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FEATURE<br />
For those not familiar, Wharfedale<br />
is one of Britain’s oldest<br />
speaker manufacturers, and<br />
currently is a property of IAG (International<br />
Audio Group), which<br />
produces Quad, Luxman, Mission<br />
and a few other top-notch brands,<br />
following the business model of<br />
design in the UK and purposebuilt<br />
manufacturing in China. As<br />
with the Quad 2812s we just reviewed,<br />
the level of build quality is<br />
excellent.<br />
The black lacquer finished<br />
front baffle is gorgeous, and if you<br />
live in a dog- and kid-friendly environment,<br />
I suggest leaving the mini<br />
grilles off to bask in the carbon<br />
fiber beauty of the dual woofers.<br />
But I’m a petrolhead through and<br />
through and confess a serious<br />
love for carbon fiber.<br />
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LISTEN<br />
They play everything<br />
As great as the Diamonds are as<br />
an all-rounder, I just couldn’t stop<br />
cranking the classic rock with<br />
these speakers. A friend brought<br />
over his new Lyn Stanley record<br />
and I threw it to my German Shepherds<br />
to play catch with, plopping<br />
a copy of Kiss Alive! on the new<br />
Rega Planar 3 (also in for review)<br />
via my recently rebuilt Marantz<br />
2245 receiver. The room emptied<br />
just like it does at hifi shows. In my<br />
own living room no less.<br />
After a few days of playing the<br />
Diamonds at maximum volume, it<br />
was safe to say that break-in was<br />
complete and it was time to get<br />
down to some serious listening,<br />
but the dogs just weren’t having it.<br />
(continued)<br />
84<br />
TONE AUDIO NO.78<br />
CHECK OUT OUR NEW SITE BALANCED.COM<br />
AUGUST 2016 85
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