"Want to know what the best sounding budget speakers on the market are? Easy, its Wharfedales brand-new Diamond 220s." What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine, 5-star review.

The legend continues
It was back in 1981 when the Wharfedale Diamond first redefined expectations of small speakers. The original model proved that a small speaker didn't necessarily need to sound 'small', that a budget speaker could sound full-bodied without being intrusive. The latest Diamond 220 follows on from the highly successful 121 model and has already received an excited response.

New cabinet for improved sound
New to the Wharfedale Diamond 220 is a sandwich cabinet design. Rather than the simple chipboard and MDF used by the previous Diamond 121, the new 220 uses particle board sandwiched by MDF on either side. This gives superb rigidity and damping properties, helping to further reduce the already low levels of distortion. A further benefit is the smooth MDF construction provides a cleaner surface for the veneer; meaning a smoother finish all round.

Ported design
Also new is the gloss finished baffle, making the speakers far more pleasing to the eye. As before, the 220 ports the bass via an integral plinth, rather than the more usual front or rear holes. This not only provides a more efficient and even bass output but also makes the speaker easier to place: you don't have to take wall positioning into account.

New drive units, class-leading sound
The bass driver is formed from woven Kevlar with ribs for added rigidity, but has a revised magnet system for tighter control of the sound. Vocals still sound incredibly realistic, and the bass is upbeat and never lags. At the other end of the scale the treble unit is surrounded by a deeply dished waveguide. This helps to improve the imaging and 'width' of sound, making it easier to pick out individual instruments, as well as providing loads of detail. Put together, the overall sound quality is still fantastically well-balanced.

With its latest upgrades the Wharfedale Diamond 220 has truly come of age. If ever there was an argument for evolution over revolution in speaker design, a listen to the Diamond 220 proves the case for the former - and then some!