Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Review: The Best Budget Floorstander Yet?
Wharfedale’s Diamond series has long been known for producing some of the best budget stand-mount speakers on the market. But when it comes to affordable floorstanders, the brand hasn’t had a truly standout model until now.
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 changes that. In fact, it sounds even more impressive than the award-winning Diamond 12.1, which is high praise considering those are five-star speakers.
At 98cm tall, the 12.3s aren’t huge, but they thrive when given some breathing space. A slight inward toe-in helps, yet thanks to their wide sound dispersion, you don’t need millimeter-perfect positioning to enjoy great sound.
Sonically, these are smooth, balanced, and wonderfully refined for the price. They reveal flaws in poor recordings without harshness, and soften aggressive edges without dulling the music. If you want to pair your turntable or stereo setup with a budget-friendly floorstander, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 deserves serious attention.
Build and Design
Wharfedale tends to redesign the Diamond series every few generations, and the 12 Series represents a fresh start. The cabinet is a straight-edged, well-braced design that provides a solid, low-resonance platform for the drivers. It’s wrapped in a smart, high-quality finish that looks far more premium than the price suggests. Even the feet and spike arrangement feel thoughtful and well executed.
The 12.3s are available in four finishes: black, walnut, white, and a light oak that looks particularly elegant.
Check Out: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Review
Inside, the 12.3 uses a 2.5-way configuration. The upper 130mm (5-inch) driver handles midrange frequencies and part of the bass, while the lower driver reinforces the low end. Both use Wharfedale’s proprietary Klarity cone material, a mix of polypropylene and mica that’s light, rigid, and well-damped.
High frequencies are handled by a 25mm coated woven polyester dome tweeter, used throughout the Diamond 12 range. It’s a refined, open-sounding unit, aided by a carefully contoured surround that provides a touch of horn loading for smoother dispersion.
The crossover is designed for a balanced, natural sound, resulting in a sensitivity of 89dB and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms (with a 5-ohm minimum). That means they’re easy to drive and won’t trouble most budget amplifiers.
Placement and Setup
Standing just under a meter tall, the 12.3s don’t dominate the room but need a bit of space to perform at their best. In our testing, we found they worked beautifully placed 50–90cm from the rear wall and at least 70cm from side walls.
A slight toe-in towards the listening position tightens stereo imaging, but even without perfect placement, they maintain good balance and clarity. Their broad dispersion also makes them ideal for shared listening, with no need for a narrow “sweet spot.”
Speakers at this level have a tough job: they must sound forgiving enough with entry-level electronics yet revealing enough to grow with higher-quality gear. The Diamond 12.3 strikes that balance with ease.
Compatibility
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is impressively versatile. They sound smooth and composed even with modest systems, but reward better electronics with increased texture and resolution.
We tested them with both entry-level and reference-grade gear, including the Marantz PM6007 amplifier and Cambridge CXN streamer, as well as our Naim ND555/555 PS DR and Burmester 088/911 Mk3 separates.
Check Out: Wharfedale Elysian 4 Review
No matter what we paired them with, the 12.3s performed beautifully, open, expressive, and full of musical character.
Sound Quality
Play Trance Frendz by Ólafur Arnalds, and the Diamond 12.3 paints a beautifully layered soundstage rich with detail and dynamic nuance. They follow the album’s relaxed rhythms with agility and control, staying composed even as the music becomes complex.
They extract impressive amounts of information while keeping it organized and musically coherent a rare trait at this price. Compared with the award-winning Fyne Audio F302, the Wharfedales sound more sophisticated and better controlled, especially in the treble.
Switching from Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 to Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love, the 12.3s show just how articulate and expressive their midrange is. Integration between drivers is seamless, and bass performance is both agile and textured, never overwhelming.
They also excel at low-volume listening, maintaining balance and engagement even at modest levels. Many budget speakers only come alive when pushed, but the 12.3s sound convincing at any volume. Push them harder, and they deliver punch, dynamics, and surprising authority without losing composure.
Add in a stable stereo image and natural tonal balance, and you’ve got a speaker that punches far above its price.
Verdict
Creating an affordable yet truly refined floorstander is no easy task, but Wharfedale has nailed it with the Diamond 12.3.
They’re beautifully built, easy to drive, and musically satisfying, refined enough for serious listening, yet forgiving enough for everyday enjoyment.
If you’re shopping for a budget tower speaker, don’t buy anything else before hearing this one. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 easily earns its place in the brand’s long line of legends.
Highly Recommended
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Great Sound Quality for the price
- Works Great with both budget and mid-tier amplifiers
- Build Quality
- Great low-volume performance
- Easy to position
Cons
- Needs some space from the walls to sound its best
- Bass lacks a little of the weight found in pricier models
- Not the last word in treble sparkle or top-end detail
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | 2.5-way floorstanding loudspeaker |
| Enclosure Type | Bass-reflex (rear-ported) |
| Bass/Midrange Drivers | 2 × 130mm (5″) Klarity™ cone |
| Tweeter | 25mm (1″) woven polyester dome |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms (compatible, min 5 ohms) |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 30–150 watts |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.1kHz |
| Cabinet Dimensions (H × W × D) | 985 × 180 × 317mm |
| Weight (each) | 18.4 kg |
| Finishes Available | Black, White, Walnut, Light Oak |
