entertaining. The criticism was constructive feedback. I elaborated on the OP post. I went into detail. Maybe the cheapaudioman is trying to seriously refine his work for a bigger audience. He may have gotten feedback from another group that says cut out all filler. It’s fine, but it adds difficulty to the recording. I love the rants and filler. I am fine with a person not remembering a detail. They can always edit it in after the original thought is finished. That is fine. I don’t think our reviewer writes out essays and reads them back. (Like some other reviewers do). I enjoy the show, even when it’s about stuff I know I will never buy. Keep up the great work. And again. For entertainment value, i love it. And even higher value for information about gear. Or maybe it’s the reverse.
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Hey randy, just today i ordered a pair of elac unifi 2.0 uf52 tower speakers for an amazing price of 600€, what do you think about them if you ever even heard them?
Could I use the Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 as front speakers for an AV 5.1 system or would they not really be suitable?
Recently got the Q-Acoustics 3050… can’t get over how amazingly clear those speakers are. Just watched Superman:The Movie in two channels and the dialog was crystal clear, the sound almost wrapped around me… it is impressive.
As a fellow speaker nerd we are very fortunate to have so many great options under $500 and $1000 these days. Towers this good didnt exist at this price 10-20 years ago. Now I enjoy having and trying out different speakers though my wife hates it. This year I finally picked up some Martin Logan elecrostats used for my downstairs theater and then a pair of Heco Auroras for the living room. Ive got Monitor Bronze 100s in the bedroom and Kali LP6 monitors in the studio. And a pair of Jamo C95 and Wharfedales im still trying to figure out what to do with. They all bring something different to the table and have enioyed all of them.
I got the diamond 12.4 and I decided to try bi amping since they have it as a feature. Idk if the bridges were originally sitting weird but it definitely improved the clarity and stopped any popping it was doing before I tried the bi amping. They have solid bass too
I tell all hifi beginners about the Wharfedale 12 series, in particular the 12.2 and 12.4s. They are that good imho, as I say that if you don’t take a l9ng hifi journey, these can be brought and you can happy for many years. Especially with the Marantz pm6007 and cd6007, add streaming (from phone or otherwise) or a TT and you have great listenable quality for not very much moolah (in audio and engineering terms). If i cannever get away from my study being where my highly used Hifi goes to die, then I'm whatever iteration of these is out there. A great review Mr R. Thanks.
@@carolineleonard8214 looks like I need to take a look at them
If you dont like the "scoop" on wharfedale speakers, or just want a cheap and easy upgrade, replace the included brass bridge plates between the two sets of binding posts with any speaker wire. Even a short length of the cheapest bit of basic, stranded copper wire you have laying around will be an improvement, so you dont necessarily need to go crazy pricewise just to try it out
Thanks for this review and I love how you compare products versus other products. It gives us a better baseline to measure against. I’ve seriously considered the Emotiva and Klipsch in the past as I like a brighter sounding speaker. However, I stumbled on a great deal for Klipsch Heresy speakers and compared those against my reference Heco Celan Revolution 3 speakers. The Heco are $1150 on Audioadvice, but I think they would likely best all of these for just a little more money. They crushed the Klipsch Heresy in my setup and I tried them for months with many combinations of amps and preamps.
Been trying to decide between the RP-6000F or the Emotiva T1+ since they're both on sale this week. Ended up with the T1+ due to your review of them a couple of years ago. Can't wait to get them in!
Before making any audio-related purchases, this is where I come. Thank you!
I have the Diamond 12.4s and yes their current sale price is a very good deal. Spacious EVO line is also on sale, but not Aura. I do prefer Wharfedales over the brash Klipsch house sound at their price point, but not as my main pair. I have more expensive US speakers as well that are more lively and more resolving and project images in front of the speaker; this is the classic live US speaker sound. With some recordings, however, the bigger pair murders my ears and I feel everybody is shouting at me. Wharfedales have a flatter but wide soundstage. Locked in center image is very good and outperforms the more expensive pair Timbre very natural and better than some aluminum woofers. Wharfedales under $2000: good at making you pay more attention to the song and less to the recording. Agree with the Geshelli JNOG2 deep soundstage comment I wish I could have kept that one I had to return it. Looking for another AKM DAC.
Yo tengo los whaferdale evo 4.3 con un Marantz 40n y suenan espectaculares. También tengo en mente unas whaferdale AURA 2.
