Product Comparison: Boston Acoustics A26 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220


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General Specifications
Brand
Boston Acoustics
Wharfedale
Model
A 26
Diamond 220
About the Product
Delivering premium sound in a compact design, the Boston Acoustics A 26 Two-Way 6-1/2-Inch Bookshelf Speaker makes an ideal addition to home theater or music systems. This powerful bookshelf speaker features internal bracing and a reinforcement disc for enhanced sound quality. A Kortec soft dome tweeter offers crisp, high frequencies, while a ceramic/glass fiber polymer woofer delivers more bass response from less amplifier power.
"By any standards, the Diamond 220s are musically-worthwhile speakers - and by budget standards, they're crackers." - Diamond 220, Hi-Fi World - Awarded 5 Globes
Origin
China
Key Specs
Power RMS
150 watts
100 watts
Sensitivity
89 dB
86 dB
Impedance
8 ohms
8 ohms
Size & Weight
Height
10.7 in.
12.6 in.
Width
7.25 in.
6.7 in.
Depth
8.9 in.
7.8 in.
Weight
10.1 lbs.
23.4 lbs.
What customers say about "Size & Weight"
 
Wharfedale Diamond 220 Black
  • The build quality is excellent...these are quite heavy and have really solid and substantial cabinets. Highly recommended and well worth it even at full price.
  • Right out of the box, they sound amazing...the sound is much bigger than their size would indicate and they're clear from bass through midrange through high.
  • If this is what they sound like after only 20 minutes, they will be even more fantastic after they've been broken in. In my opinion, they look good, too.
  • Best sound for the price line. Highly recommended. Very good design.
  • One cool thing about the 220's is that they have a downward firing bass port and this means they can be placed pretty close to a wall, which helps bass response.
  • My living room is pretty large and I do like music loud! Overall I'd say these speakers would be better suited for a smaller room, or for somebody who is generally listening at lower volumes.
Audio
Min. Frequency Response
51 Hz
56 Hz
Max. Frequency Response
25 kHz
20 kHz
Tweeter Size
1 in.
1 in.
Woofer Size
6.5 in.
5 in.
What customers say about "Audio"
Boston Acoustics A26 Two-Way Bookshelf Speaker with 6.5-Inch Woofer (Each, Gloss Black)
  • I liked the looks of the speakers and they didn't disappoint in person. Fills my room (small though 18ftx12ft) with ease.
  • Good balance sound for satellite speakers used in the rear in a sound-sur-round set up. They compliment the larger tower speakers used in the front.
  • They sound so beautiful! Crisp and clear. And what a great price! Love them.
  • WOW... that deep-effortless base and the smooth power delivered get me dancing like a teenager.
  • The A26 is nowhere as good as my old HD7. The bass is too exaggerated. It sounds too "boomy." The high ends are too faint. The mid-range is not as crisp. This speaker does not have flat response.
Wharfedale Diamond 220 Black
  • The music just came to life - the speakers are extremely well balanced even at low volumes - a very magical experience. They are incredibly musical - no fatigue just brilliant sound! What an amazing speaker and such an affordable price!
  • These are really superb to my ears. Exceptionally smooth and well balanced sound, especially the highs, which are not overemphasized but still provide a lot of detail.
  • I cannot believe how "big" they sound. The bass is rich and full and the overall sound is simply amazing. These have to be the best bookshelf speakers under $400 in the world
  • Vocal clarity is the one thing that really jumps out at me with these speakers. The vocals are crisp and right in the middle of the soundstage. TV dialogue also has the same vocal clarity. Overall a great set of speakers.
  • Low end is very satisfactory to me, but I'm sure others would want to pair this with a sub.
  • My only complaint is that they are not very sensitive and with the NAD I am typically turning it up nearly all the way (0dB on the readout) to get a good volume.
  • For me, the sound stage characteristics are not as good as several speakers in this price range.
Features
Color
Black
Black
Tweeter Material
Cloth
Soft Dome
Woofer Material
Ceramic and glass fiber polymer
Kevlar
Extras
Clean, Stylish Design, Woofer Design Reduces Distortion, Innovative Cabinet Shape Improves Stereo Imaging, Binding Posts Make Installation Easy
Award-Winning Performance, Wide-Open Sound, Layered Cabinet Construction and High-Quality Finish
What customers say about "Features"
Boston Acoustics A26 Two-Way Bookshelf Speaker with 6.5-Inch Woofer (Each, Gloss Black)
  • I've plugged them into a Marantz NR1403 receiver connected with HDMI to my HTPC running ArchLinux.
  • The grill is magnetically held and can be detached.
  • Looks nice and are built like a tank. Quite heavy though. Comes with magnetic grills.
  • The bass port is too narrow and generates audible noise.
Wharfedale Diamond 220 Black
  • The tweeter is really nicely integrated with the woofer and has an uncanny rich and savory tone quality that is additive to listen to.
  • I can listen for hours at fairly loud levels without fatigue or discomfort. Once I start listening, I don't want to stop.
  • I use these wonderful little speakers with a NAD 3020D amp, which is very efficient but fairly low-power. The sound quality is fabulous and I love the speakers with everything from punk rock to classical.
  • OMG - they do not disappoint. All the rave stereo magazine reviews are true. Wide open sound, TOTALLY unfatiguing.
  • The Wharfedale Diamond's have lived up to their reputation as one of the best entry level Hi Fidelity speakers produced.
  • They are a great value and should be seen as a low cost option for a neutral speaker with good dispersal. Finish was quite good.
  • I really enjoy their detail of the music. Hearing the individual instruments so clearly is a joy. One thing I noticed is these take a while to burn in so give them time.
Warranty / Certifications
Manufacturer Warranty
5 year(s)
2 year(s)
Certifications
CE
CE
Other Information
MSRP
199.99 $


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