Great review, I really appreciate the attention to detail while covering different use cases, such as 50/50 music/movie split. This really helped me with deciding which to go with, thank you!
By going on this Gentleman's summary of both speakers and the sound demonstration , i would choose the Q Acoustics as they seem to be the better All-rounder....Handy segment on the Bi -Amp demo as well on the Wharfdales!
Love your reviews. I am going to replace my Bose 601 series 4. These two are contenders for sure. No highs, no lows, definatly Bose loudspeakers. I have had these for almost 20 years. They look so damn good I found them hard to part with.
Also, the damped sound tou were refering to I believe is the woofer themselves as a polypropylene are more damped,but more muffled as well. Hence the timbral variety sounds better on Qs
that's the thing with audio comparisons. They sound different but which is the better speaker? The Wharfedales sound more blended, nothing sticks out. But does that make them sound "flat"? The 3050I have a more prominent top but does that make them sound tinny? There is more separation with instruments with the 3050i but does that pull the music apart rather than blend it together? Each audio trait could be argued both for and against. I've owned two pairs of Wharfedales, that "blended" sound is a Wharfedale house sound.
Happy to help! When compared to the Wharf the 3050i does sound bright, but it's definitely not a "bright" speaker. It just how it comes across in a direct comparison. 😀
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Exactly is a head-to-head comparison something like many people who say that Bowers & Wilkins are brilliant, logically if you compare them to relaxed sound speakers they will apparently be brilliant, but once you have them they are not brilliant, unless you like it. the dull sound.
Laidback mean a bit veiled ! Clarity is very important in sound. Q acoustics is better here. Wharfedale sound seem coming from other room ! Too placid and unwell type, weakness in voice ! 3050i is energetic and clear and detailed.
Some amps still have tone controls, so just turn the treble on the Diamonds up a little ,and then you've got the fuller and more natural mids and the brighter treble too
The audio samples are so helpful to see how deep they go and is helping me figure out a good combo with my sub, and you're the only one doing it. Keep doing it! The comparisons are the most helpful compared to general reviews
the 3050i may seem "bright" but the snare and closed hihat sounded better and more realistic in the drumbeat track. if you play the drums or you have a drumset in your house, you will agree with me.
I don't know about that. Both sound samples sound like they could be synth drums, processed. But I've stood next to, or in front of a lot of drummers. Percussion can have a multitude of tones / timbre: depending on what an individual drummer is going for. Every live band has a different sound/mix: depending on the band. Even acoustic instruments ( such as acoustic guitars) can have a different sound and tone. Depending on a multitude of contributing factors: from type of wood soundboard, strings, saddle / bridge...to the room they are played in...etc. Some are brighter, clearer and louder in their projection. While other guitars are warmer, less loud and more colorfully tuneful. There's a whole spectrum of possibilities. It's all personal preference. As well, some people are sensitive to treble and high frequencies. Or have room acoustics that agitate the treble / highs, but can not do much to correct room acoustics. So they're more likely to enjoy warmer, more laid back speakers...like Wharfedale.
Would be nice to hear some overdriven guitar, that is IMO the easiest way to judge the speaker signature fast (Hendricks or Van Halen, doesn't matter). Cause it's basically flat 70-6000 Hz. Nice review though.
I got a Denon DHT-S216 last week and I have found that I am hearing sound effects in films and TV shows with the soundbar that I'm not hearing with my 6.1 sound system. I thought I would never say such a thing. I wouldn't replace my 6.1 system with it though because it has too many flaws and DTS virtual X doesn't come close to making me think I have a proper surround system nor does it add height but it does sound good. I'm pretty sure the problem with my 6.1 system is my SONY STR-DN1020. So when I can I'll be replacing it with a Denon amp and QAcoustic 3050I and QAcoustic Center speaker. But that will be late next year. Before you bash me or ask why I am using a soundbar and 6.1 system. I use the soundbar primarily for watching TV and it uses less than quarter of the electricity that my 6.1 system uses. Here in Ireland our electricity charges has risen by 7% in the past 13 months and it's due to rise by another 11% by the end of this year. So I need to save on electricity as much as posdible
My choice was the 3050i, huge difference in clarity in the test you ran, the 12.4 sounded muffled in comparison, when switched to the 3050i it was like lifting a veil from the speaker, I can always pair it up with a slightly warm amplifier if you want a slightly warmer sound, which is probably what I would do, I'm about to buy a new system, as I've been out of the loop for many years now, and quite literally gave my old Hi-Fi away to my daughter ten years ago,, but now I want to start again without breaking the bank ! I think I will go for the 3050i speakers, but would like to pair them with a slightly warm sounding amp, up to around £700, which would you recommend to pair with these speakers please ? I know Arcam tend to have a warmer presentation, wonder if that would be of benefit for them ? I really don't want a bright sounding amp to go with the 3050i. A short list would be appreciated. Thanks
Would be good to compare Wharfedale 12.4 to the newer upgraded Q Acoustic 5040. $1400 vs marked down $750 USD Wharfedale....that's my predicament, do I really need to pay $700 more? 60% music, 40% movies. Denon AVR 3700, Audiolab 6000A.