I recently got the KLH Model 3 for $499/each cash no tax
The Polk reserve r600 is close to $1k on sale
I think that's what I'm going for. Reviews are all positive.
My room is too small for the R700's.
After talking with several people who know much more than I do about hi-fi, they all agree that I'd never realize the full potential of the R700 in the room dimensions I have.
Great review and comparison! Still rocking the 9.1 in my second system. I love them! Of course the mention of the wiim amp is a current thing for me! I was negative Nancy on your previous video but i am very much looking forward to the full review of that amp 😊
Interesting video, enjoyed. I have to agree with this video. I auditioned these speakers along with models from Monitor Audio, Q Acoustics and several others. They all had their strong points but they also all seemed to be lacking in other ways, it wasn't easy making the choice. It didnt happen overnight for me, I had to have 3 visits in all. The more I listened, the more I realised the Wharfedales ticked all boxes, it had no flaws nor did it offend, big loudspeakers, so make sure you have room.
I love the wharfdale diamond 12.3s - I bet the 12.4s are great!
What do you like about them?
I've been considering the 12.4's.
I've heard that the feet are fragile.
@davidjudd951 I used the cone feet (it's a solid metal bracket, I never once was worried about them being fragile). Perhaps the pad option is, I don't know.
As far as likes - mainly the smooth mid range. Its smooth and quite natural sounding. I find they image and stage nicely as well. I'm treble sensitive, and these don't fatigue me.
I had them in a 2.1 system, and they rock. I will say the bass left a bit desired when I tested them without a sub. But in 2.1 the 12.3 was perfect for what I wanted. The 12.4 likely will fill the need for a sub a bit more where it's got a larger woofer.
I had tried many other (mainly headphones) and some speakers - wharfdale diamonds was closest to my preferred sound signature. They were the first speaker I could sit back and enjoy rather than wondering if X sounded better. I went through about 20K worth of headphones before landing on those.
I've heard the 12.3 sounds a bit better than the the 12.4 especially if you're room is smaller.
I have Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 on my desktop system. You can listen to digital streams for long periods of time without fatigue. They also look fantastic. I can’t think of a better value.
I get a kick out of these reviewers....Every other week they have a new speaker that is a 'must have/this is the BEST speaker/ you need this one/ OH until two weeks from now and
now there is a new one!!!!
I totally didnt need to but i bought an ex demo pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 just because they were as new and offered at a measly sum of £290 (aka $375). Value for money is off the charts. By far the best speaker ive heard in terms of smiles per pound if not the best ive ever heard or owned (or own). Easy to drive... check. Easy to place... check. No frequency nasties... check. Amazing bass for the size... check. On the end of my Icon Audio Stereo 845PP they SING. Its one of those rare synergies ive found where a cheap speaker can end up sounding better than one 10x its price. You can tell the work that has gone into the cabinet and drivers by the designers (inc Fink i believe) and its payed off royally. I havent heard the Emotiva but ive heard the Klipsch and im sorry but..... (VOMITS).
If YOU find a pair of 12.3 at retail id heartily recommend them but at almost half id just BUY and see if they do for you what they do for me!
I personally would rather have floor-standing speakers (Tower speakers) then bookshelf. To me, their just louder & better. It's like ya get more BANG for your buck! 🤘🏻
But is it, your paying more for the enclosure and perhaps an extra driver for likely 100% price increase
KLH Kendall towers are great with deep bass and only 7.75 inches wide
SPEAKER SHOOTOUT!!! Pew Pew, pew pew pew!
The best deal I saw recently is B&W 704 S2 at $787 each. That is $1000 off each speaker.
I’m waiting for the day the S3’s make that cut…those are what I really want.
@@Mike.Macmyazka Hmm, I had the 603 S2 years and years ago. They didn't stick around long and were enough to turn me off B&W.
@@NightFlight1973 I’ve got an old set of B&W DM 601 S2 from the late 90’s that I bought in high school. They’re my favorite speaker I’ve owned so far. I wasn’t impressed with the 600 and 700 S2’s but the S3’s for both levels sound better to me. I’d like to move up to 700’s though rather than get newer 600’s.
@@NightFlight1973 I just picked up an Arcam SA20 and some Emotiva T-Zero+ this weekend and I’m looking forward to trying those out in a 2-channel setup.
@@Mike.Macmyazka interesting I’m curious about how the emotiva tweeter will sound.
I just bought the RP8000s for $840 a pair with 'six' RP5000Fs for $400 a pair (plus the 504C for $430) for my bed layer in my 7.3.4! Whish you could hear it Randy. Got the 8000FS bi-amped from a MM8077 (300+ watts per fronts). All speakers bran new.
Great video. Love the editing. I'm selling my ProAc D20R and considering buying a pair of wharfedale diamonds. I heard the 11 series and was impressed. The ribbon tweeter on the ProAcs has same problem as the Emotivas - the awful vertical dispersion. Unless your sitting down the mids and highs suck out.
That’s a great idea, CAM. Coffee sounds great. ☕️ Ok back to the show.
Randy keep up the good work. I ordered a Wiim pro plus yesterday through your affiliate link.
That’s about the size of my living room. They sound great to me, and I’ve had the 4.2’s and Infinity R153’s. I really the way the ribbon sounds on the highs. The down port lets me get them closer to the wall.
Wharfedale 4.3, with the port at the bottom is super good for smaller living rooms. I did emotiva surrounds and heights, but retired the B1+ to the bedroom.
I was just looking at that speaker today, and considering it.
Would they work in a 12x15 room?
I believe that the Monolith encore t6 should be in the mix as well for affordable, stylish, and great sounding speakers. Unfortunately the outrageously priced JbL studio 5xx series is behind us, glad i snagged a couple!
Which Studio speakers do you have? I have a set of the 530 bookshelves. I really want to get a set of the 570’s but they don’t go on sale like they used to. Had a chance to get some 580’s for $500 but I slept on that one.
Great take Randy. Something for everyone. Some great deals.
I still have the Diamond 240's and love them.😁
Great Randy! That said, I wish you had added _any_ of the Elac Unifi towers to the mix.
The 12.4's can also be had at Music Direct, B-Stock @ $579/pr.
PP is polypropylene rather than paper pulp if I am not mistaken
What about Maggie LRS?
If budget allows, how do you feel about the Evo 4.4 vs the Diamond 12.4's?
I tend to agree with the review of the Klipsch. I find that horn tweeter can sometimes make Klipsch sound a bit "shouty" at higher volumes, and I have found them a little fatiguing.
What klipsch have you owned?
There not warm enough.
Thank you Randy
Another informative review... Purchased the Emo T1+ along with their subwoofer and 3 Ch Amp per your recommendations (AWESOME !!) . My question now is, what center channel should I consider now that the Emotiva center channels are not available? Would like to integrate one for music first then theater sound.
The klipsch RP 8000f-II it's commonly below $1k
RP 8000F $698 a pair on Az.
RP 8000F $598 a pair new on the Bay.
I'm hoping to start buying imotiva this year. I wish I could hear all three so I could see which I love the most. 🥴
Emotiva Canada you can add them directly to your online cart, but if you drill down to the product page they all say they are temporarily unavailable. Not certain what that means, as I'm not planning to buy.
Got the Klipsch’s this year & would rather fight than switch!
It's been a while since I've heard that slogan!
I always wondered if you have to adjust equalization for those ferns? Have a good weekend fellow Squid! US Navy 1975-1981.
The 12 series all have 5 ohm minimums so choose your amp accordingly. They can claim 8 ohms in the US but not in the EU.
A lot of claimed 8 ohms speakers drop down to nearer 4 ohms if you run them as large or without a sub. I have 7 Monitor Audio as my bed layer, (A Gold C350 centre I got for £500 on Ebay, two Bronze 500's and four Bronze 100's for surround and rear surrounds) they claim 8 ohms, but can drop to about 4.2 ohms. I have Emotiva BasX A3 and A4 amps powering them, and let my Denon 6700h power the 6 B&W M-1 heights. I also have two SVS PB1000 subs, which is more than enough immersion and bass for my room. But getting back to the Wharfedales, My wife has all Wharfedale in her home theatre bedroom set-up, and they sound great for the money spent.
I got the Edifier p12 on Amazon for Black Friday and I’m excited to try them out
I've got the klipsch r-26fa atmos 2 for $650 and i love it
Sorry for this amateurish question. Do you this the wharfedale 12.4 can run nicely with the new wiim amp?
If I replace my L/R speakers do I need (or would it be better) to replace the center channel at the same time and/or with the same brand? Right now they're RP-600Miis and an RP-504Cii. The rest of my 7.2.4 system is a mix of Klipsch and Polk.