Hello Sir, i need a suggestion from you.I have denon 4700h amplifier and Klipsch 620f tower, r51m surrounds. My room size is 22*13*9.Can you suggest me a good subwoofer for my room.. I dont mind going dual.i have only auditioned klipsch120sw, polk hts 12, whatfadale 12.
That's a decent setup! I'm not sure where you live but a couple SVS PB2000 Pros would go nicely to yield nice balanced bass throughout the room. I also like the HSU VTF-2 MK5 if you can get it. Hopefully this helps. 😁
Starting with the 200 series Wharfedales have had this muted muffled sound. I loved the Diamond 8 series and from listening to the 9, 10 series they were all great. When the 220's came out I bought a pair based solely on the rave reviews and was super disappointed at the laid back (as in dead) sound. I returned them after trying all kinds of adjustments to my system. You can really hear that muffled quality here also. No contest the Qacoustics just sound more lively, way better.
I have a pair of Whafedale 9.6. I do find them muffled in strings and also in vocals. However, they are a very soft sound and you never get ear ache from listening to them. I have two pairs of Mission speakers, they don't have that muffled quality that I described with the Wharfedales, however you do get listening fatigue with them after a while.
The Q Acoustics sound much better to me. But that's no surprise to me either. The Whatfedales sound just like I remember from 5be whatfedale speakers I had in the past. I don't like how they sound.
I was not expecting that,here but at the store that I heard them both. Q have more texture and is more colorful in the mids. Treble wise both need better. Bass is more detailed in Qs too.More transparent sound with better timing too. It's sounds more like a high end pair than the Wharfedale. Also I heard the diamonds less dampened like sounding hollow. They do have a thicker sound overall though as the midbass blends in the mids and suits better to amps at that price. I wanted to like the dimonds more as in my country are cheaper and own a D225 pair but the Q are singing better
@@HomeTheaterHobbyistSince the 11 series the wharfedale has reduced the size of the woofers. So the 6.5 inches is 150 mm (now) instead of the 165 mm that was in the 200 series and before. I have the 225 which is "true" 6.5 inches 165 mm.
Πολλοι λενε οτι η σειρα 12 δεν εχει καμμια σχεση με το laidback/less fatigue sound των παλαιοτερων οπως η σειρα 200.Και εγω εχω τα 225 και ψαχνω για ενα δευτερο ζευγαρι,αλλα τα σταματησαν.Λενε επισης οτι τα πριμα της σειρας 12 ειναι σκληρα και κουραστικα!!Σκεφτομουνα για τα 3030i αλλα τα πριμα τους που φτανουν 30 khz δεν θα μπορω να τα αντεξω σε σχεση με τα 20khz του 225!Κοιταω επισης τα mission lx-3 mkii 349euro που λενε οτι ειναι γλυκοηχα με μαλακα πριμα,αλλα δεν υπαρχουν πολλες δοκιμες.Eπισης εχουν μικρυνει τα γουφερ στις σειρες 11 και 12 απο 165χιλ. στα 150 χιλ.δηλ.λιγοτερο μπασσο....Υπαρχουν επισης δοκιμες που λενε οτι τα πριμα του 3030i einai rolled-off σε συγκριση με το 12.2 δηλ.πιο ξεκουραστα! Ποια ηταν η δικη σου εμπειρια που τα ακουσες?Τα diamond 11.2 τα εχεις ακουσει?Πως ειναι τα πριμα τους?
Please keep on keeping on! I I'm curious on the Wharfdale and Q Acoustics sound profiles; I currently have entry level Klipsch and I like the high end sizzle, how do these compare?