Thinking of buying these to connect to my Sonos Connect Amp. Any thoughts?
that Hurt sung by Johnny always hits hard. especially watching the video clip
what was it? 3 months after recording it he died?
sheesh
terrific cover though
pitty about the distortion :(
Crutchfield's Outlet sale is insane. What tower speakers
Guess I missed the sales : / Can we do this type of comparison again when sales are running?
I don't think I've ever seen a review of any Paradigm speakers by you. I would love to see what you think of them.
Add the JBL S590 to the mix.
I let the pressure of the sales get to me. I want to set up a 2.0/2.1 in the bedroom and I grabbed an Arcam SA20 for $825 from BB and a pair of the Emotiva T-Zero+ for $299. Also grabbed the Wiim Pro from Amazon for the 20% off or whatever they’re selling it for.
Hoping I like the Arcam. I’m curious to pair it with numerous speakers to see how it does. My B&W DM 601 S2, B&W M-1 mk2, JBL Studio 530, Jamo S 803, Polk T15, Polk Monitor 4…do my own little AB to see how my cheaper receiver or amps sound compared to something not “cheap”.
Arcam owners rarely regret their purchase.
@@davidjudd951+2
how does it sound compared to your other speakers ?
The best speaker under $1K is a studio monitor, The Kali Audio IN-8. MSRP is $800/pair and you don't need an amp -- you can drive it directly with any (XLR or RCA) line level-device with a volume control, e.g. a DAC or preamp -- because they have three channels of top-notch amplification and DSP built-in. The only drawback (for some of us) is cosmetic -- many a spouse will veto their plain matte black, no-grille appearance -- and the fact that they're designed for near and mid field use, making them unsuitable for larger listening spaces.
You are correct, though from what ive read the Kali LP6 is almost its equal in both measurements and performance some people even preferring it. Either way both lines are probably 2 of the best you can buy under 500 and 1000.
That said, I still just bought a pair of Heco aurora 700s for my living room. Wife liked the looks of my Kali LP6s also being white with black woofers but I always liked a good tower so picked these up. They sound excellent even with a cheap Onkyo receiver. Lots of low end and pretty neutral otherwise. No complaints!
But if neutrality, extension, bass and clarity is most important its almost impossible to beat the Kalis especially considering the built in amplification and dsp. Only issue is it becomes expensive to create a home theater or even 3.1 with them as they require expensive electronics with preamps. For stereo or 2.1 though they are phenomenal choices.
@@st.thomas5802 -- Yeah, I created my 7.1 system with the IN-8s as the main L+R speakers and an IN-5 for the center channel, with a modest 12" SVS sub, and four passive speakers (driven by two Aiyima A07s and a Dayton DSP-408) for the surround/ambience channels. Active speakers in the far corners of a listening space can be a PITA when you want to control AC to the entire system from a power strip and the surround/ambience role is relatively undemanding, so that "hybrid" setup has worked out very nicely here.
Wharfedal or Emotiva for jamming some pantera?
Can't wait to watch what all the hubub is about. Sheesh! 😅
Speaking of measurements, of they do compare? 🙂
I've set ~3000€ aside for speakers. Does anyone have any suggestions? Willing to look at the used market. "Detail monsters" preferred.
(Gamut D200, sort of small living room, acoustically treated)
Just got Polk R200 for 480€ ;)
The best speaker under $1000? I say Tekton Lore Reference. I know people are pissed at Eric Alexander right now (for good reason), but those speakers can't be beaten for the price.
Those Boston ferns are amazing
You should try nubert b60, just under 1000€ in Europe. But I don’t know if they available in the US…
YOU SHOULD ADVICE EMOTIVA TO SPEND A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE ON THEIR SPEAKERS SO THAT THEY BECOME A SALES SUCCESS INSTEAD OF BEING A PRODUCT ONLY THOSE WHO KNOW THE PRODUCT BUY
Does anyone have an opinion on Cambridge or nad? I have the diamond 12.4 and I’m using the denon AVR s540bt but I only listen to music on it. Was wondering how much I would benefit out of an amp from those companies
I would consider the HECO Aurora 700 which is on sale for $630
That's what I ended up with and so far no regrets! I seriously considered all the speakers mentioned here plus the Klipsch rp8000f gen 1. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.4 and Emotivas were the strongest contenders to the Hecos but decided to pass on the Emotivas bc of their limited height dispersion and possible brightness of the AMT tweeters. I have demod Adam Audio T5/T7v and certain high frequencies just stood out in a way I didn't like so I'm not sure AMTs are for me. I still might order a pair of T-zeros to hear what they sound like and no question that's a phenomenal price even for budget towers.
I have had the Diamond 12.1 for about 8 years now and always enjoyed it for its warm mids and smooth, non-fatiguing highs. Paired with a subwoofer and they are impressive for music especially. I still might try a pair of 12.4 as they're priced so well at the moment but I've watched some reviews saying the treble can be a little peaky, even slightly distorted which I found surprising considering Wharfedales tradition of warmth and rolled off highs. They are also beautiful looking speakers for the money. My instincts just told me the Heco 700 would outperform them for the same money but the only way to know for sure is order a pair and try them. Unfortunately this probably won't happen as my wife is going to kill me if I add 1 more pair of speakers to this house! 😂
Won't watch video yet but I bet you say emotiva. You love emotiva
Thank you Randy for another great video. One thing I miss in your videos though and could really help me out now as I'm shopping for speakers, is the type of music you think each speaker would excel at. So that being said, can you (or anyone) help me out in which of these would be best for classical music ? Was also considering the lumina ll (don't really care if it's tower or bookshelf...) Any thoughts ?
Sometimes it’s better to get
rid of excess inventory and take less or very little to no profit, than to keep mounting up storage losses..
Went with the tzero+ and a pair of a1 instead since I have a monster sub cable of 132db. Maybe should have gone with the t1+, or wait for the new line next year? t4++? Either way the price was right my friends
Gotta watch out for those punchy speakers...end up leaving the listening room with a couple blacks eyes
Lol
These cost a lot of storage space so they have to get rid of them so the space can be used for newer models that will earn more margin. So a fire sale.
how about a pair of the RP8000F goes as low as $650USD
T1+? Why "T1+" Randy? You can get now T2+ for 700 usd!!And then all of those competitors would be wiped out!
My thoughts exactly. Very odd to not be comparing the T2+ when it’s closer in price to the other two models.
@@robognu5000 I thought the same thing and the T2+ was more readily available. I jumped on the close-out sale on the B2+ months ago and they're being driven by an Emotiva BasX A3 which is also driving an Emo C1+. I'm really enjoying the set-up but I'm also chomping at the bit to see Emo's new tower speakers when they're released in the upcoming weeks.
Klipsch has been known to way overhype their speakers' efficiency in the past, co take those Specs with a grain of salt.
They actually use a different measurement than is common, they don't advertise that, but it is noted on the specs.
So in essence, it does appear to most everyone that they are skewered to be more efficient than they would be if tested as most other manufacturers test.
Meh an extra 300 and get some Tekton Lores.
Your shilling for Emotiva on their ads has ruined any objectivity you may have had. Hope they're paying you well.
The jump cuts... Dude, please. I love the channel but the jump cuts are getting ANNOYING!
I would say. Stop trying to over produce your production. I don’t know what audience you’re attempting to attract. I know you’re trying to be more succinct, but we’re chilling listening to you. If you have to do a dry run, that’s ok. Just makes watching you hard to do. But, if just listening it’s fine. Weird admitting this, I never just listen to your show. I actually sit and watch you. So the cutting process you do, makes it disorienting.
Ungrateful
Lots of editing. If you watch him live he kinda rambles a bit or stumbles over words, Which is completely normal when you’re effectively talking to yourself staring at a camera. but to shorten his videos to manageable lengths, he has to cut them down.
I like it
Just to make it clear, because I thought I was clear when I said, I like to watch his show and not only listen to it.
That means something very positive. This is the only audio reviewer that gets my extended attention. The kind of attention that is reserved for actual movies and tv shows. That is saying something positive. Great personality and jokes and his body movements all contribute to making the videos with watching. So to me, they are very entertaining.
The criticism was constructive feedback. I elaborated on the OP post. I went into detail. Maybe the cheapaudioman is trying to seriously refine his work for a bigger audience. He may have gotten feedback from another group that says cut out all filler. It’s fine, but it adds difficulty to the recording. I love the rants and filler. I am fine with a person not remembering a detail. They can always edit it in after the original thought is finished. That is fine.
I don’t think our reviewer writes out essays and reads them back. (Like some other reviewers do).
I enjoy the show, even when it’s about stuff I know I will never buy. Keep up the great work. And again. For entertainment value, i love it. And even higher value for information about gear. Or maybe it’s the reverse.
Buy a comb!
I stopped watching. 😮